How Is Daisy Portrayed In The Great Gatsby

In the Great Gatsby, women are described as thoughtless people who are the origin of all troubles. Fitzgerald holds a traditional value that man shall offer woman support and protection; in exchange, woman submit obedience and respect to man in courtship. Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda Sayer, much to his dismay, was the opposite of his ideal image woman. Zelda was an icon of the flappers and an artist and author on her own right. One that live her own live with little reliance on the man, or at least did not give Fitzgerald the respect he deserved. In the background, the on-going rising sentiment in Feminism movement, increasing number of feminist sympathiser, and the recent feminist suffragist victory in the 19th Amendment further challenged Fitzgerald’s …show more content…
Fitzgerald discontented with Zelda’s feminist ideal and the increasing feminist sentiment in the society. He reflected his discontent in the novel, and criticized Women for being thoughtless: Daisy, who is the representation of woman, is portrayed as thoughtless. Daisy indulged in her amorous relationship with Gatsby yet forgetting the Social responsibility of her as a married woman – to maintain the peace and unity of the family. When Daisy started the dating Gatsby, she clearly did not speculate the consequence. Furthermore, during her relationship with Gatsby, she was careless about Gatsby’s mental state. Daisy’s obsession on Gatsby’s wealth led to Gatsby’s illusion that he really won her back. Such illusion boost Gatsby’s confidence in his relationship with Daisy and led to his direct confrontation with Tom, and, subsequently, the tragic death of myrtle and the murder of Gatsby. Tom Buchanan, although having an affair with another woman too, had dealt with it in a much manner. Tom was well aware of his situation and is self-controlled in his relationship with Myrtle. First of all, Tom would not let Myrtle challenge the position of her real wife