The novel The Great Gatsby, the author F. Scott Fitzgerald depicts an anti-feminist view of the world. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, feminism is defined as the theory of political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. During the time period in which the novel was published, the feminist movement was starting to expand. Although, contrary to what was going on during that time, the novel portrays the opposite of what the feminist movement stands for. Feminists strive to achieve the goal of “exposing elements in literature that have been accepted as the norm by both men and women” (Prestwick article). Fitzgerald incorporates these accepted norms, or stereotypes, into his work by casting them onto the characters. For example,
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This is revealed by how women are being controlled by the men around them. For example, Tom, who is very wealthy, has an affair with Myrtle, who is poor. This is another common belief where rich men seek poor women as their mistresses because they are easier to manipulate. Tom knows that he has control over Myrtle because he has what she wants which is his money. When Tom goes to meet Myrtle he tells her, “I want to see you, get on the next train” (26). Myrtle agrees without hesitation. In this scene, Tom is demanding and viewed as in control whereas Myrtle is seen as obediently following Tom. This degrades women because Myrtle is seen as no match against Tom. This is a clear example of how men control women because Tom is able to order Myrtle around to do as he pleases. Later in that chapter, Tom and Myrtle get into an argument that ends with him hitting Myrtle and breaking her nose. One would expect that Myrtle would no longer want to be associated with Tom let alone continue to have an affair with him, but that does not happen. Instead, even if Tom abuses her, she still continues to be with him. This is degrading because it portrays Myrtle as not having any self worth. Towards the end of the novel when Myrtle 's husband, Wilson, finds out about the affair she is having, he proclaims, “I’ve got my wife locked in up there. She’s going to stay there till the
This is revealed by how women are being controlled by the men around them. For example, Tom, who is very wealthy, has an affair with Myrtle, who is poor. This is another common belief where rich men seek poor women as their mistresses because they are easier to manipulate. Tom knows that he has control over Myrtle because he has what she wants which is his money. When Tom goes to meet Myrtle he tells her, “I want to see you, get on the next train” (26). Myrtle agrees without hesitation. In this scene, Tom is demanding and viewed as in control whereas Myrtle is seen as obediently following Tom. This degrades women because Myrtle is seen as no match against Tom. This is a clear example of how men control women because Tom is able to order Myrtle around to do as he pleases. Later in that chapter, Tom and Myrtle get into an argument that ends with him hitting Myrtle and breaking her nose. One would expect that Myrtle would no longer want to be associated with Tom let alone continue to have an affair with him, but that does not happen. Instead, even if Tom abuses her, she still continues to be with him. This is degrading because it portrays Myrtle as not having any self worth. Towards the end of the novel when Myrtle 's husband, Wilson, finds out about the affair she is having, he proclaims, “I’ve got my wife locked in up there. She’s going to stay there till the