Examples Of Patriarchy In The Great Gatsby

Brian Bui Ms. Guerrisi ENG4U1-04 May 7, 2024 Dynamic Levels of Patriarchy In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and Jordan Baker serve as prevalent symbols representing the facets of the complex interplay between gender, power, and societal expectations in America during the 1920s. Daisy Buchanan’s character serves as a symbol of the oppressive nature of a patriarchal society. Like most women in the novel, Daisy is manipulated by men, namely Tom and Gatsby – however, Daisy leverages her beauty to navigate expectations and her ambitions. Daisy's superficial traits are mirrored by Myrtle Wilson, who values material possessions and fortune over all else. Moreover, Myrtle is stuck in a loveless marriage

Fitzgerald captures and contrasts the experiences of women in The Great Gatsby through Jordan Baker, Myrtle Wilson, and Daisy Buchanan by exposing the pervasive grip of patriarchy and materialism. Their divergent paths highlight the persistent struggle against societal constraints, offering a poignant commentary on gender dynamics and individual agency in the 1920s America. Daisy Buchanan’s character personifies the upper class’s superficial and materialistic inclinations. Daisy is often described as a beautiful, innocent woman in which “a stirring warmth flowed from her” (Fitzgerald 14) – representing every facet of femininity in the 1920s. Daisy becomes the character in The Great Gatsby who is subjected to oppression by both Tom and the patriarchal system as a whole. Unable to break free, Daisy is compelled to accept the system because “the best thing a girl can be in this world [is] a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald 17). As a result, Daisy showcases the influence of a woman’s ability to capitalize on their beauty, and a man's innate desire, to better

Completely motionless and with her chin raised a little, as if she were balancing something on it, which was quite likely to fall. If she saw me out of the corner of her eyes, she gave me no hint of it—indeed, I was almost surprised to murmur an apology for having disturbed her by coming in. (Fitzgerald 8) Jordan exudes confidence and self-assurance, often displaying a cool, detached demeanor that sets her apart from other female characters who are often portrayed as emotionally entangled or reliant on male figures. Jordan Baker in The Great Gatsby symbolizes the contemporary American woman, their confident demeanor, and egalitarian relationships with males. Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, examines the varying levels of patriarchal standards by which different women abided during the 1920s. Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson embody societal constraints, contrasting with Jordan Baker’s portrayal of female independence and defiance of traditional gender norms – symbolizing the different facets of gender dynamics in America in the 1920s. Daisy Buchanan is a prime example of the cultural oppression that women faced in the 1920s patriarchal