Synopsis
Fitzgerald offers an insight into the treacherous affair of navigating through the prospects of achieving the “American dream.” Most Americans aspire to climb the ladder of prosperity and achieve “financial independence and social emancipation.” Nevertheless, there are lots of adversities along the way of achieving the “American dream.” Thematically, the author explores issues such as betrayal, romance, social politics, and feminism. He castigates society for “surrendering” to the lowest phases of moral decadence and erosion of the basic matters of trust and honesty. The book extensively highlights the manner in which the female gender is portrayed in society. This work seeks to outline the role of women in the development of the plot of the book and in relation to the social issues affecting women in contemporary society.
Women as sources of entertainment
The setting of the novel is a quintessential reminder of the ancient and “primitive” view that women have a sole role in meeting the sexual pleasures and desires of men. Fitzgerald outlines this belief in a male-dominated setting of West Egg where parties are held with a view to “appeasing” women. The inhabitants of West Egg are described as “well to do” (Fitzgerald ch.1). The author affirms this opulence when Nick admits, “…my family have been prominent, well – to – do people in this Middle Western city…” (Fitzgerald ch.1)
Gatsby incessantly organizes parties with the purpose of attracting Daisy, Nick’s cousin, and engaging in a romantic affair despite Daisy’s marital commitment to Tom. The writer is very keen to illuminate to the readers the role that society assigns to women through the actions of Mr. Gatsby. Gatsby desires to fulfil his lustrous pleasures by getting romantically involved with Daisy. His arrangement with Nick to “lure” Daisy into a forum where they could meet affirms the prurient nature of Gatsby. He perceives the female gender merely as objects of “fulfilment.” The narrator, in reference to the planned meeting, asserts, “I talked with Miss Baker,” I said after a moment. “I’m going to call up Daisy tomorrow and invite her over here to tea” (Fitzgerald ch. 5).
Fitzgerald’s dispositional beliefs on the feminine gender are traceable through all his literary works. The subservient role he assigns to women in a number of his works speaks voluminously about the setting in which his novels are based. Throughout the work “The Great Gatsby” the women are entirely dominated by the male gender.
The author uses Nick as his voice in the book. To an extent, Nick seems to be in disapproval of the lifestyle of the society in which the novel is set. Although he ends up attending some of the “wild” parties organized by his friends, the mood of the work is that of slight disapproval. Moreover, Tom’s infidelity issues despite his marriage, affirm that he slavishly views women, a further illustration of the peripheral role of women in the societal setting of the work. “Tom’s got some woman in New York” (Fitzgerald ch.1).
Women as “inanimate” objects
Violence against women in the book is ubiquitous. The inhuman manner in which the male characters treat the women in the work is despicable. As a reader, one is appalled by how Tom beats up his wife. The level of physical violence that the male gender “imposes” on women is deplorable. Nick describes this episode further through Mrs. Wilson: “Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!” shouted Mrs. Wilson, “I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai -” Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald ch. 2).
Fitzgerald has painted a rather gloomy silhouette of feminism in the book. To be a woman, according to the author, is to be hollow. A woman remains the marionette of the male gender. No wonder the voice of the author exclaims that the best a woman can be is a fool. The author clinically explicates this point through the conversation between Daisy and Nick about the birth of Daisy’s daughter. After revealing the gender of the child in the hospital, Daisy claims.
“I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Fitzgerald ch.1).
This comment from Daisy sums up the feeling that society has towards the women in the book. Providently, the feminine gender has resigned to the position of gender dotage and seems to be well-adapted to their “insignificant” role in society; no wonder Daisy casually accepts the fact that Tom has a mistress. Women are not identified as significant members of society; their consciousness has been perfectly tethered to believe that indeed, they represent the “passive” members of society. Their responsibility in society is as prescribed by men. This “surrender” has “perfectly” confined females into a locus of inherent suppression to the wishes of the males.
Works Cited
Fitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby. Australia: University of Adelaide, 2014. The University of Adelaide Library. Web.