Following the first world war, women were steadily earning more rights and slowly gaining traction in their fight for gender equality. The feminist icons of flappers and vamps granted women sexual freedom and offered them the opportunities to express themselves in ways that had never previously been socially acceptable. However, many disapproved of the emerging female rights and freedoms, therefore, despite the wave of feminism, negative social expectations of women remained. In the novel The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald promotes a negative depiction of women in the twenties, through the characters Myrtle and Daisy. Despite their many differences, they are portrayed similarly through the themes of power, deception and isolation.
Fitzgerald …show more content…
This act of violence occurs as a result of Myrtle’s provocation of Tom, by repeatedly saying the name of his wife, Daisy. This quotation clearly shows how Myrtle has surrendered all of her strength to Tom and remains powerless in their relationship. Thus, Myrtle’s lack of power in her relationship with Tom is used by Fitzgerald to slaughter the image of the free and sexually liberated young woman, by tainting it with abuse. Also, Myrtle is painted as a character who lacks personal freedom. This is established by Nick when he notices that “her laughter, her gestures, her assertions became more violently affected” (33). This quotation is narrated by Nick, while he is socializing at Tom’s apartment with Tom, Myrtle and a few other guests. As Myrtle continues to drink and socialize, her behaviour becomes increasingly more dramatic, as she attempts to exude wealth. Myrtle’s changing demeanor in this quotation demonstrates how she lacks autonomous freedom in her …show more content…
Hence, despite her strong characteristics, Fitzgerald uses Myrtle’s lack of personal liberty to depict her as feeble and inauthentic, thus tarnishing the appeal of female independence. Likewise, Daisy is also depicted surrendering her power to men. This can be observed when she says “I hope she’ll be a fool” (22). Daisy, who is Nick’s cousin, as well as Tom’s wife, recounts these thoughts about her daughter privately to Nick on the night of her dinner party. During this discussion, she explains her cynical perspective on life and tells Nick that due to gender inequality, she wept when she was told that she gave birth to a girl. This quotation demonstrates Daisy’s lack of power, as she has surrendered to the beliefs that women are powerless, and has allowed herself to be controlled. Thus, as Daisy is the object of desire for the male characters, her submission of power amplifies the male dominance throughout the novel, and accentuates Fitzgerald’s objectification of women. Additionally, Daisy is delineated as a woman who lacks personal liberty. This is introduced when Tom says “I wonder where in the devil he met Daisy… women run around too much these days” (100).
Fitzgerald …show more content…
This act of violence occurs as a result of Myrtle’s provocation of Tom, by repeatedly saying the name of his wife, Daisy. This quotation clearly shows how Myrtle has surrendered all of her strength to Tom and remains powerless in their relationship. Thus, Myrtle’s lack of power in her relationship with Tom is used by Fitzgerald to slaughter the image of the free and sexually liberated young woman, by tainting it with abuse. Also, Myrtle is painted as a character who lacks personal freedom. This is established by Nick when he notices that “her laughter, her gestures, her assertions became more violently affected” (33). This quotation is narrated by Nick, while he is socializing at Tom’s apartment with Tom, Myrtle and a few other guests. As Myrtle continues to drink and socialize, her behaviour becomes increasingly more dramatic, as she attempts to exude wealth. Myrtle’s changing demeanor in this quotation demonstrates how she lacks autonomous freedom in her …show more content…
Hence, despite her strong characteristics, Fitzgerald uses Myrtle’s lack of personal liberty to depict her as feeble and inauthentic, thus tarnishing the appeal of female independence. Likewise, Daisy is also depicted surrendering her power to men. This can be observed when she says “I hope she’ll be a fool” (22). Daisy, who is Nick’s cousin, as well as Tom’s wife, recounts these thoughts about her daughter privately to Nick on the night of her dinner party. During this discussion, she explains her cynical perspective on life and tells Nick that due to gender inequality, she wept when she was told that she gave birth to a girl. This quotation demonstrates Daisy’s lack of power, as she has surrendered to the beliefs that women are powerless, and has allowed herself to be controlled. Thus, as Daisy is the object of desire for the male characters, her submission of power amplifies the male dominance throughout the novel, and accentuates Fitzgerald’s objectification of women. Additionally, Daisy is delineated as a woman who lacks personal liberty. This is introduced when Tom says “I wonder where in the devil he met Daisy… women run around too much these days” (100).