The 1920’s society in America displayed many different concerns, these concerns are highlighted in the novel The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald is able to use the different characters to represent the different problems going on in America going on in this time. Tom represents the Greed going on in America, Jay Gatsby represents the corrupt social hierarchy, Myrtle represents gender inequality and Daisy represents the importance of Social Class.
The 1920’s in America was a time of great wealth and a time of great poverty. The upper class society had extreme wealth to utilize on whatever they wished while the poor struggled to eat and live. The government was weak and this shows in the wage gap between the poor and the wealthy. The upper …show more content…
Males assumed they were superior to women and had absolute control over them. The control men demonstrated pushed women to change things up, which is what created the age of the flapper. “A flapper was vivacious and liberated, nut was also spoiled, rebellious, and self-centered. Fitzgerald is generally given credit for popularizing the literary image of the flapper. At the same time, he let it be known that he had little respect for his creation. In his mind, flappers threatened many positive, traditional values (Johnson, Claudia Durst.)." Conservative harshly criticized women who dressed as flappers. It was believed that the look was not appropriate and men expected women to drop it as soon as they got married. This idea of men controlling their wives is reflected in the marriage of Daisy and Tom Buchanan. The effects of a society where women are considered powerless are clear in many of Daisy Buchanan 's comments. Daisy says, “I 'm glad it 's a girl. And I hope she 'll be a fool-that 's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” It is implied that women are better off remaining foolish and ignorant because society does not treat women well. Men also wanted women to be foolish because they would then have control over females. This combination of men considering themselves to be superior, and women giving up on equality made it very hard to break gender norms. In the 1920’s women were not only hurt emotionally. Although violence is never okay, it was not unusual for men to be abusive in the early 20th century. Tom Buchanan is a wealthy man who believes he is above almost everyone and like many people in his position he does not like to be questioned. "Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!" shouted Mrs. Wilson. "I 'll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai------" Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” There are very few instances where men are questioned in
The 1920’s in America was a time of great wealth and a time of great poverty. The upper class society had extreme wealth to utilize on whatever they wished while the poor struggled to eat and live. The government was weak and this shows in the wage gap between the poor and the wealthy. The upper …show more content…
Males assumed they were superior to women and had absolute control over them. The control men demonstrated pushed women to change things up, which is what created the age of the flapper. “A flapper was vivacious and liberated, nut was also spoiled, rebellious, and self-centered. Fitzgerald is generally given credit for popularizing the literary image of the flapper. At the same time, he let it be known that he had little respect for his creation. In his mind, flappers threatened many positive, traditional values (Johnson, Claudia Durst.)." Conservative harshly criticized women who dressed as flappers. It was believed that the look was not appropriate and men expected women to drop it as soon as they got married. This idea of men controlling their wives is reflected in the marriage of Daisy and Tom Buchanan. The effects of a society where women are considered powerless are clear in many of Daisy Buchanan 's comments. Daisy says, “I 'm glad it 's a girl. And I hope she 'll be a fool-that 's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” It is implied that women are better off remaining foolish and ignorant because society does not treat women well. Men also wanted women to be foolish because they would then have control over females. This combination of men considering themselves to be superior, and women giving up on equality made it very hard to break gender norms. In the 1920’s women were not only hurt emotionally. Although violence is never okay, it was not unusual for men to be abusive in the early 20th century. Tom Buchanan is a wealthy man who believes he is above almost everyone and like many people in his position he does not like to be questioned. "Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!" shouted Mrs. Wilson. "I 'll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai------" Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” There are very few instances where men are questioned in