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

The Great Gatsby

The 1920s were a revolutionary and reactionary era of American history that not only changed the expression of women but also their contributions to the world. Post World War 1, women were finding more freedom and acceptance into society for who they are and what they are capable of. They were slowly starting to work, get higher education, and overall break free from the societal expectation of a ‘standard’ woman. F. Scott Fitzgerald naturally represents the woman of this time through his renowned novel, The Great Gatsby. He utilizes his characters in a way that reflects the real woman of this time, such as the growing new, the forever traditional, and even the women who fall in between these two standards. Throughout his

The 1920s gave birth to the concept of a newer woman who denied social traditional societal norms and partook in things such as smoking, scandalous clothing, and other forms of expression that were previously suppressed. During the World War, women had to step up and fill in the shoes of men in the workforce because they were drafted and had to leave and even after the war, this trend continued and more and more women were present in the workforce. Typically, one of the reasons why women would be tied down to the home would be because the man would make the money and the woman has to be financially dependent on them. However, this was not the case for Jordan Baker, she was able to defy traditional gender roles and had her own job that provided for her. During Gatsby’s party, Nick narrates, “That was for the golf tournament. She had lost in the finals the week before”(Fitzgerald 43). Fitzgerald shows how Jordan is a professional golf player therefore able to secure her own income and independence. Jordan did not have to be bound to a man and was able to live her life according to her wants and will, and she is not once dependent on anyone but herself financially throughout the novel. Another way women were redefining themselves was through

Despite the large outbreak in flappers, there were women who were living as a typical housewife and had limited ability to express themselves due to the lack of innovation, technology, or the more uptight society around them. Unlike Jordan and other women who were becoming employed, it was actually not expected for women to work unless it was a household service. These traditional women were usually suppressed by men and had no financial independence and therefore they were seen as powerless in the 1920s. In the novel, Tom can be seen to have a lot of power and silent control and impact on Daisy’s life. Daisy’s quiet suppression can be seen when Nick notices how “The instant her voice broke off ceasing to compel my attention, my belief”(Fitzgerald 17). Daisy learns about her husband's affair but there is very little she can do about it realistically. Her voice breaking off is a sign of her discomfort in the situation but she does not take action despite her feelings, because if she were to confront Tom, she would be at a disadvantage considering the fact that she has no social status or financial stability without him. She depicts the unfortunate reality of many women in this time period who cannot support themselves and has no standing in society, and therefore has to submit to their husband rendering them powerless in the relationship. As a result