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In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays women in a negative light, depicting them as reliant on men, self-centered, and morally corrupt. The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, is enamored with Mrs. Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy woman. He attempts to win her affection by flaunting his riches but ultimately fails to meet her expectations no matter how extravagant he becomes. Tragically, Gatsby dies alone in the end. Through characters such as Daisy, Myrtle, and Jordan in the novel, Fitzgerald exposes women who are objectified by men and treated as mere prizes; their lack of substance is emphasized as they exist solely for beauty and entertainment.
Daisy Buchanan, married to Tom Buchanan and formerly involved with Jay Gatsby, is portrayed as a self-centered and cowardly woman lacking moral values. An example of Daisy's shallowness is when Gatsby presents her with his collection of shirts. Upon seeing them, Daisy cries and explains, "'They're such beautiful shirts. It makes me sad because I've never seen such-such beautiful shirts before.'" (Fitzgerald 98).
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This quote reveals Daisy's emotional reaction to Gatsby's newfound wealth that she desires but cannot have due to her marriage with Tom. It highlights Daisy's superficiality because normal shirts wouldn't elicit such a strong response. However, it is not the shirts themselves that bring tears to Daisy's eyes; instead, it is what they represent - Gatsby's riches - indicating her shallow nature. Her tears do not come from admiration for the shirts but from regret over not being able to be with Gatsby and his wealth since she has already committed herself to someone else.
Her yearning for Gatsby stems from his affluence.
In their superficial society, Daisy is often seen as cowardly for valuing wealth and acceptance over her love for Gatsby. Instead of choosing to be with him and start a family, she decides to abandon him due to his lack of wealth, which reveals her selfishness and fear of societal judgment. Even when Gatsby becomes rich, his newfound riches do not meet the refined elegance that Daisy is accustomed to because it is considered new money. When Daisy attends one of Gatsby's extravagant parties, she feels uneasy and dislikes the ostentatious display of wealth. A quote from the novel clearly indicates Daisy's disdain towards Gatsby's newly acquired fortune.
In the novel, most characters are depicted as lacking moral conscience, particularly Daisy who is objectionable due to her complete lack of morality. Her indifference and coldness are evident when she kills Myrtle without remorse. This lack of regret stems from Daisy's belief that Myrtle's social status makes her inconsequential, so Myrtle's death is seen as an inconvenient annoyance. Instead of facing the consequences, Daisy escapes and lets Gatsby be falsely accused of the crime, avoiding any responsibility for her actions. She confesses the truth to Tom, who then reveals it to George, Myrtle's husband, shifting blame onto Gatsby as the responsible driver. Despite knowing a confrontation is coming, Daisy's selfishness and immorality allow her to ignore these repercussions and leave Gatsby alone in taking the blame. Ultimately, Daisy's feelings towards Gatsby are shallow and self-centered without genuine depth.
The author presents a negative portrayal of women through the character Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle is depicted as desperate for social advancement despite being married to George Wilson. She engages in an affair with Tom Buchanan driven by her longing for a better social status, resulting in unfavorable consequences. Even though she endures physical abuse from Tom, Myrtle remains attracted to him solely because of his wealth and status, indicating her lack of self-respect. Her impulsive decisions such as marrying George and getting involved with Tom further exemplify her pursuit to imitate the lifestyle of an aristocrat and dissatisfaction with her current lowly existence. The quote "She smiled slowly and walking through her husband, as if he were a ghost shook hands with Tom, looking him flesh in the eye" (Fitzgerald 30) highlights how Myrtle is willing to sacrifice her own dignity to prioritize attaining a higher social standing.
The quote highlights Myrtle's contempt for her husband and her craving for social status. She frequently pretends to be wealthy, particularly during the party in the apartment rented by Tom. "I told that boy about the ice. These people! You have to keep after them all the time" (Fitzgerald 36) illustrates her belief that acting superior enhances her image, ironically disregarding her own lower social standing. Myrtle is a woman who manipulates and cheats to satisfy her desires, disregarding self-respect. Ultimately, these flawed characteristics lead to her tragic demise.
In contrast to the other female characters in the novel, Jordan Baker receives slightly different treatment from the author. She possesses certain masculine qualities, such as being a professional golfer who achieved success through cheating. Jordan also partakes in habits typically associated with men, such as drinking and smoking. Unlike the other women, she chooses not to marry and is not yet willing to commit to a man. Jordan is independent, actively pursuing her own interests. She embodies a harsh and cynical demeanor, representing a new kind of woman in the 1920s. Notably, her name, "Jordan," is unisex. Additionally, Jordan has attained a prestigious status and will go to any lengths to maintain it, even resorting to dishonesty. The author states, "She was incurably dishonest" (Fitzgerald 63). Like Daisy and Myrtle, Jordan exhibits selfishness and lacks concern for others. This is evident in her careless driving habits, as observed by Nick. He comments on her driving skills, saying, "'You're a rotten driver... suppose you met somebody just as careless as yourself.' 'I hope I never will. I hate careless people.'" (Fitzgerald 63).
In this quote, Jordan displays extreme selfishness and indifference. She enjoys speeding while disregarding the safety of other drivers. Additionally, Jordan possesses haughty, arrogant, and condescending traits, looking down on those she deems inferior. "'You live in West Egg,' she remarked contemptuously." (Fitzgerald 15). This quote showcases Jordan's judgment towards Nick for residing in a less affluent area. Similar to other female characters in the novel, Jordan prioritizes money and social status. Consequently, she resorts to deceit and manipulation to maintain her high standing, associating with the "in-crowd" to cultivate a wealthy image. She also tends to belittle those occupying lower social positions.
Daisy, Myrtle, and Jordan's moral development in the novel is hindered by societal norms. These female characters lack compassion, empathy, and an understanding of right from wrong. F. Scott Fitzgerald's creation of unlikable women raises concerns about how women were treated during this period. The constraints imposed by society may have prevented morally upright women from thriving and becoming likable individuals. Fitzgerald's portrayal implies that the era should be condemned and society needs to adopt higher moral standards for women to flourish. These women serve as a reflection of their time, but it is hoped that as society progresses, its women will also evolve.
A thorough analysis of F. Scott Fitzgerald's acclaimed novel, The Great Gatsby.
In F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan is depicted as both sociable and magniloquent; however, beneath her confident exterior lies inner self-doubt. Similar to a Barbie doll, she presents herself flawlessly and desirably on the surface but harbors uncertainty within. Despite being pursued by Jay Gatsby despite being married and a mother, Daisy remains uncertain about her familial relationships, including her distant daughter and unloved husband. Due to her struggle with self-acceptance, Daisy seeks acceptance from others and disguises her crippling uncertainty with false confidence and charm, successfully deceiving other characters in the story. Throughout the novel, Daisy's bombastic and outgoing demeanor serves as a mask for deep-rooted insecurities while also exposing doubts about her role as a mother.
Although not explicitly depicted throughout the novel, the novel makes it clear to any reader that Daisy's broken family life has significantly affected her. The relationship between Daisy and her daughter is distant and awkward. Unlike most young mothers who eagerly share every detail about their children out of pure love, Daisy rarely mentions her daughter. Finally, when Jordan, Nick, and Gatsby visit the Buchanan home, they meet Daisy and Tom's rumored child. This highlights the uncomfortable and detached nature of the mother-daughter relationship. For instance, Daisy refers to herself in the third person, a particularly detached form of narration. Daisy asks her daughter to "come to [her] mother" so she can show her off to the guests (117). This behavior stems from Daisy's own troubled relationship with her family during her youth.
When Jordan discloses how Daisy and Gatsby first met, she reveals that Daisy's mother caught her packing her bags one winter night to go to New York and bid farewell to a soldier who was going overseas. This soldier happened to be Jay Gatsby, but Daisy's mother managed to prevent her from going. Despite her efforts, the consequences were irreversible. Due to the incident with the soldier, Daisy stopped speaking to her family for several weeks. This incident had a significant impact on her fragile family life. Therefore, when Daisy becomes a parent herself, she tells her daughter that she is making an appearance because her mother wants to show her off. The child responds with limited enthusiasm and shyly asks where her father is. However, it is consistent with Daisy's character that she does not express any remorse regarding her family's deteriorated state and instead tries to hide her uncertainty with charm.
Another familial insecurity Daisy conceals is her troubled relationship with former famous football athlete, Tom Buchanan. Despite their shared love for wealth, beauty, and charm, Daisy and Tom are unsatisfied with their marriage and constantly try to hide their discontent. One instance where Daisy's dissatisfaction is evident is when Nick finds her in tears after discovering Tom's affair in New York. Daisy shares the story of her daughter's birth, expressing her feelings of abandonment and hoping her daughter will be a "beautiful little fool" (17).
This paragraph describes the moment when Nick witnesses the crumbling of Tom and Daisy's seemingly perfect marriage. Daisy's frustration clearly stems from an unhealthy relationship. In her daily life, she tries to hide her sorrow and compensates with flashy actions. However, her charming persona is actually a result of her hidden pain. When Tom claims that Daisy loves him, she dismissively responds with “as if it mattered to you” (133). Another instance that reveals Daisy's true emotions is when Jordan tells the story of finding Daisy drunk in her room before her bridal dinner. In her intoxicated state, Daisy confesses her doubts about marrying Tom and pleads with Jordan to cancel the wedding. However, once she sobers up, Daisy resumes her flawless facade and marries Tom without any hesitation (76). Later, it is revealed that Tom had a lover during their honeymoon who worked as a chambermaid at the Santa Barbara Hotel (77).
The fact that Tom cheated on Daisy during their honeymoon clearly indicates that their marriage was not strong. Despite this, Daisy hides her distressed emotions behind her bombastic personality and makes delightfully vulgar remarks. She jokingly tells Nick that she will "bring [Nick and Jordan together]," as it is too late for her own marriage to be salvaged (18). Concealing her ruined marriage with Tom is just another aspect that Daisy tries to ignore but secretly hurts from. Daisy's need to be loved is her most obvious and painful insecurity, which stems from her own self-doubt. Daisy doesn't like herself and looks to others for compassion. This hidden insecurity is subtly revealed through her actions. Nick feels as if there is no one in the world Daisy longs to see more than him when she glances at him, and her voice is described as being like notes in a song that will never be played again (9). However, what Nick fails to realize is that these seemingly endearing qualities that Daisy possesses are actually just her obvious attempts to win over those around her. Daisy yearns to be loved and missed, as she excitedly asks Nick if the people in her former town miss her (9).
Furthermore, it can be argued that the conflict between Gatsby and Tom only served to enhance Daisy's ego instead of improving her emotional well-being. Daisy finds pleasure in the attention and rivalry between the two wealthy men vying for her affection. Despite timidly suggesting they should not compete, she never truly intended to make a decision. As the argument approaches its conclusion, Daisy urges everyone to leave in order to prolong the disagreement. The feeling of being desired is something Daisy thrives on due to her lack of self-assurance. She seeks validation from men and others as a means of filling the void within herself, as described by Nick who refers to her face as "sad and lovely". Daisy's yearning to be needed is a flaw she desperately attempts to conceal behind charming persuasion and flashy smiles. Throughout The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald portrays Daisy with a sense of sadness – a beautiful and wealthy woman who lacks self-compassion.
Daisy avoids facing her complicated and distressing feelings by hiding them in an unhealthy way. She refuses to address conflicts and silently pleads for attention and love from those around her. Her relationship with her daughter is damaged because of her own family issues, but she shows no signs of pain from being an absent mother. Her marriage with Tom Buchanan is unhealthy and prevents Daisy from gaining self-confidence because Tom fails to make her feel loved. Most notably, Daisy yearns to be desired by others. She seeks validation from others to fill the emptiness inside herself. Despite appearing glamorous and owning flashy possessions, Daisy lives a lonely life in silence. Even with her wealth and superficial happiness, The Great Gatsby demonstrates that Daisy's life of sadness and isolation cannot be compared to monetary riches and superficial smiles.
Work Cited: "EasyBib: The Free Automatic Bibliography Composer." EasyBib. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2014. Fitzgerald, F. Scott, and Matthew J. Bruccoli. The Great Gatsby. New York, NY: Scribner, 2013. Print.
The Negative Portrayal of Women in The Great Gatsby. (2016, May 28). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/women-in-the-great-gatsby-essay
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