great gatsby gender roles essay

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Gender Roles within The Great Gatsby Essay

When seeking to understand F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, within terms of gender roles and the ways in which the individual characters approach their own identity as well as the gender identities of their fellow characters within the novel, one quickly comes to the understanding that F. Scott Fitzgerald approaches gender roles in both a predictable and a visionary way. As a means of understanding this unique dichotomy, this brief analysis will discuss the methods by which F. Scott Fitzgerald utilizes both traditional/conservative understandings of gender roles as well as incorporating key elements of visionary and/or avant-garde interpretations of these constructs within the novel.

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As a function of the conservative ways that F. Scott Fitzgerald approaches the issue of gender roles, the reader can readily note that within the confines of the novel, men typically are dominant over women and are responsible for earning money and providing for the material needs of the family or relationship(s) that they maintain.    The gender roles for men are strongly presented with Fitzgerald writing the following concerning how male and female are understood within society, “Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water, and the history of the summer really begins on the evening I drove over there to have dinner with the Tom Buchanans” (Fitzgerald 15).    As one can readily see from the above passage, the way in which male and female are referred to by the first name of the male household owner is highly sexist and indicative of gender norms of that time.    However, as one might assume a level of comfort and predictability from the way that men are represented within the novel, the same cannot be said for the way that women are represented.    Although Fitzgerald’s male characters are seemingly one-dimensional with respect to their exhibition of gender roles and the understandings thereof, the means by which the female characters can be effortlessly be characterized is quite another matter.

The most blatant and glaring example of deviation from the traditional gender roles that existed within Fitzgerald’s own time is of course with relation to the character of Jordan.    Jordan represents the androgynous gender-bending example of the character that does not comfortably fit into either the traditional gender role of the male or female character.    In this way, even the name which Fitzgerald chose for such a character was meant to evoke a level of androgyny and confusion with relation to the traditional interpretation of gender and role observance.    Moreover, Jordan’s character engages in many traditionally male-dominated forms of entertainment and sport.    Likewise, the character of Jordan is one that does not reflect the gender roles and traditional dress of the times.    Fitzgerald describes her in terms of the following: “I noticed that she wore her evening dress, all her dresses like sports clothes-there was a jauntiness about her movements as if she had first learned to walk upon golf courses on clean, crisp mornings” (Fitzgerald 46).    Such a definition obviously points to the fact that Jordan was neither comfortable nor familiar with the feminine clothing and fashion that was worn by her contemporaries.    The novel further describes Jordan as the following: Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever, shrewd men, and now I saw that this was because she felt safer on a plane where any divergence from a code would be thought impossible. She was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage and, given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body” (Fitzgerald 159)    In pointing out this divergence in something as small as mere clothing, Fitzgerald is able to point to the fact that Jordan defies convention and does not necessarily ascribe to the traditional norms of gender that existed within the timer period.   

Conversely, Fitzgerald’s representation of the other women within the story serves to compound traditional gender roles that both existed at the time and to a large extent continue to pervade our own understandings of gender and gender roles today.    For instance, Myrtle is continually defined as highly sensuous and great attention is given to the physical aspects of her body as well as the provocative and feminine clothing she wears throughout the novel.    In this way, Myrtle is effectively sexualized and objectified; thereby providing an example of the ultimate epitome of traditional female gender roles in that Myrtle’s sole purpose within the confines of the story is to serve as a type of decoration for her lover.    However, rather than leaving the interpretation of Myrtle, and to a large extent Daisy, up to the dictates of traditional gender roles, Fitzgerald notes of the sarcastic contrast that exists when both women wear white dresses; seemingly indicative of chasteness and purity – yet a concept that is far from the truth with regards to exemplifying the lifestyles that both of these women live.    This in and of itself is also unique due to the fact that by sarcastically examining the lack of chasteness that is exemplified within the lives of these two women, Fitzgerald himself uses traditional gender roles as the measuring stick to determine whether or not these women can be defined within the constructs of the time.    Fitzgerald notes of this dynamic, “The only completely stationary object in the room was an enormous couch on which two young women were buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon. They were both in white, and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house. I must have stood for a few moments listening to the whip and snap of the curtains and the groan of a picture on the wall” (Fitzgerald 27).

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Another uniquely interesting dynamic of gender roles is the way in which women are presented by other women within the story as somehow less important and not worthy within the society.    Says Daisy of a prior encounter, “It’ll show you how I’ve gotten to feel about – things. Well, she was less than an hour old and Tom was God knows where. I woke up out of the ether with an utterly abandoned feeling and asked the nurse right away if it was a boy or a girl. She told me it was a girl, and so I turned my head away and wept” (Fitzgerald 117).    In this way, the reader is made to understand the girls are traditionally unprized and unhoped-for with relation to a male child.   

A full and complete analysis of gender roles within F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel cannot be fully analyzed without seeking to analyze the effect to which flapper fashion of the 1920s impacted upon the means by which women integrated into society.    In short, flapper fashion was in and of itself a liberation from the clothing enslavement that Victorian and post-Victorian fashion had dictated.    Due to the fact that the fashion itself changed and allowed women to play a more active part within the society and within otherwise male-dominated sporting events and activities, Fitzgerald presents a ridiculed view of how the women within the novel posture themselves in an uncomfortable attempt to control their own sexuality and integration within society.    Such a level of ridicule obviously originates from the fact that Fitzgerald himself could have been relating a degree of uncertainty and/or disgust with relation to how women of the time we’re entering uncharted territory and seeking to integrate with gender norms and mores that were otherwise unknown to them at that point.   Many analysts have pointed to the fact that although Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle are all prominent ladies within the confines of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, none of them are easily comparable or define the same attributes of traditional womanhood.    In their own way, each of the three women can be understood to represent different unique facets of femininity; outside of the traditional interpretation of gender roles as they existed within Fitzgerald’s own time.    As an athlete, Jordan has of course often been described by analysts as a type of androgynous or lesbian representation of femininity.    Her fascination and comfort with aspects of the “man’s” world further exemplify this type of definition.    Likewise, Daisy’s portrayal as the beauty who appeals to the male characters within the story further exemplifies a very traditional gender role that women have played within society for as long as recorded history has tracked.    Notes Fitzgerald of Daisy, “Through this twilight universe Daisy began to move again with the season; suddenly she was again keeping half a dozen dates a day with half a dozen men, and drowsing asleep at dawn with the beads and chiffon of an evening dress tangled among dying orchids on the floor beside her bed (Fitzgerald 19).    This type of open representation of raw sexual energy was outside the bounds of traditional gender norms that were accepted at the time and therefore helped to cast a different light on the way that Daisy is understood within the constructs of the story.

   Finally, Myrtle, although still defined as attractive, is indicative of the sexual liberation that was just begun to be realized within Fitzgerald’s own time.    As a function of Myrtle’s raw sexual energy, she exerts a level of independence and empowerment that was of course far beyond the times in which the story was itself set.   Finally, reverting back to an interpretation of male gender roles within the story, it can be understood that Nick is perhaps the only male character that significantly deviates from the traditional understanding o masculinity that existed within Fitzgerald’s time.    This is due to the fact that Nick is somewhat overpowered by Jordan’s clearly masculine dynamic and is somewhat locked into continuing a relationship that he does not wish to pursue.    However, this level of gender role and deviation is corrected near the end of the story due to the fact that Nick ultimately exercises his own will to power and breaks off the relationship.    Moreover, as previously stated, the other male gender roles within the stories are presented in terms that do not significantly deviate from traditional understandings.    Says Gatsby, “It made no difference to me. Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply – I was casually sorry, and then I forgot. It was at that same house party that we had a curious conversation about driving a car. It started because she passed so close to some workmen that our fender flicked a button on one man’s coat” (Fitzgerald 159).    This level of acceptance of women as weaker creatures that need the firm and directive hand of the male is represented throughout.    Sadly, one of the themes that are also analyzed is misogyny.    In one instance, the novel notes, “Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald 125).    By presenting such a horrifying example of how males viewed females within the constraints of the story and of the society, the patriarchal nature of the established gender norms is fully evidenced.    Although such is disheartening, there also exists within the novel the exemplification of gallantry and chivalry with regards to how Gatsby and Wilson ultimately kill themselves as a means protecting the women in their life.    Says the novel, “It was after we started with Gatsby toward the house that the gardener saw Wilson’s body a little way off in the grass, and the holocaust was complete” (Fitzgerald 112)

Although there is a number of different levels of meaning that can be interpreted from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, the fact of the matter is that the gender roles and their representation within the plotline of the novel help to provide perhaps the greatest level of definition to the characters and the situations that ultimately befall them.    As a function of these traditional and nontraditional gender roles, F. Scott Fitzgerald provides the reader with nuanced characters that epitomize different layers of the gender dynamic of humanity as well as incorporate the influences of a recently instigated sexual liberation and feminist dynamic that had only then begun to sweep the nation.   

• Fitzgerald, Scott F. The Great Gatsby. Simon and Schuster, New York. 1925.

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What is the role of women in 'The Great Gatsby'?

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Key Question

What is the role of women in The Great Gatsby ? Below, we’ll review the role of women in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and introduce three of the novel’s main female characters: Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle.

Historical Context

The Great Gatsby is filled with characters who appear to be larger-than-life, living the American Dream in the Jazz Age of the 1920s. The 1920s was also a period of increased freedom for women, as young women of this generation distanced themselves from more traditional values. However, in the novel, we don’t hear from the female characters themselves—instead, we primarily learn about the women from how they are described by the two main male characters, Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway. Read on to learn about the main female characters in The Great Gatsby .  

Daisy Buchanan

The female character we usually think of in The Great Gatsby is Daisy. Daisy, Nick’s cousin, lives in affluent East Egg with her husband, Tom, and their young daughter. Daisy is mentioned by Nick here: "Daisy was my second cousin once removed, and I'd known Tom in college. And just after the war I spent two days with them in Chicago." Daisy appears almost removed, as an after-thought, of an importance only as the wife to Tom. Later, we learn that Daisy was previously in a romantic relationship with Jay Gatsby, and that many of Gatsby’s actions have been designed as a strategy to win over Daisy.

In the novel, the male characters find Daisy’s voice to be one of her most remarkable and notable features. According to Nick: "I looked back at my cousin, who began to ask me questions in her low, thrilling voice. It was the kind of voice that the ear follows up and down, as if each speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again. Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget: a singing compulsion, a whispered 'Listen,' a promise that she had done gay, exciting things just a while since and that there were gay, exciting things hovering in the next hour."

As the novel progresses we learn that Daisy is the reason that Jay Gatsby has built up his opulent, lavish lifestyle. She's the reason, the hope-for-a-future that makes him dare to dream, and even dare to reinvent himself (from the small-town farm boy to the successful Jay Gatsby).

Jordan Baker

Jordan Baker is a close friend of Daisy from childhood. We learn that Jordan is a relatively well-known golfer, as Nick recalls having seen her picture and having heard of her before meeting her: “I knew now why her face was familiar—its pleasing contemptuous expression had looked out at me from many rotogravure pictures of sporting life at Asheville and Hot Springs and Palm Beach. I had heard some story of her too, a critical, unpleasant story, but what it was I had forgotten long ago.”

Jordan and Nick meet at a dinner at the Buchanans’ house. When the two meet, Daisy speaks of setting up a relationship between the two of them, and later they do indeed begin dating.

Myrtle Wilson

Myrtle Wilson is Tom Buchanan’s mistress, who Nick describes as vibrant and charismatic. When Nick first meets her, he describes her as follows: “Her face… contained no facet or gleam of beauty but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her as if the nerves of her body were continually smouldering.” Myrtle is married to George Wilson, who runs an auto shop in a working-class area outside of New York City.

Narration in The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is told from the perspective of Nick, whom many scholars have considered to be an unreliable narrator . In other words, Nick’s way of reporting on people and events in the novel may be biased, and an “objective” reporting of what really happened in the novel (or an objective description of the female characters in the novel) could potentially look different from how Nick has described the situation.

Study Guide

For more resources on The Great Gatsby , review our study guide below:

• The Great Gatsby Overview
• Review: The Great Gatsby
• Themes in The Great Gatsby
• Famous Quotes from The Great Gatsby
• Questions for Study and Discussion
• Key Terms and Vocabulary
• Why Was "The Great Gatsby" Banned?
• 'The Great Gatsby' Characters: Descriptions and Significance
• 'The Great Gatsby' Overview
• 'The Great Gatsby' Plot Summary
• The Great Gatsby and the Lost Generation
• 49 Unforgettable F. Scott Fitzgerald Quotes
• F. Scott Fitzgerald's Inspiration for 'The Great Gatsby'
• Critical Overview of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• 'The Great Gatsby' Themes
• Top Conservative Novels
• The Role of Women in "Wuthering Heights"
• 10 Classic Novels for Teens
• 'The Great Gatsby' Study Questions
• 'The Great Gatsby' Quotes Explained
• Geoffrey Chaucer: Early Feminist?
• The Lost Generation and the Writers Who Described Their World

The Great Gatsby: Theme & Key Quotes: Gender

The great gatsby: theme & key quotes: gender.

Themes: Gender

Gender roles are distinctly defined in The Great Gatsby , harkening back to the societal norms of the patriarchal 1920s era. Men are portrayed as dominant, controlling, and wealthy. Women, in contrast, are often depicted as commodities or prizes to be won.

Masculinity is often related to dominance , power , and wealth . Characters like Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby embody these traits.

Femininity is linked to beauty , passivity , and dependency . Daisy and Myrtle are examples of this portrayal.

Women are often referred to as objects . This dehumanising portrayal reflects the lack of gender equality present during the time period in which the novel is set.

The relationships between male and female characters in the novel often feature power imbalances . Daisy is regularly overshadowed or controlled by the male characters in her life, particularly her husband, Tom.

Key Quotes: Gender

“Her voice is full of money,” Gatsby says of Daisy, suggesting that her appeal is tied not to her personal qualities, but to her association with wealth and status.

“Daisy! Daisy! Daisy! I’ll say it whenever I want to!” Tom’s repeated assertion of control even over the use of Daisy’s own name reveals the gender power imbalance at the heart of their relationship.

“Tom’s got some woman in New York,” highlights the double standard of gender during the time, where men could have infidelities and it was considered a norm, while women were expected to remain demure and faithful.

“She never loved you, do you hear? She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me. It was a terrible mistake.” This quote from Gatsby, aimed at Tom, encapsulates his idealised vision of Daisy, who he casts not as an independent woman with agency, but as a prize to be won or lost.

“I married him because I thought he was a gentleman…I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe.” Myrtle’s contempt for her husband George Wilson underscores her desire for social mobility, which she believes can be achieved through the men in her life, thereby highlighting the gendered limitations of the era.

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Great gatsby through the lens of feminism.

November 5, 2018

ENGL 100. Prof Whitley

The Great Gatsby through the lens of Feminism

Feminist criticism examines the ways in which literature has been written according to issues of gender. It focuses its attention on how cultural productions such as literature address the economic, social, political, and psychological oppression of women as a result of patriarchy. Patriarchal ideology has a deeply rooted influence on the way we think, speak, and view ourselves in the world, and an understanding of the pervasive nature of this ideology is necessary for a feminist critique. Demonstrating how people are a product of their culture, feminist criticism of The Great Gatsby reveals how the novel both supports and challenges the assumptions of a patriarchal society. The Great Gatsby displays various aspects of feminist philosophy by reflecting opposing principles of society’s model through very different female characters. By using a range of characters who respond to the figure of the New Woman, the novel shows how difficult it was to defy the norms of the time.

The novel paints a picture of America in the 1920’s. Before the war, women had no freedom, and they had to remain on a pedestal prescribed by the limits of male ideals. But now, women could be seen smoking and drinking, often in the company of men. They could also be seen enjoying the sometimes raucous nightlife offered at nightclubs and private parties. Even the new dances of the era, which seemed wild and overtly sexual to many, bespoke an attitude of free self-expression and unrestrained enjoyment. In other words, a “New Woman” emerged in the 1920’s. The appearance of the New Woman on the scene evoked a great deal of negative reaction from conservative members of society who felt that women’s rejection of any aspect of their traditional role would inevitably result in the destruction of the family and the moral decline of society as a whole.

The main female characters in the novel – Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle – despite their many differences in class, occupation, appearance and personality traits, are all versions of the New Woman. All three display a good deal of modern independence. Only two are married, but they don’t keep their marital unhappiness a secret, although secrecy on such matters is cardinal in a patriarchal marriage. The women also challenge their assigned roles as females by preferring the excitement of night life to the more traditional employments of hearth and home. There is only one child among them, Daisy’s daughter, and while the child is well looked after by a nurse and affectionately treated by her mother, Daisy’s life does not revolve exclusively around her maternal role. Finally, all three women openly challenge patriarchal sexual taboo. Jordan engages in premarital sex, and Tom is even prompted to comment that Jordan’s family “shouldn’t let her run around the country in this way” (14). Daisy and Myrtle are both engaged in extramarital affairs, although Myrtle is more explicit about it than Daisy.

One of Daisy’s most memorable quotes is “All right, I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little food” (16). Daisy speaks of her hopes for her infant child, which reveals a lot about her character. Her bitterness and cynicism are signaled as she expresses this devastating critique of women’s position in society with reference to her daughter. It is clear that Daisy is a product of a social environment that, to a great extent, does not appreciate or value intellect in women. While Daisy conforms to a shared, patriarchal idea of femininity that values subservient and docile females, she also understands these social standards for women and chooses to play right into them. In this way, Daisy is a more subversive feminist.

Jordan is prescribed as a more masculine female character and seems to resist social pressure to conform to feminine norms. Not only does she have her own successful career, something that most women in the 1920’s did not have, but her career is in the male-dominated field of professional golf. She seems androgynous in her appearance and is described as having a “mustache of perspiration” and being “slender, small-breasted, with an erect carriage which accentuated by throwing her body backward at her shoulders like a young cadet.” The numerous masculine references in her physical descriptions through words such as ‘mustache,’ ‘erect,’ and ‘cadet’ demonstrate how she was not the typical 1920’s woman.  She is also very honest and direct, where the patriarchal norm would be to remain submissive and quiet.

Myrtle’s characterization is more focused on her physicality, and she is more quickly undermined as artificial and even grotesque. Her death is undignified and stresses the destruction of her feminine aspects, with her left breast “swinging loose” and her mouth “ripped.” It is possible to argue that Myrtle is severely punished for her expression of sexuality, while Daisy, less overt about her illicit relationship with Gatsby, and a less sensual character altogether, is able to resume her life with Tom once she has left Gatsby.

The novel also abounds with minor female characters whose dress and activities identify them as incarnations of the New Woman, and they are portrayed as clones of a single, negative character type: shallow, revolting, exhibitionist and deceitful. For example, at Gatsby’s parties, we see insincere, “enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names” (44), as well as numerous narcissistic attention-seekers in various stages of drunken hysteria. We meet, for example, a young woman who “dumps” down a cocktail “for courage” and “dances out alone on the canvass to perform” (45) and a “rowdy little girl who gave way upon the slightest provocation to uncontrollable laughter” (51). The novel’s discomfort with the New Woman becomes evident through these characterizations.

In conclusion, the women in this text are shown to be victims of social and cultural norms that they could not change, demonstrating how influential culture can be in shaping the lives of individuals. There is an attempt to redefine society and culture in a new way by gender relations and the women in this novel actively try to change the social norms through their attitudes and actions. It becomes clear, however, that patriarchy is deeply internalized for these characters, demonstrating how powerful and often devastating this ideology can be.

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88 Perfect Essay Topics on The Great Gatsby

Welcome to The Great Gatsby Essay Topics page prepared by our editorial team! Here you’ll find a large collection of essay ideas on the novel! Literary analysis, themes, characters, & more. Get inspired to write your own paper!

• 🔬 Literary Analysis
• 🎭 Characters
• 📊 Compare & Contrast
• 🗺️ Navigation

🎓 References

🔬 literary analysis of the great gatsby: essay topics.

• What are the literary devices used to create the image of Jay Gatsby?
• Analyze how Fitzgerald uses imagery in The Great Gatsby.
• The Great Gatsby: analysis and feminist critique
• What do colors symbolize in The Great Gatsby?
• How does Fitzgerald use geographical setting to show the contrast between social classes in the novel?
• How does Fitzgerald convey a notion of the American Dream through metaphors and symbols?
• What does the green light in Daisy’s window represent in The Great Gatsby?
• What does the Valley of Ashes symbolize in The Great Gatsby?
• What role does Nick Carraway’s narration play in the story? If we got it through an omniscient third-person narrator, what would we gain or lose?
• Could the story have been set in other places, like Chicago or Los Angeles, or were New York City and Long Island absolutely necessary?
• Look at the novel’s opening lines. If we accept Nick’s advice when we read the story, will our views of it change? Or, in other words, does refraining from criticism promote compassion?
• Is there a hidden meaning of the title of The Great Gatsby? What is it?
• How is the color white used within the novel? When does it make a false representation of innocence? When does it truly represent innocence?
• Color symbolism in The Great Gatsby
• What is the role of a New York setting in the novel’s storyline?
• What is the real meaning of ‘great’ in the title of The Great Gatsby?
• What significance do colors have in the party’s descriptions in chapter 3?
• Why is Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby a satire?
• Elaborate on the green light as the symbol of the American dream.
• What is the meaning of the phrase “Can’t repeat the past?.. Why of course you can!” What does Gatsby really want from Daisy?
• What role do the eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg play in The Great Gatsby?
• How is The Great Gatsby a satirical representation of the society?
• Are the rich in the novel really so careless as everyone believes them to be?
• Create an alternative ending for The Great Gatsby. Justify your choice.
• What is the relationship between those born rich and those who became rich in the novel?
• Fairy tale traits in The Great Gatsby

🎭 Essay Topics on The Great Gatsby’s Characters

• Discuss female characters and their significance in The Great Gatsby.
• Compare Gatsby and Wilson. In what ways are they similar?
• Gatsby & Nick in The Great Gatsby
• Who is the most responsible for Gatsby’s death? Why is it so?
• Why do Tom and Daisy stay together at the end of the novel?
• Does Gatsby’s money bring him real happiness?
• Can Jay’s feelings for Daisy in The Great Gatsby be considered love?
• How do secondary characters affect the story?
• Daisy Buchanan: quotes analysis
• Who is the real hero in The Great Gatsby?
• Can we call Jay Gatsby a romantic hero or a villain?
• What does Jay Gatsby really live for in the novel: the present or the past?
• Compare Myrtle and Daisy.
• Jay Gatsby & Tom Buchanan: compare & contrast
• What does Tom’s quarrel with Myrtle in chapter 2 tell us about his personality?
• Elaborate on how both Tom and Gatsby want to change not only the future, but the past in chapter 7.
• What was Gatsby’s power of dreaming like? Was Daisy a worth object?
• Is anyone to blame for Gatsby’s death?
• Nick as the narrator in The Great Gatsby
• Are there any moral characters in the novel?
• Can Jordan and Daisy be considered perfect role models for the upper class in America? Why or why not?
• Is Gatsby really great? In what way? How does his greatness evolve as the plot unfolds?
• How does Nick’s character change over the course of The Great Gatsby?
• Does Gatsby deserve the definition of a self-made man? Why or why not?
• What role does Daisy play in the conflict between Gatsby & Tom?

🌻 Essay Topics on The Great Gatsby’s Themes

• What are the central themes in The Great Gatsby?
• What roles do fidelity and infidelity play in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby?
• What importance does sex have in the story?
• What role does alcohol play in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald?
• Did Fitzgerald really criticize the idea of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby?
• Does love play have any importance in The Great Gatsby?
• What role does the relationship between geography and social values play in the novel?
• Francis Scott Fitzgerald & his American Dream
• What is the meaning of time in The Great Gatsby?
• How do the aristocratic East Eggers, Tom and the Sloanes, regard Gatsby in chapter 6? How is their contempt connected to the theme of social class in the novel?
• Analyze The Great Gatsby through the prism of feminist theory.
• How are the themes of kindness and compassion presented in The Great Gatsby?
• Describe how the theme of ambition is presented in the novel.
• Elaborate on how Fitzgerald contrasts education and experience in The Great Gatsby.

⌛ Essay Topics on the Context of The Great Gatsby

• Describe how F.S. Fitzgerald’s life experiences influenced The Great Gatsby.
• What are the examples of modernism in The Great Gatsby?
• How does Fitzgerald represent the society of his time in the novel? Would you like to live in the Jazz era? Why or why not?
• How is America shown in The Great Gatsby? What values do the East and the West represent?
• How does Fitzgerald provide a critical social history of Prohibition-era America in his novel?
• How is the economic boom of postwar America shown in The Great Gatsby?
• Why did The Great Gatsby was neither a critical nor commercial success just after its publication? Why did its popularity grow exponentially several decades after?
• How are racial anxieties of the time shown in the novel?

📊 The Great Gatsby: Compare & Contrast Essay Topics

• Make a critical comparison of the novel with the 2013 movie.
• Make a comparison of the novel with the 1949 movie.
• Compare The Great Gatsby movies of 1949 and 2013.
• Compare and contrast two classic American novels: The Great Gatsbyand The Grapes of Wrath.
• Female characters in The Streetcar Named Desire & The Great Gatsby .
• How are Donald Trump and The Great Gatsby’s Tom Buchanan alike?
• Compare Miller’s Death of a Salesman and The Great Gatsby.
• What other fictional or non-fictional character from a book or movie can Nick Carraway be compared to?
• Jay Gatsby & Eponine from Les Miserables .
• Make a critical comparison of The Sun Also Rises and The Great Gatsby.
• Compare The Great Gatsby with A Farewell to Arms.
• Make a comparison of Daisy from The Great Gatsby with Henrietta Bingham from Irresistible.
• Love in The Great Gatsby & The Catcher in The Rye .
• What pop stars of nowadays Daisy can be compared to?
• Macbeth vs. Jay Gatsby: make a character comparison.
• CS Topic Generator – Purdue Computer Science
• Past Essay Topics – University of Warwick
• Literature Topics and Research // Purdue Writing Lab
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Study Guide Menu

• Short Summary
• Summary (Chapter 1)
• Summary (Chapter 2)
• Summary (Chapter 3)
• Summary (Chapter 4)
• Summary (Chapter 5)
• Summary (Chapter 6)
• Summary (Chapter 7)
• Summary (Chapter 8)
• Summary (Chapter 9)
• Symbolism & Style
• Quotes Explained
• Essay Topics
• Essay Samples
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• F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Biography
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Sample details

• F.Scott Fitzgerald,
• Great Gatsby,
• The Great Gatsby Symbolism
• Words: 1929

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Gender Roles in “The Great Gatsby”

The Great Gatsby carefully reveals the domination women encountered in gender roles in the 1920’s. Several social norms existed that degraded the women in a way that even the women felt ashamed but accepted the role. They had no voice at this time and felt obligated to their husbands, because the male role was the head of the household that brought in all the wealth. In his story Fitzgerald talks about the gender roles in a conservative way. In the roaring twenties the men were dominant over women, mainly with Tom, who shows off his substantial strength to overpower them. The characters like Gatsby and Tom choose relationships with women that mirror their relationship with wealth and accomplishment.

As you read on, you’ll learn all about the title role that New York City’s upper classes had in the roaring twenties in the character’s behaviors. Women were regularly interpreted as adornments and less important than the men since they were incompetent to support themselves. You can see how the women in the 1920’s can easily fall in that category because of their behavior shown at one of Gatsby’s parties. “girls were putting their heads on men’s shoulders in a puppyish, convivial way, girls were swooning backward playfully into men’s arms, even into groups, knowing that someone would arrest their falls” (Fitzgerald 50).

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Nick has brought together the women at the party and is explaining their role in this story all in the same way. The men at the party are reassuring the women, that they will protect them and maleness to the swooning and puppyish women. The women in the 1920’s had no choice but to following the social norm/stereotype that men need to be their protectors since they are delicate individuals and ought to be led by a man. These women had no clue, or they were just plain naive on how they were living. Some knew, but still lived in that female gender role. They felt like they had no alternatives, but they did, they were just terrified to take that chance.

The first clue of a role switch is with Nick and Jordan. Jordan’s bisexual name showed flair and masculinize her greater than any other woman character. However, towards the end of the story, Nick will use his dominance on her by putting an end to the relationship. The group of women in the story is intriguing, because they do not split up into the historic groups of Mary of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene, instead, not any of them are unadulterated. Myrtle stands out the most to be sensual, but, Jordan and Daisy have on white dresses merely underlines their corruption. Nick talks about Daisy and Jordan’s white dresses. “Daisy and Jordan lay upon an enormous couch, like silver idols, weighing down their own white dresses against the singing breeze of the fans” (Fitzgerald 115).

This reveals exactly how Daisy did nothing but lay around on her couch with Jordan, like beautiful little fools’, minding their looks while Tom was at work, being the provider. Towards the middle of this chapter one Nick will talk about Daisy. “Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it, bright eyes and a bright passionate mouth, but there was an excitement in her voice that men who had cared for her found difficult to forget” (Fitzgerald 9). Nick is letting us know the way Daisy goes about life. Daisy is described as cheerful and naïve woman in the story, and yet, a portion of her is constantly unhappy. She sank into that time era where the stereotype of women stayed home while the men worked.

Myrtle Wilson is married to George Wilson, a poor, but devoted husband who loves his wife deeply. Myrle is also Tom’s mistress and is one of the women in this story that gives the “good girl” a bad reputation. Myrtle is eager to improve her position in life. That she makes rash decisions that leave a bad impression on her life, such as, getting married to George and developing an affair with Tom. Myrtle only wants to be with Tom because of his wealthy status. Even though Tom mistreats her badly with physical cruelty, Myrtle still stays with him because of the money. Myrtle absolutely ignores her poor husband because she is unhappy with her lifestyle with him. ‘She smiled slowly and walking through her husband, as if he were a ghost shook hands with Tom, looking him flesh in the eye’ (Fitzgerald 25-26). Myrtle exists as a woman who lies, cheats to get whatever she desires, has relationships with other men to get things, and has no sense of worth. Towards the end, all these awful behaviors catch up to her and cause her untimely death.

Although we see more discrepancies than similarities when it came to their obligations back in the 1920’s, the motive behind their acts was often the same. Some of the similarities that you can see in men and women’s roles in The Great Gatsby involve values or social norms, seeing one another as tools, and manipulating their character to attain their goals. As I mentioned above, in the 1920’s the man’s place was to provide for the family and to take care of business matters, and the women were needed to socialize and look elegant, in The Great Gatsby. The men and women in this story also have in common that they see each other as property to gain importance in society. Marrying into wealth was one’s job in 1920’s. Daisy felt compelled to marry for money.

Tom wed to secure a picture-perfect trophy wife, Daisy, and so, their task was completed. Myrtle aims to get prosperity, so she utilizes Tom, and Gatsby desires to be with Daisy, so he utilizes his fortune, each character adding to the story. In this sense, men and women’s responsibilities are primarily the same- they utilize one another to get a superior level in society or to be recognized as superior. The dissimilarities amongst gender roles in The Great Gatsby are diverse. A few of the key differences is how they are portrayed, how their characters are admired, and how they are respected.

At that point in time, men like Tom and Gatsby were dominant and highly respected. Because of their prominence, men’s unfair acts were regularly unnoticed. One illustration of this is Tom’s affair with Myrtle how it’s recognized and at the same time talked about at the dinner table. However, Tom expresses his outlook on women’s affairs by stating “By God, I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but women run around too much these days to suit me… they meet all kinds of crazy fish” (Fitzgerald 103). All the men in this story are portrayed favorably: Tom Buchanan is rich and powerful, Gatsby is determined, Nick is accurate, and George Wilson is a devoted, hard-working man. As for the women they are perceived as goods, and merely only useful for enjoyment. This era really degrades women and it must be upsetting for the women of today who educate themselves with the readings of gender roles back in the 1920’s. Because women have come a long way since then.

Nowadays, there are some women who don’t need a man’s support. Some are single parents who are providing for their own family with no support of a dominate male figure in the household. In the 1920’s the female gender since birth believed that they had to marry a man of money, but in today’s era, the female gender is a different breed of women who are strong and independent mothers who are a role model for their daughters. By this example, these daughters grow up to be women who can and will make their own decisions in life rather it be a housewife or have a career, some women do both. Either way they have that mentality to accomplish what they want in life. Still today there are some women who are good with the male domination, like Daisy Buchanan.

Daisy, “All right, I said, I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” when her daughter is born (Fitzgerald 17). Daisy is voicing this from her own personal experience, with having plenty of experience in a period of gender unfairness. The women in this story are displayed as “trophy wives, mistresses, cheaters, and fools”, and all this was precisely what was anticipated by them. The major difference between gender roles has decreased throughout the years, although the belief society sets of individuals are as compelling as it occurred during the “Roaring Twenties.” Marriages today end up in counseling or even divorce when it comes to affairs. Some men and women do marry for wealth, but mainly for love. The women in this story seem to want just the prosperity when it comes to their marriage.

Today, the lifespan of men and women are now completely different from the lifestyle, in 1920’s, but stereotype’s even now get a say. Nowadays, the man of the house is still expected to bring in the utmost income and women manage the housekeeping and care for the children. Nevertheless, respect is often needed from both genders, as well as a woman’s importance in a workplace is accepted more often. Men and women today know the importance of education and being a “beautiful little fool” certainly isn’t viewed the best a woman can do. In today’s societies, it takes two incomes to support a family and men have come a long way in their thinking that the woman should be at home while they work.

In today’s society, men have become supportive of women having a career. Especially when it benefits their family’s lifestyle. In the Great Gatsby, the single character, Jordan Baker was the closest to break the social walls in the 1920’s. Jordan has a man’s occupation, a unisex name, and is humbly self-sufficient. Jordan Baker would be an inspiration to woman and at this present time women have become a Jordan Baker by having an amazing career and by being independent. Just to name a couple, Katrina Adams, CEO/president, U.S. Tennis Association and Valerie Jarrett’s official title is Assistant to the President. Also, there are plenty of women who are recognized for their sportsmanship like, Serena Williams, who is a tennis star and Alex Morgan, who is an American soccer player and Olympic gold medalist. Women have tossed that gender role out the window since the 1920’s.

In this day of age, men’s responsibilities have remained the same, but then again, their arrogance of authority has enhanced over time. The women’s title role has increased, and they begin to partake in both a career and parental beliefs. To this day, the physical roles of men and women are diverse, although the differences are much less so. In certain American households today, the husband actually sits at home to keep house and look after the children while the wife manages to provide for the family, the roles have reversed. In the Great Gatsby, the importance of each gender, and the influence the social order had on people’s lives were all displayed within the story. Maybe by viewing what they were, the reader can see what they can and ought to become.

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Essays on The Great Gatsby

The great gatsby essay topic examples.

Whether you want to analyze the American Dream, compare and contrast characters, vividly describe settings and characters, persuade readers with your viewpoints, or share personal experiences related to the story, these essay ideas provide a diverse perspective on the themes and complexities within the book.

Argumentative Essays

Argumentative essays require you to analyze and present arguments related to the novel. Here are some topic examples:

• 1. Argue whether the American Dream is achievable or illusory, as depicted in The Great Gatsby .
• 2. Analyze the moral ambiguity of Jay Gatsby and the consequences of his relentless pursuit of the American Dream.

Example Introduction Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a tale of ambition, decadence, and the elusive American Dream. This essay delves into the complex theme of the American Dream, exploring whether it remains attainable or has transformed into a tantalizing illusion, luring individuals like Jay Gatsby into its enigmatic embrace.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for an Argumentative Essay: In conclusion, the analysis of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby invites us to reevaluate our perceptions of success and fulfillment. As we contemplate the fate of Jay Gatsby and the characters entangled in his world, we are challenged to define our own version of the American Dream and the sacrifices it may entail.

Compare and Contrast Essays

Compare and contrast essays enable you to examine similarities and differences within the novel or between it and other literary works. Consider these topics:

• 1. Compare and contrast the characters of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan, exploring their contrasting worldviews and motivations.
• 2. Analyze the similarities and differences between the portrayal of the Jazz Age in The Great Gatsby and Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises .

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: The characters and settings in The Great Gatsby and other literary works offer a rich tapestry for comparison and contrast. This essay embarks on a journey to compare and contrast the enigmatic Jay Gatsby and the brash Tom Buchanan, delving into their contrasting values, aspirations, and roles within the novel.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Compare and Contrast Essay: In conclusion, the comparison and contrast of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan illuminate the divergent paths individuals can take in pursuit of their desires. As we consider the consequences of their choices, we are prompted to reflect on the complexities of ambition and morality.

Descriptive Essays

Descriptive essays allow you to vividly depict settings, characters, or events within the novel. Here are some topic ideas:

• 1. Describe the opulent parties at Gatsby's mansion, emphasizing the decadence and extravagance of the Jazz Age.
• 2. Paint a detailed portrait of Daisy Buchanan, focusing on her beauty, charm, and the allure she holds for Gatsby.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: The Great Gatsby immerses readers in the lavish world of the Roaring Twenties. This essay embarks on a descriptive exploration of the extravagant parties at Gatsby's mansion, capturing the opulence and hedonism of the era, as well as the illusions they create.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Descriptive Essay: In conclusion, the descriptive portrayal of Gatsby's parties serves as a vivid snapshot of the Jazz Age's excesses and the fleeting nature of indulgence. Through this exploration, we are reminded of the allure and transience of the materialistic pursuits that captivated the characters of the novel.

Persuasive Essays

Persuasive essays involve arguing a point of view related to the novel. Consider these persuasive topics:

• 1. Persuade your readers that Nick Carraway is the moral compass of the story, serving as the voice of reason and morality.
• 2. Argue for or against the idea that Gatsby's love for Daisy is genuine and selfless, despite his questionable methods.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: The Great Gatsby presents a tapestry of characters with complex moral dilemmas. This persuasive essay asserts that Nick Carraway emerges as the moral compass of the story, guiding readers through the labyrinth of decadence and disillusionment in the Jazz Age.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Persuasive Essay: In conclusion, the persuasive argument regarding Nick Carraway's role as the moral compass underscores the importance of ethical navigation in a world characterized by excess and moral ambiguity. As we reflect on his influence, we are compelled to consider the enduring value of integrity and virtue.

Narrative Essays

Narrative essays offer you the opportunity to tell a story or share personal experiences related to the themes of the novel. Explore these narrative essay topics:

• 1. Narrate a personal experience where you encountered the allure of materialism and extravagance, similar to the characters in The Great Gatsby .
• 2. Imagine yourself as a character in the Jazz Age and recount your interactions with Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan.

Example Introduction Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: The themes of The Great Gatsby resonate with the allure of a bygone era. This narrative essay delves into a personal encounter with the seductive pull of materialism and extravagance, drawing parallels to the characters' experiences in the novel.

Example Conclusion Paragraph for a Narrative Essay: In conclusion, the narrative of my personal encounter with the allure of materialism reminds us of the timeless nature of the themes in The Great Gatsby . As we navigate our own desires and ambitions, we are encouraged to contemplate the balance between aspiration and morality.

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April 10, 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Novel; Fiction, Tragedy

Jay Gatsby , Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, Jordan Baker, Meyer Wolfsheim, George B. Wilson, Trimalchio, Mr. Gatz

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote "The Great Gatsby" with multiple motivations in mind. Firstly, he sought to critique the materialistic excesses and moral decay of the Roaring Twenties, a period of post-World War I prosperity. Fitzgerald aimed to expose the disillusionment and hollowness behind the glittering facade of the American Dream. Additionally, he drew inspiration from his own experiences and observations of the wealthy elite and their decadent lifestyles. Through the character of Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald explored themes of unrequited love, longing, and the pursuit of an unattainable ideal. Ultimately, Fitzgerald's intent was to capture the essence of an era and offer a profound commentary on the human condition.

The story revolves around Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire, and his pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a married woman with whom he had a romantic past. Narrated by Nick Carraway, a young man from the Midwest, the novel delves into the opulent and extravagant lives of the wealthy elite in Long Island. As Gatsby throws lavish parties in the hope of rekindling his relationship with Daisy, the narrative explores themes of love, wealth, illusion, and the disillusionment that comes with the pursuit of the American Dream.

The American Dream , decadence, idealism, resistance to changes, social excess, caution.

The influence of "The Great Gatsby" extends far beyond its initial publication in 1925. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel has become a literary classic, revered for its exploration of themes such as wealth, love, and the elusive American Dream. It remains relevant due to its timeless portrayal of human desires, societal decadence, and the consequences of relentless pursuit. The book's vivid characters and atmospheric prose have inspired countless writers and artists, shaping the landscape of American literature. With its commentary on the dark underbelly of the Jazz Age, "The Great Gatsby" continues to captivate readers, serving as a cautionary tale and a poignant reflection of the human condition.

1. During F. Scott Fitzgerald's lifetime, approximately 25,000 copies of the book were sold. However, since then, it has gained immense popularity, selling over 25 million copies and establishing itself as one of the most renowned American novels. 2. The Great Gatsby did not have its original title as the author considered various options, ranging from "Under the Red, White and Blue" to "The High-Bouncing Lover." These alternative titles were potentially revealing too much about the content prematurely. 3. In 1926, just a year after its publication, the book was adapted into a film, demonstrating its quick transition from page to screen. 4. Fitzgerald's cause of death is believed to have been tuberculosis rather than a heart attack. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 44. 5. The price of this famous novel at the time of its publication in 1925 was $2, representing its value in that era. 6. The Great Gatsby did not immediately receive critical acclaim upon release. However, it has since garnered recognition and praise, becoming a significant literary work.

"The Great Gatsby" has made a significant impact on various forms of media, captivating audiences across generations. The novel has been adapted into several films, with notable versions including the 1974 adaptation starring Robert Redford and the 2013 adaptation featuring Leonardo DiCaprio. These cinematic interpretations have brought the story to life visually, further immersing audiences in the opulent world of Jay Gatsby. Additionally, the novel has been referenced and alluded to in countless songs, television shows, and even video games, solidifying its cultural significance. Its themes of love, wealth, and the pursuit of the American Dream continue to resonate and inspire creative works in popular culture.

“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.’” “I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” “Let us learn to show our friendship for a man when he is alive and not after he is dead.” “So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight.” “I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”

Studying "The Great Gatsby" holds great importance due to its enduring relevance and literary significance. The novel offers profound insights into themes such as wealth, love, social class, and the corruption of the American Dream. Its exploration of the Jazz Age exposes the allure and emptiness of a materialistic society, making it a compelling study of human desires and societal decay. F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterful prose and symbolic imagery provide rich material for analyzing character development, narrative techniques, and social commentary. Moreover, delving into the novel's historical context allows for a deeper understanding of the cultural and societal shifts of the 1920s.

The inclusion of "The Great Gatsby" as an essay topic for college students stems from its exploration of themes like the American Dream, the juxtaposition of poverty and wealth, and the destructive allure of corruption. The character of Gatsby embodies the American spirit and can be paralleled to contemporary individuals fixated on materialism and fame as measures of romantic success. Furthermore, this literary masterpiece holds a significant place in American literature, as F. Scott Fitzgerald skillfully weaves socio-cultural elements into each sentence, providing a timeless portrayal of American life that resonates across generations. The choice to analyze and write about "The Great Gatsby" allows students to delve into these thought-provoking themes and examine their relevance to society.

1. Stallman, R. W. (1955). Conrad and The Great Gatsby. Twentieth Century Literature, 1(1), 5–12. (https://doi.org/10.2307/441023) 2. John Jerrim, Lindsey Macmillan, (2015). Income Inequality, Intergenerational Mobility, and the Great Gatsby Curve: Is Education the Key?, Social Forces, Volume 94, Issue 2. (https://academic.oup.com/sf/article/94/2/505/2583794) 3. Robert C. Hauhart (2013) Religious Language and Symbolism in The Great Gatsby’s Valley of Ashes, ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews, 26:3 (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0895769X.2013.798233) 4. Burnam, T. (1952). The Eyes of Dr. Eckleburg: A Re-Examination of “The Great Gatsby.” College English, 14(1), 7–12. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/371821) 5. Tom Phillips (2018) Passing for White in THE GREAT GATSBY: A Spectroscopic Analysis of Jordan Baker, The Explicator, 76:3. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00144940.2018.1489769?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab) 6. Matterson, S. (1990). The Great Gatsby and Social Class. In: The Great Gatsby. The Critics Debate. Palgrave, London. (https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-20768-8_9) 7. Licence, A. (2008). Jay Gatsby: martyr of a materialistic society: Amy Licence considers religious elements in The Great Gatsby. The English Review, 18(3), 24+. (https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA173676222&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=09558950&p=LitRC&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7E5a84816e) 8. Khodamoradpour, Marjan and Anushiravani, Alireza, (2017) Playing the Old Tunes: A Fiskean Analysis of Baz Luhrmann's 2013 Cinematic Adaptation of the Great Gatsby. International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences, Volume 71. (https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3020752) 9. Anderson, H. (1968). THE RICH BUNCH IN" THE GREAT GATSBY". Southern Quarterly, 6(2), 163. (https://www.proquest.com/openview/6a9e704a476d873aada2d2529821b95a/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2029886)

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Gender Roles in The Great Gatsby

The 1920s novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the quintessential novels of The Jazz Age. The novel explores the relationships between a small group of individuals who lived amongst the wealth and the poverty of Long Island, New York, Queens, NY and Manhattan, NY. The novel is often interpreted with regards to the income inequality that is seen amongst the characters in the years when America was in a financial boom. However, the novel also represents a period when much in society was changing. Women appeared to be greatly liberated when compared to the previous generations. However, the novel shows that women were in a changing climate with regards to gender roles. Myrtle was still clearly dominated by men, while Jordan was more liberated. Daisy represented the change in women. She was more rebellious and willing to engage in an affair; however, she recognized that women still suffered from limitations. These women were surrounded by men who maintained traditional gender roles and attempted to control the women.

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As the women tried to free themselves from the traditional roles, the men forced them to return to them. The novel discusses the illicit love of Jay Gatsby for Daisy Buchanan. There are three main female characters in the novel: Daisy, Jordan Baker and Myrtle Wilson. Jordan Baker clearly represents the “new woman.” She is androgynous, as indicated by her name. She also is an athletic woman, rather than a feminine one. She is a professional golfer. She begins a relationship with the narrator of the story, Nick. Nick describes her as “a slender, small-breasted girl with an erect carriage which she accentuated by throwing her body backward at the shoulders like a young cadet” (Fitzgerald 26). This is far from a feminine description for a woman. She also has no problem directing men to her wishes. When she and Nick are at a party at Gatsby’s house, Jordan insists that she wants to leave the party and explore the home. She does not wait for the man to direct her. She is independent and even drives her own vehicle. This would not be consistent with a woman who allows men to lead the relationship. Eventually, Nick ends their relationship. Nick returned to the traditional gender roles in which a man would make the decisions.

Myrtle Wilson, however, is the opposite. She is entirely at the mercy of the men in her life. Myrtle is the wife of a poor mechanic who owns a shop in Queens. She struggles with the dismal existence of her life and leverages the only thing of value she has: her sexuality. She begins an affair with Tom Buchanan, Daisy’s husband. She clearly does this in order to escape her dismal life in the Valley of the Ashes. Her husband suffers from inferiority due to this financial situation. He is at the mercy of the richer, more powerful men. Myrtle is a casualty of this situation. She attempts to control her husband, but eventually he refuses this relationship. She directs her husband to “Get some chairs, why don’t you” when Tom and Nick arrive at their shops (Fitzgerald 37). She is also blatantly sexual, unlike Jordan’s androgynous looks. While she was not beautiful, “her body [was] continually smoldering….she wet her lips” (Fitzgerald 37). She also is far from slim, but rather has the curves of a woman and her dresses accentuated these. She is, sadly though, using her sexuality to spend time away from her existence in the Valley of the Ashes. While George Wilson does not appear to object to the obvious, he later insisted upon ruling Myrtle’s wife. Wilson recognizes that his wife has been unfaithful. He responds by locking her away and says, “She’s going to stay there till the day after tomorrow and then we’re going to move away” (Fitzgerald 120). Myrtle attempted to break free from her life; sadly, she was forced to use her sexuality to do so. Tom was merely having a cheap affair with her; he was willing to use her. Her husband may have loved her. However, he also insists upon controlling her in the end.

Daisy’s character is not as dependent as Myrtle, but certainly not as openly independent as Jordan. She engages in an affair with Gatsby. Tom believed in the idea that men could have affairs, but women should not. He objected to his wife engaging in the same behavior as he did. Daisy did not originally appear as the independent and free-spirited woman of the Twenties. Gatsby indicated that she was the “first ‘nice’ girl he had ever known” (Fitzgerald 130). The use of italics on the word “nice” indicates that she was likely a virgin who did not engage in sexual relations outside of marriage. However, Gatsby also saw Daisy merely as property. Women, sadly, were viewed as property in previous times. According to Gatsby, the interest of other men in Daisy, “increased [Daisy’s] value in his eyes” (Fitzgerald 130). Daisy realizes that women are valued only for their looks and frivolity. With regards to her own daughter, she states, “I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 30). Daisy knows that beauty will bring her daughter security; she hopes that she is too foolish to question her place in the world. Daisy realizes that she is in a world controlled by men with wealth and power. Tom Buchanan is abusive to her; she cannot leave him because he has these things. In the novel, Tom and Gatsby both represent the men who will control their worlds, even if it involves deceit to do so. Sadly, George Wilson has little control over the world, as he is poor. He still does try to control his wife though. Even Nick, the most sensible character in the novel, refuses to give Jordan the upper hand in the hand.

In the novel The Great Gatsby, the men attempt to maintain traditional gender roles, which includes controlling their wives and girlfriends. They do not believe women should act in a similar manner. The women in the novel all attempt to act in an independent manner to some degree. They are not allowed to do so. Sadly, they use their beauty and sexuality as a way to break free. Jordan is the most independent and non-sexual one of the women. However, none of these ways allow the women to achieve independence.

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 1925.

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The 1920s novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of the quintessential novels of The Jazz Age. The novel explores the relationships between a small group of individuals who lived amongst the wealth and the poverty of Long Island, New York, Queens, NY and Manhattan, NY. The...

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