Sexism In The Great Gatsby

A woman’s main goal in life is to find a husband of great wealth and power that can help support their emotional instability. F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays this goal for women based on the plethora of detailed imagery he uses when describing them. Women are constantly seen, and heard, seeking wealth and wishing they had more; otherwise, they are likely shown crying or acting on impulse. Specifically, Fitzgerald's use of lavish imagery in The Great Gatsby when describing Gatsby's shirts, as well as Daisy’s reaction, reinforces Fitzgerald’s sexist stereotypes about women and their fixation on material wealth and status as well as their inability to control their emotions.

Gatsby captures Daisy’s attention by throwing colorful, patterned shirts

Daisy, in addition to the other fragile women in the novel, is seen breaking down and crying, even in moments which are otherwise joyful. When presented with these shirts, instead of solely sitting in awe, she “[begins] to cry stormily” (Fitzgerald 92). While this shows her surprise, the wording Fitzgerald uses shows his negative view of women. He believes they exaggerate emotions, even when emotions are not needed in the first place. Gatsby is simply throwing his shirts into a pile to show Daisy all of the wealth that he has amassed, solely to please her, yet this causes her to “cry stormily” (Fitzgerald 92). Her emotions are so extreme, according to Fitzgerald, that she creates a violent storm. Her tears are compared to large droplets falling in succession, pounding down on anyone around. Storms are known to cause damage or pain, to destroy without consideration. Storms are accompanied by lightning and thunder, which are bright and boisterous, much like the “strained sound” of her voice, causing pain while showing the extreme effort she puts in to show such emotions (Fitzgerald 92). She purposefully overextends her vocal cords to convey her emotions. Fitzgerald wants the reader to know that Daisy’s (a woman’s) extreme emotions are intentionally destructive, even when emotions are not needed. This happens “suddenly,” showing how abrupt her strong emotions are and

Just as Daisy wishes she had married Gatsby and his “new money,” Myrtle wishes she had married a wealthier man. Myrtle cluelessly married George thinking he had more money; however, when she realized he wasn’t as wealthy as she originally thought, she began an affair with Tom, a more affluent man. Fitzgerald portrays Myrtle as solely going after wealth and being upset when deceived; similarly, Daisy is mesmerized by Gatsby’s opulent wardrobe and chases after his opulent wealth. Additionally, Myrtle buys a dog that she overlooks and ignores, showing not only her desire for material objects, but her disregard for them even if they are a living, breathing animal (she would not be a good mother). This detail, like the shirts, has little significance to the story other than to endorse Fitzgerald’s idea that women buy things without consideration or respect, showing how materialistic they are. Fitzgerald proves this when Myrtle says, “All they [, women,] think of is money. I had a woman up here last week to look at my feet, and when she gave me the bill you’d of thought she had my appendicitis out;” Fitzgerald makes a woman admit they obsess over money, solidifying his argument that all women, not just Daisy, seek out wealth (Fitzgerald 31). Additionally, Fitzgerald proves women’s emotional instability at Gatsby’s party