Gender Roles In The Great Gatsby

Myrtle yearns to be with Tom and live in his wealth but is prevented from doing so by Tom and Daisy. For instance, when Daisy tries to leave Tom for Gatsby, Tom does not exactly dismiss Myrtle, “…but there is no question that she would eventually be discarded” (Donaldson). Myrtle is so infatuated with Tom, she forgot that he can just as well choose Daisy over her. He has the upper hand, as a rich man with control over women especially when it comes to his relationships. While to Tom, Myrtle’s gender has made her just one of his possessions, to Myrtle, Tom’s rich and high status as a man has made him her only path to a higher class. Due to her infatuation with Tom, she often becomes jealous and possessive when she finds a threat to their relationship. Myrtle is so overcome with desire for Tom that she cannot stand the thought of him with another women. Even when she sees Tom in the car with Jordan Baker, Myrtle’s, “… eyes, wide with jealous terror, were fixed not on Tom, but on Jordan Baker, whom she too to be his wife” (Fitzgerald 125). Myrtle is so convinced that Tom is hers, when in reality, she is really Tom’s. Myrtle has almost forgotten the fact that as an inferior women, she has little control over the situation. The reality is that Tom was in control of the relationship and used Myrtle for his lustrous desires. Tom’s rejection of Myrtle causes her to become overrun with jealousy. In

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, gender roles are used in a conservative way. The men are to make the money, buy the house, pay the bills and for everything else. The women are there to be the typical “house wife” and have the men buy them things. In the 1920’s men were more dominant over women so the women didn’t really have a high spot in society if they weren’t married to a wealthy man, or if they weren’t a professional athlete or a performer (actress, dancer, etc…). Myrtle Wilson, Jordan Baker, and Daisy Buchanan are an example of women that get dominated by men and prove men had the main role in society but one of them proves that women don’t necessarily need a man. They all prove that women have power, just in a different

When Tom is around Myrtle, he sometimes tries to still have respect for Daisy. Quotes to support this is, “Some time toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs. Wilson stood face to face, discussing in impassioned- voices whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy’s name” and “Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (2.37). Tom seemed to have limits or boundaries for Myrtle when it came to talking about his wife, however the second quote reveals how violent he can be and doesn’t treat women well. As to Daisy, Tom get upset with her for having an affair with Gatsby. A quote to support this is, “ I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from nowhere make love to your wife” (7.130). This quote shows how for Tom, it’s okay for him to have an affair but for Daisy to have an affair it’s not okay at

First, Tom and Daisy demonstrate their carelessness through their insensitiveness. When Tom is visiting his mistress, Myrtle, she taunts Tom by repeatedly saying “Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!” (Fitzgerald, 39). This causes Tom to get aggravated and strike Myrtle in the face, breaking her nose. Tom physically abuses Myrtle and while he is under the influence of alcohol, he has the intent of hurting her, not caring if she gets injured. Tom also lies to Myrtle, telling her that he would marry her if is wife wasn’t Catholic. Tom does not care about the feelings of his mistress, seeing her as an object and not a human. Myrtle is nothing more than a way for Tom to feel powerful due to her low social status and insecurities. It is mentioned that Tom has cheated on Daisy before with a maid, further proving that Toms motive for having an affair is power. It also proves that Tom is not cheating on Daisy because he is bored, but because he does not truly love her or care for her. Tom’s lack of concern for those around him proves his insensitiveness and overall carelessness.

Tom’s reaction to Myrtle talking about Daisy, goes like this, “Making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand”(41). Tom’s skillful punch to the nose implies to Myrtle that she will never be in a higher class and she is only his mistress. Again, Tom’s supercilious manner is contiguous throughout the novel.

During the 1920’s, women were objectified in society, yet began to show signs of independence by striving for equality between genders. In this time known as the Roaring Twenties, women began to use their voice desiring to live their lives how they chose. F. Scott Fitzgerald, a renowned author, displayed his perception of women attempting to prove their worth through his new book. One of the protagonists in the novel, Daisy Buchanan, challenges the gender barriers and threatens to paint a new image for women by choosing love over wealth. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald displays the modern women’s inability to obtain independence as they were perceived as incapable of making their own decisions and relied on traditional gender

Tom Buchanan is a man who has achieved any achievement you could possibly ask for by the age of twenty one. He has accomplished anything he wants to accomplish in his life, lots of awards, lots of money, a beautiful wife a child, he has worked long, hard and honestly for what he has, however, he has what to live for now? While that is very impressive and something he will remember the rest of his life, it can also be depressing.In consequence, Tom wants to find some excitement in life or simply something to do to fill a empty space in his life, that person is Myrtle Wilson. Although Tom seems to be a respectful gentlemen, we learn that he has little respect for women. When Nick visits Tom and Daisy’s house for the first time, Jordan tells Nick in private, “‘You mean to say you don't know?" said Miss Baker, honestly surprised. "I thought everybody knew." "I don't." "Why−." she said hesitantly,

Myrtle desires desperately to do much more in the world than just be a wife to a poor car salesman, and wants to move up and have her status respected. However, she is not able to achieve that, except by being Tom’s mistress, who often gives off the impression that she is not that important to him. When Tom and Myrtle fight over Myrtle’s right to say Daisy’s name, Tom slaps her, “making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” ( Fitzgerald 37). Fitzgerald’s description of the hit makes it seem like Tom did not put any effort into it; by explaining it as a short, simple hit that lacks intensity exemplifies that Myrtle is not deserving of Tom’s outright effort. Additionally, he is casually violent with her because he isn’t afraid that she will leave him, or does not seem to care.

Myrtle also adds to this stigma. She longs for a life that is fun and glamorous, but reality is she is the wife of a pump mechanic, meaning she will never have access to mobility in class or status. She is a lower class woman, which led her to engage in an affair with Tom Buchanan; it is the closest she will come to feeling higher up socially. Myrtle will do just about anything to be a part of the upper class despite the consequences. There was even a point in time when Tom physically hits her, breaking her nose and yet she still stayed with him just to continue lavishing in this fantasy she so eagerly wanted to become real (Fitzgerald, pg 37). That scene and the dynamic of her and Tom represent the subordination of the lower class and the mistreatment of women within the lower class.

F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby, illustrates most women in his novels in a incredibly negative light. He portrays them as dependent upon men, selfish, and completely amoral. Jay Gatsby is in love with the wealthy Mrs. Daisy Buchannan and tries to win her love by proving that he is wealthy. However, no matter how wealthy he becomes, or how many gigantic parties he throws, he is still never good enough for Daisy. The story ends in tragedy as Gatsby is killed and dies utterly alone. Fitzgerald's characterization of Daisy, Myrtle, and Jordan in The Great Gatsby demonstrates women who are objectified by men and treated as their trophies, while also

In the novel Tom is classified as an elitist who is viewed as a brute because of the way that he carries himself, however Tom seems to be using a mask to hide the fact that he has a strong insecurity that he is undeserving of his beloved wife Daisy, so in order to contain such an insecurity he goes around with his unidentified mistress Myrtle but even though he has something to distract him of his true self he gets upset when the truth is being said about him and he lashes out on anyone who gets in his way to protect what he is so desperately trying to

Tom advertises his affair with Myrtle to spread word of his power over women. Tom is insecure in his masculinity, he needs his peers to validate it. When Nick enters his social circles, Tom is quick to introduce

Societal ‘norms’ surrounding gender have continuously remained prominent internationally. Although these standards and expectations continue to shift, women still face oppression today. The novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, demonstrates the expectations of women and their relationships to men in 1920’s New York City through one of the main characters, Daisy Buchanan. A vast majority of Daisy’s actions are to entice and cater to the superior men of the novel. Through this, I was able to reflect upon the evolution of society’s stereotypes surrounding women from the 1920’s. Initially, from reading the novel, I learned about the period of the roaring twenties and how the aspect of class affects the

As Myrtle’s relationship with George Wilson deteriorates and she is disenchanted with his limited lifestyle, she desires more and thus when she meets Tom he offers her this. In some distorted way, Myrtle thinks that Tom will leave his beautiful wife Daisy and marry her, Tom doesn’t truly see the relationship between Myrtle and himself being a true relationship, he just believes she is someone he can call upon unannounced and use her for a sexual relationship. But Myrtle has other plans for the two of them. This is made clear when he breaks Myrtle’s nose we she mentioned his wife’s name: “‘Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!’ shouted Mrs. Wilson. ‘I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy Dai-‘Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald, 1926)This harsh action implied by Tom, really puts Mrs. Wilson in her place, making her come to her sense of what she can and cannot say. This reaction from Tom signifies that it is not a pure love existing between them. Further, Myrtle’s desire for the material goods Tom can provide shapes her conception of their alleged love, which is evidently greatly distorted as shown through Tom’s treatment of her.

In The Great Gatsby, Myrtle is given no respect and is being treated like an object. This happened in the chapter 2 when Tom takes Nick and Myrtle to party in a hotel in New York with others. Later in the party Myrtle and Tom comes out of a room arguing about Daisy.“Some time toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs. Wilson stood face to face discussing, in impassioned voices, whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy's name. I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! And Da-” Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” This quote explains how women like myrtle are being abused by Tom and he is treating her like an object despite not having a healthy relationship. This paragraph is important because it talks about how in F. Scott’s novel The Great Gatsby Myrtle is given no respect and is being treated like an object despite being a women.