Gender Inequality In The Great Gatsby - 1825 Words

In social injustice, there are the oppressors and there are the oppressed. Such is the case in the world of The Great Gatsby, where gender norms shape the dynamic of all romantic relationships. Men/Husbands are expected to be violent and commanding, and their wives are to stay quiet and happy. Male characters see opportunity in this construct -- they use it to their advantage or as a way to establish power and a reputation. Gatsby, born poor, falls in love with Daisy’s money before he falls in love with her- he wants both his fantasy about Daisy and his fantasy about money and glamor to come to fruition. When Daisy marries Tom, her glamour and wealth pass on to him instead of Gatsby, who has to find wealth independently. Daisy’s reputation†¦show more content†¦Materialism controls relationships in this novel. Gatsby believes that Daisy’s wealth will reflect on him, therefore earning him a higher status in society. He focuses more on her extravagant house with the â€Å"presence of the many men† she had been with before, rather than Daisy as a person. The idea of glamour and wealth holds more appeal than her love for him. This is why his yearning to return to the past is impossible, by the time he comes for Daisy she has already surrendered some power to Tom. Gatsby wants her to denounce? her love for Tom, but it is too late. In admitting that she ever loved him, she admits that she has already forfeited her power, which is to say that Gatsby cannot love her anymore because she has nothing to offer him. Tom drained Daisy of all her independence the instant they tied the knot and agreed to conform to a typical marriage. He takes advantage of this situation and not only abuses his control over Daisy, but manipulates her to completely depend on him. Daisy has always been used to someone telling her what to do, and her relationship with Tom is no different. She is not a whole person without him to the point where even, â€Å"If he left the room for a minute she’d look around uneasily and say: ‘‘Where’s Tom gone?’ and wear the most abstract expression until sheShow MoreRelatedGender Roles In The Great Gatsby1736 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Gatsby Gender Norms Societal ‘norms’ surrounding gender have continuously remained prominent internationally. Although these standards and expectations continue to shift, women still face oppression today. The novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, demonstrates the expectations of women and their relationships to men in 1920’s New York City through one of the main characters, Daisy Buchanan. A vast majority of Daisy’s actions are to entice and cater to the superior men of theRead MoreThe Typical Role of Women in the Late 19th Century in the Awakening by Kate Chopin574 Words   |  3 Pageseverywhere during her time. 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