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

Muhammad Ali Jinnah once said, ‘“There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a great competition and rivalry between the two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the women.” In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, women like Daisy Buchanan began to realize they were able to use certain traits to gain power over men. Similarly, in the film Chicago, made in 2002, Roxie Hart realizes the same. In the 1920 's, women were gaining power through their sexuality, and feigning innocence in order to escape from the hold men had on them. They were able to use men’s arrogance against them and gain female empowerment. Women in The Great Gatsby and Chicago both use men to get away …show more content…
In the novel, Jay Gatsby forces Daisy to admit that she never loved Tom, her husband, which wasn’t true. She only admitted the lie because Gatsby was pressuring her into doing so. Daisy admits to the truth to both Gatsby and Tom. Both react differently to the confession. “‘I love you now—isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.’ She began to sob helplessly. ‘I did love him once—but I loved you too.”’ (132) She loved Tom at one point, but the love began to fade when she was aware of the affair Tom was having in which she began to remember Gatsby and all the love she had for him. After she killed Tom’s mistress, Myrtle, Daisy allowed Gatsby to take the blame instead of her because she wanted to escape the hold he had on her. He pressured her into admitting a lie, which she didn’t want to. Daisy left along with Tom without giving Gatsby an explanation. However, she was able to get away from the hold he had on her. “I called up Daisy half an hour after we found him, called her instinctively and without hesitation. But she and Tom had gone away early that afternoon, and taken baggage with them. ‘Left no address?’ ‘No.’ ‘Say when they’d be back?’ ‘No.’” (164) Daisy was suppose to leave Tom because that’s what Gatsby was pushing her to do, but when it came to doing so, she didn’t. She did what she actually desired to do, which was to go away with Tom while the whole …show more content…
In the novel, Daisy cannot admit to never loving Tom because it is not true. By not being able to admit the lie she gains some power over Tom, having him tell her he is going to take more care of her from that point on. ‘“Even alone I can’t say I never loved Tom,’ she admitted in a pitiful voice. ‘It wouldn’t be true.’ ‘Of course it wouldn’t,’ agreed Tom. ‘As if it mattered to you,’ she said. ‘Of course it matters. I’m going to take better care of you from now on.’” (133) Tom tells Daisy he is going to take better care of her, probably meaning he’s no longer going to continue the affair he was having. He is also going to pay more attention to her and appreciate her. Tom saying this gives Daisy some sense of power over him. Similarly, in the film Roxie Hart is able to gain power, by not needing a man in her life to depend on. Velma Kelly tells her that she will get nowhere if she does a one act, but they will go everywhere if they do a double act. After being stubborn, Roxie agrees to doing so. “‘Ladies and gentlemen . . . the Chicago Theater is proud to announce a first. Not only one little lady. But two. You 've read about them in the papers. And now here they are. Chicago 's own killer-dillers. Those scintillating sinners. Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly!”’ The two women were able to create a double act, and only gained more fame through doing so. Roxie