Unraveling the Feminine Mystique: Analyzing Women's Roles in the 1920s through "The Great Gatsby" and Modern Feminist Perspectives

The portrayal of women in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" offers a critical reflection of the limited roles and societal expectations placed on women in the 1920s. By examining the characters of Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and Myrtle Wilson, we can explore how their characterizations mirror the constraints of their era and provide insight into gender dynamics. 1. **Daisy Buchanan**: - **Portrayal and Expectations**: Daisy is often depicted as the quintessential image of femininity and beauty, embodying the ideal woman of the 1920s. However, she also represents the superficiality and fragility assigned to women at the time. Her wealth, beauty, and charm are her primary "assets" in a world where women’s worth is often judged by their appearance and their ability to provide social status to men. - **Textual Evidence**: Nick describes Daisy’s voice as "full of money," signifying her association with wealth and affluence, which is what attracts Jay Gatsby to her (Chapter 7). Her ultimate choice to remain with Tom Buchanan, despite his infidelities, highlights the societal expectation for women to prioritize security over personal happiness. 2. **Jordan Baker**: - **Portrayal and Expectations**: Jordan Baker represents the "new woman" of the 1920s—independent, skeptical, and somewhat morally ambiguous. As a professional golfer and a woman who takes pride in her autonomy, she defies traditional roles. However, she still operates within the confines of a patriarchal society that scrutinizes and judges strong-willed women more harshly. - **Textual Evidence**: Nick describes Jordan as "incurably dishonest," illustrating the skepticism with which society views women who step outside conventional roles (Chapter 3). Her relationship with Nick falls apart due to his criticism of her independence and dishonesty, reflecting societal discomfort with women who diverge from expected norms. 3. **Myrtle Wilson**: - **Portrayal and Expectations**: Myrtle Wilson, whose social status is lower than Daisy's and Jordan's, is portrayed with a desperate ambition to elevate her status. She is depicted as sensual and assertive but ultimately tragic, reflecting societal contempt and the brutal consequences for women who seek to transcend their prescribed roles through means deemed inappropriate or immoral. - **Textual Evidence**: Myrtle imagines that by engaging in an affair with Tom Buchanan, she can claim a higher social status and escape her unsatisfactory marriage. Yet, her attempts to rise above her class reinforce the constraints on women’s aspirations and the harsh repercussions when they transgress established norms (Chapter 2). **Application of a Feminist Lens**: A feminist review of "The Great Gatsby" interrogates these portrayals to reveal underlying patriarchal structures influencing the characters' actions and fates. Through this lens, the novel emphasizes how women, regardless of their socio-economic status, are often confined by societal expectations and judged by their relationships with men. - **Daisy** embodies the ideal yet ultimately superficial role of women—beautiful, passive, and reliant on male protection, emphasizing the limited choices for "respectable" women. - **Jordan** challenges traditional norms but faces criticism and isolation for her independence and perceived dishonesty, indicating societal discomfort with women stepping out of conventional roles. - **Myrtle** faces severe consequences for her ambition, spotlighting the dangerous limits placed on women’s social mobility and autonomy. **Relevance to Modern Feminist Movements**: Applying a feminist lens to "The Great Gatsby" today allows for a dialogue on how these historical gender dynamics continue to resonate. Issues like the critique of women’s ambition, societal pressures surrounding beauty and roles in relationships, and the punishment of women who attempt to rise above their ordained status remain pertinent. Modern feminist movements strive to unravel these enduring constraints and advocate for a society where women of all backgrounds can pursue their ambitions without facing systemic penalties or societal judgment. By examining these characters and their predicaments, contemporary feminism can address how much progress has been made and what challenges persist in the fight for true gender equality.