Essay on Is Fitzgerald’s Portrayal of 1920’s Women Entirely Negative?

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Although the women reflect “foolishness” on the outside, The Great Gatsby provides several examples in which women empower themselves despite their inferior status. Although Fitzgerald may have viewed women as a weaker sex, several females in the novel demonstrate an underlying power through their relationships, and display some admirable qualities. Although they are not able to achieve the same amounts of success as men in the society; by attaching themselves to a suitable mate allows them to share in the success of the men. In the patriarchal, greed-driven society of 1920’s portrayed in “The Great Gatsby”, the female characters are controlled and possessed by the men; yet, as illustrated through Daisy and Myrtle, by accepting this …show more content…
. . It was hard to realize that a man in my own generation was wealthy enough to do that” (Fitzgerald). Unlike Gatsby, who deceived Daisy into believing he could provide security, Tom is able to provide Daisy with the luxuries she desires, and, most importantly, with a superior social and financial standing she could not obtain alone. By allowing herself to become a possession, Daisy is able to succeed through her husband.
Although Daisy is objectified within her relationships, when Gatsby returns to her life, she is given the power to choose her fate. Since Gatsby has obtained money and an upstanding social status, Daisy is overwhelmed by the decision she is presented with. In fact, when she visits Gatsby’s house, she becomes superficially emotional due to the wealth and security she sees: “Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily. ‘They’re such beautiful shirts,’ she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. ‘It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such – such beautiful shirts before’” (Fitzgerald); yet, on a deeper level, Daisy perceives the stability she may have with a different man. Although she has had security in her marriage to Tom, Daisy realizes she has the power to choose between two established
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