Women in the 1920s Context Fitzgerald presents a post-war society in which women begin to experience sexual and social

ial freedoms Such as achieving the vote in the 19th amendment of 1919 Unlike what many critics of the time tried to say Fitzgerald was not showing his dislike to the new women but highlighting the fact it would take more than womens rights to adjust the patriarchal attitude in society and the idea women are only created to fill a domestic role 1920 only 20% of women worked with 5% working outside the home Fitzgerald wrote in a letter to Max Perkins that The Great Gatsby was a mans book due to the lack of important female characters One critic said the commercial failure of the book in the 1920s was due to the fact it did not appeal to the female characters 1920s was a hedonistic society which introduced the idea of flappers a term popularised by Fitzgerald himself Flappers wore shorter skirts, drank alcohol, attended lavish parties, smoked and behaved in a provocative, which would have previously suggested immorality Jaques Chasnet states the flapper symbolised an age anxious to enjoy itself, anxious to forget the past and anxious to enjoy the future The creation of blues music give women of the era the opportunity to dance individually another part of their liberation

All female characters on the surface are presented in a cynical light Daisy, Jordan, Myrtle and women as the parties Daisy Daisys is a symbolic of the flower Daisy. On the outside she appears white and pure. However on the inside she has a materialistic heart of gold The Tom Buchanans she is presented as Toms possession Lacks the ability to play the role of a faithful, domestic wife as well as a mother to her daughter may be Fitzgeralds own criticism of Zelda who cheated on Fitzgerald and said to have lacked the qualities of a good mother

However, Fitzgerald does evoke sympathy on Daisy due to the fact Gatsby creates their relationships on false pretences from the beginning and tried to convince her had the money and social background she wanted but he was really Mr Nobody from nowhere he could never of provided Daisy with a stable life which her family would have allowed She is caught between two men one who represents all that is respectable and successful and the other an exciting but unknown and unrealistic alternative

Jordan Baker In habits the role of the new women her Character is based on Edith Cummings Name is a combination of the Jordan Sport car which tried to appeal to women and the Bakers electric Presented to us as a liar and a cheat on golf tournaments Fitzgerald may try to evoke sympathy for Jordan as her bored and haughty face may be a cover up for her lack of confidence Others may even argue she felt pressured by society to perform as a standard she was incapable of and thus felt compelled to cheat Myrtle Presented negatively through her infidelity, he attitude at her people, calling her guests these people as well her reaction because her husband borrowed someone elses suit to get married in She like Daisy is considered a possession of Toms. Toms mistress which is what she is first referred to. This expresses Toms control and ability to drop Myrtle any time he likes. Her name adds to her negative image, meaning a hardy evergreen shrub that tries to rise over the rest, symbolic of Myrtles own aspiration to be of a higher social class The one way we could be sympathetic to Myrtle is that in the end she seems to pay a higher price for infidelity as she dies, where as Tom is free from any blame as is Daisy. Perhaps Fitzgerald is suggesting money rules all

Gatsbys parties Attended by men and girls which connotes the immaturity of women and the frivolous manner in which they behave They women at the parties dont care what they do as they jump in foundations, rip dresses, dance wildly and drink a quantity of champagne while men do business

This may suggest that men are smart and sensible while women are unable to control themselves However, others may argue that these men are materialistic and only out for their own gain as Nick suspects they are selling bonds or insurance

Male domination The novel is male dominated Nick, Tom, Wolshiem all make sexist remarks Fitzgerald has employed a misogynist narrator who make comments such as Dishonesty in a women is never a thing you blame deeply he makes the assumption the women are virtually incapable of telling the truth Thus such a narrator cannot be expected to reveal empathy with a womans feelings. Tom does not only speak in terms of paternal contempt but also make comments about Jordan Baker They oughtnt let her run around the country this way showing his clear dislike to women having freedoms and suggests males especially strong minded ones such as Tom would find it difficult to adapt to the culture of the new women Toms physical accomplishment adds to his dominant character, allowing him to break her [Myrtles] nose with his open hand This suggests domestic violence was not uncommon in the 1920s as Nick is only shocked by Toms physical strength rather than the fact he hurt Myrtle Furthermore, Wolfshiem makes a comment about trusting female work colleagues Emancipation Although women have achieved the vote by the time the novel is set women still have limited freedoms Jordan represents the new women. Her professional career as a golfer illustrates her financial stability, though this career had only became possible in the 1920s because of the boom in the leisure industry Her car is symbolic of her independence but also her reckless driving which suggest danger for herself and others Daisys freedom is also limited

When she was single she has her own roadster and was able to work for the Red Cross However she was not allowed to say goodbye to Gatsby Married of to Tom because her family thinks it important It is also the only way for Daisy to break from parental control Through this characterization of Daisy, Fitzgerald makes it clear to us that 1920s women felt compelled to marry in order to have freedom The last scene of the Buchanans, Fitzgerald shows us they have retreated into their vast carelessness. Toms hand is on top of Daisys while she nodded in agreement This suggests nothing has changed and Daisy as lost her chance to escape from Tom who now has control over her once again Fitzgerald certainly present a women who is under the control of men in a 1920s society although this does not mean he agrees with this