The Portrayal Of Women In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Women in the 1920s received more opportunities, but were continued to be objectified as

double standards regarding the opposite sexes were still applicable. They found new interests following the end of World War I, gaining a new mentality of independence, individuality, and expression of themselves. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, shows a portrayal of different women in the time period. Fitzgerald depicts the role of women in the 1920s, both directly and indirectly as two vital characters- Daisy and Myrtle- had different social standings, but were both objectified and reduced to their appearances, showing the hollow progress of the women’s movement, despite their newly gained freedom.

Daisy and Myrtle come from vastly different lifestyles, as Daisy lives in East Egg

while Myrtle lives in the Valley of Ashes.

The area that they live in itself indicates their social standing, as each reside from the opposite ends of the spectrum. East Egg, an island known for its “old money”- where people have been wealthy for generations, is where everyone wants to be in, as Daisy even says she’d be a “God damned fool to live anywhere else” (10). Daisy has always been wealthy, and marries Tom Buchanan in hopes of staying on top of the social ladder. Contrarily, the Valley of Ashes is a place described as “where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke” (23). The area is a wasteland described by dark tones, representing poverty and corruption. People desperately desire money and power which is why Myrtle has an affair with Tom, the same reason as to why Daisy marries him, his class. The two women come from different social standings to show distinct viewpoints based on a person’s

wealth.
Despite their differences, both were objectified and limited to their physical appearance.
Myrtle is continuously described as having a voluptuous body, carrying “her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can” (25), she was often associated with the word vitality. Nick’s description of Myrtle focuses on her physique, inferring that it was the only aspect of her that people lusted for. On the other hand, Daisy was largely correlated with the color white, indicating her “purity” and “delicacy”, and was known for her enticing voice, “ a kind of voice that the ear follows up and down, as if each speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again” (9). She was viewed as the golden girl, and was once adored by all men. Tom wanted her as a trophy wife, an achievement he could show off, while Gatsby saw her as a missing puzzle to complete his American Dream. Both Myrtle and Daisy’s circumstances show that women in the 1920s were only limited to their desirable characteristics, as men only wanted a part of them, but not themselves as a whole.
In general, the women’s movement became more prominent during this time period,
which includes the rise of Flappers, women who openly went against traditional definitions of femininity. Both characters showed traits of a flapper as they both had an affair even though they were married, proving that they were reckless and open about their sexual behavior. Despite this, it is shown throughout the book that men were still seen as superior, as Daisy even says that “ the best thing a girl can be in this world, [was to be] a beautiful little fool” (17). Daisy has accepted that women will always be disrespected and treated poorly therefore its best for her daughter to live comfortably in ignorance, complying to the traditional role of women. Like Daisy, Myrtle is abused by Tom, as he even “ broke her nose with his open hand” (37), Despite this, she chooses to clutch onto him, as she sees him as her ticket way out of the Valley of Ashes. Daisy and Myrtle depended on males for their livelihood, and would even withstand emotional and physical abuse if it meant getting to live a lavish lifestyle.
In conclusion, Daisy and Myrtle describes two vastly different social standings, just by
living in East Egg and the Valley of Ashes. However, both of them are objectified and are restricted to their desirable qualities, showing the superficial perception of the 1920s towards women. It is important to evaluate the discrimination people experience today by comparing it to how far America has changed throughout the decades. Even with the rise of feminism and the internet to address the issues of justice in the system, America has yet to achieve “true equality”.