Patriarchy & Presentation of Women
English Lit: AQA A Level The Great Gatsby - Specification A, topic 5.1.4
Patriarchal Values - Tom Buchanan
Tom Buchanan epitomises patriarchal values.
Treatment of women
- Tom Buchanan is a physically powerful man who expects women to be subservient to him: he even goes as far as to break Myrtle’s nose when she challenges his authority.
- Similarly, Daisy seems to have no power in her marriage to Tom and is instead simply required to follow his wishes.
Patriarchal values and society
- Tom expresses concern that traditional patriarchal values are breaking down in the 1920s, and he sees this as the beginning of the end for traditional American society: 'Nowadays people begin by sneering at family life and family institutions, and next they’ll throw everything overboard and have intermarriage between black and white.' (Chapter Seven).
Presentation of Women
Overwhelmingly, the women presented in The Great Gatsby are limited in ambition and intelligence and tend to be shallow in their desires.
Daisy
- Daisy can be seen as a subservient character. She is easily charmed by Gatsby, lured by the excitement and glamour of his lifestyle, and equally easily drawn to the comfortable and stable life provided by her husband, Tom.
Jordan Baker
- Jordan Baker might be considered to be a slightly more liberated character.
- She is successful in her own right as a sportswoman, and she is, at times, assertive. For example, she stands up to Nick in the final chapter: 'I thought you were rather an honest, straightforward person. I thought it was your secret pride' (Chapter Nine).
Jordan Baker (cont.)
- But Jordan is also presented as a 'clean, hard, limited person who dealt in universal scepticism' (Chapter Four) with a 'scornful mouth' (Chapter Four).
- These comments lead the reader to hold a negative perception of Jordan, adding to the overall negative view of women which seems to be presented throughout the story.
Test yourself on Patriarchy & Presentation of Women
Whose nose does Tom Buchanan break?
What is Tom Buchanan concerned will happen as a result of society changing?
Which character epitomises patriarchal values?
Who stands up to Nick in the final chapter?
'I thought you were rather an honest, straightforward person. I thought it was your secret pride' (Chapter Nine)How is Jordan Baker presented?