Women's Rights In The Great Gatsby

The Roaring Twenties was an era full of extravagance, soul, and change. In 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified, which gained women the right to vote. Although the women 's rights movement was taking many strides during this period, women were still viewed as inferior to men. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan is married to Tom Buchanan. Tom as well as Daisy are from old money, making them extremely rich and sophisticated while Jay Gatsby comes from new money. Jay Gatsby created himself to be exactly the person he is today. From a young age, he set goals to further improve his life. Gatsby started his life in a small farm town in North Dakota, and ended it an a gigantic mansion only a short train ride from New …show more content…
Gatsby and Daisy were in love, however, she never saw Gatsby as an option for marriage, because he was yet to be rich, so she moved on to Tom. Because Daisy came from old money, it was expected of her to marry in the same social tier, but Gatsby never gave up hope. Everything he did after he met Daisy to become successful was for her. When they were reunited it was apparent that Daisy was the one in control of Gatsby, even if that wasn’t necessarily her intention. Gatsby was much more concerned with impressing Daisy than she was impressing him. He has relived the moment so many times and Fitzgerald showed the discombobulated state Gatsby was in when he said to Nick, “This is a terrible mistake… a terrible, terrible mistake,” in which Nick comforted him saying, “You’re just embarrassed, that’s all,” adding in that “Daisy’s embarrassed too,” to encourage him. Gatsby was so concerned of Daisy slipping through his fingers once more, that he mulled over the situation and worked himself up. Once Tom found out about their affair he was desperate to gain Daisy back, not wanting to lose her to a once poor “Mr. Nobody”. New money in the Twenties was a lower class than old money. Although new money constantly tried to prove their wealth and raise their social tier, they were incapable of passing old money because they were raised not raised with a sophisticated lifestyle or family. In order to keep Daisy, Tom informed her know about all the dishonest business Gatsby was involved in. Daisy is shocked with this news and goes back to the comfort of Tom when she says, “Please, Tom! I can’t stand this anymore.” Then, Tom exercises his supremacy when he suggests Daisy and Gatsby drive home together next stating, “Go on. He won’t annoy you. I think he realizes that his presumptuous little flirtation is over.” Which does not discourage Gatsby because he is so blinded by his love for, or