Answer the following question in your copy: Which ones of the points listed below are portrayed in the movie The Great Gatsby? Give some examples referencing one or more scenes from the movie? (one or two points)

Role of Women & Men

Gender plays a significant role in the novel- gender roles are very clearly defined, though undergoing a change.

Women do not enjoy much freedom, even in the metropolis of New York.

Daisy challenges Tom on the upsetting phone call from his mistress at dinner, but ultimately she will not leave him.

Daisy feels as though she has no control, when her daughter was born ‘Tom was God knows where’. The implication here is that he cannot be trusted, yet Daisy perseveres with him.

Never had any real independence.

When she first fell in love with Gatsby, ‘her mother found her packing bag one winter night to go to New York and say goodbye to a soldier’, we are told ‘she was effectually prevented’.

This anecdote shows women of this cultural context were not allowed make decisions for themselves.

‘I hope she’ll be a fool- that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool’

Daisy is not a fool herself but is the product of a social environment that, to a great extent, does not value intelligence in women. The older generation values subservience and docility in females, and the younger generation values thoughtless giddiness and pleasure-seeking. Daisy’s remark is somewhat sardonic: while she refers to the social values of her era, she does not seem to challenge them.

Jordan- challenges them- quintessential flapper.

Earns own money through golf- independent.

However she is ‘incurably dishonest’- accused of cheating in a tournament.

No rush to settle down.

Socialite- ‘I like large parties’

Character suggests that women in 1920’s were growing increasingly confident, powerful and independent.

Men

Character of Tom Buchanan- portrays a very negative view of manhood at the time

Brute- breaks his wife’s fingers.

Breaks Myrtle’s nose in response to her taunts ‘There were bloody towels’.

Disloyal and dishonest- numerous affairs- maid in Santa Barbara, reason they left Chicago and Myrtle

Unreliable- not there for birth of Pammy.

His character suggests that cultural context for men in the 1920s was privileged, unaccountable and unreliable.