Women In The Great Gatsby

The characterization of Jordan by Fitzgerald at various party scenes promote a strong juxtaposition with other women which exemplifies her ability to display a masculine side which is unique from the norm. At Nick’s first party in his new hometown, Nick carefully observes and takes in as much as the night as he can. He notices the music, the drinks, but especially the women. Nick sees that towards the end of the final song “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.” (52) This passage reveals the culture between men and women and how their different goals lead to different places in the

Food, drink, shelter, and toys is all a young puppy could want and they find this through an owner. Daisy, for example, represents this theory perfectly. Driven by money, she relies fully on Tom to provide exoctic food, foregin drinks, a mansion, and jewelry. By giving into the role of having the male being the sole bread winner, females automatically become submissive to their male partners. Thus, it is almost impossible for a women emulating stereotypical female values to gain the same social status and equality as men due to their constant financial reliance upon their partners. Coming to his first Gatsby party alone, Nick manages to find himself arm in arm with Jordan Baker, a prominent golf star, for the majority of the night. When she is called away by Gatsby’s butler, he can’t help but observe Jordan’s figure and outfit as she walked away. “[S]he 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 the golf courses on clean, crisp mornings.” (50) Despite being nowhere close to a sporting venue, Jordan is quickly connected to sporting clothes and the game of

Yes, all women were wearing evening dresses, however Jordan managed to wear it in a style that individualizes her for a stereotypical masculine achievement. In 1920’s society, men who achieved high in sports were widely respected by their peers and were known by many strangers. By juxtaposing the outfit choices between Jordan and the rest of the female crowd at Gatsby’s, Fitzgerald is able to identify that Jordan promotes and emulates certain masculine elements. As mentioned multiple times in the novel, Jordan Baker is known for playing golf, a major part of her identity. Like Jordan, Tom Buchanan is defined by his past football legacy in college and his polo skills. When Tom attends one of Gatsby’s parties, he is quickly labeled into a single