CC BY
0УДК 82
Kudryashova A.A.
Moscow Pedagogical State University (Moscow, Russia)
GENDER DYNAMICS IN THE GREAT GATSBY: ANALYSING THE PORTRAYAL OF AMERICAN WOMEN IN 1920S
Аннотация: in this article, the author critically examines the gender dynamics of the 1920s through female characters of F. Scott Fitzgerald's «The Great Gatsby», Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and Myrtle Wilson. The story, which is set against the backdrop of the Jazz Age, examines themes of power, femininity, and social mobility while highlighting the challenges and limitations that women experience. The reader is provided with a comprehensive analysis that underscores the social shifts of the era and the ongoing constraints on women's autonomy, depicting them as both change makers and targets of society norms. Fitzgerald's portrayal criticises the false promises of the American Dream and emphasises the continuous fight for gender equality.
Ключевые слова: gender dynamics, women roles, cultural change, class conflict, social
mobility.
Widely regarded as a classic depiction of the American Jazz Age, F. Scott Fitzgerald's «The Great Gatsby» captures the social dynamics and cultural changes of the 1920s. The novel's exploration of gender dynamics, particularly how women are portrayed during this pivotal time in American history, is among its most fascinating elements. Fitzgerald offers a critical perspective on the roles and expectations of women in the 1920s through characters like Jordan Baker, Myrtle Wilson, and Daisy Buchanan. Thus, it is crucial to analyse each character separately, focusing on topics of femininity, power, and social mobility concerning the women in the story.
To start with, the historical setting of America at that time should be provided. America had tremendous social transformation throughout the 1920s, sometimes known as the Jazz Age. Economic affluence following World War I gave rise to a
culture of excess and emancipation [1, c. 151]. This period represented a break from traditional Victorian standards for women. The "flapper" movement, which was typified by young women with audacious behaviour, attire, and attitudes, marked the beginning of a new period in which women were more independent and rebelled against social expectations. Essentially, Flappers were associated with a carefree lifestyle that included drinking, smoking, and dancing in jazz clubs. This conduct disregarded conventional notions of women's decorum and contributed to the dismantling of gender stereotypes. Cities' quick development gave women more options for career and social contact. A huge number of women relocated to cities in search of employment in the entertainment, retail, and office sectors. Economic independence became increasingly prevalent as more women entered the job. Women now have more power over their lives and decisions, thanks to their financial independence. The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote when it was ratified in 1920. This was a significant win for the women's suffrage movement and signalled the start of American women's increased political participation. After being granted the opportunity to vote, women got involved in politics and promoted laws and social reforms that would help them and their families. The cultural environment of the time was shaped in part by the contributions made by women to the arts. During the Jazz Age, more women sought higher education and attended more colleges and institutions. Women were able to pursue professional occupations and engage more fully in public and intellectual life thanks to their access to education. Women started to enter fields, including journalism, medicine, and law that had previously been controlled by men. The expansion of women's roles beyond conventional home domains was made possible by this diversity of employment possibilities.
Daisy Buchanan, in "The Great Gatsby," personifies this new female archetype's attraction as well as its limits. Daisy first seemed to embody the free-spirited woman of the 1920s with her beauty and charm. But in the end, her persona highlights the enduring limitations and surface-level liberties granted to women in this historical era. Daisy may seem independent on the outside, but her dependence on the men in her life and societal standards have fundamentally trapped her. Daisy Buchanan,
with her ethereal beauty and enchanting voice, was frequently seen as the embodiment of femininity in the 1920s. Daisy Buchanan is presented as a lovely and intelligent woman right away. Her smooth manner and voice, which have been called «full of money», convey the sense that she is a lady in charge of her own fate. Daisy exudes an air of independence and self-assurance, effortlessly navigating the higher tiers of society because of her attractiveness and seeming confidence. However, she has a contradictory personality. She likes the luxuries of riches and the company of men such as Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby, but she is still very much bound by her social obligations as a wife and mother. Even though there was a lot of social upheaval in the 1920s, women, especially those in Daisy's socioeconomic class, still faced severe restrictions. It was expected of women to play the roles of spouses, mothers, and socialites that were determined by their interactions with men. Daisy's lack of actual freedom is mostly due to her marriage to Tom Buchanan. Daisy is materially comfortable because of Tom's wealth and social standing, but they also force Daisy to lead a dependent life. Daisy may come across as sophisticated, but in reality, she is greatly impacted by the social mores of her day, which put material security and social standing ahead of autonomy and personal fulfilment. Daisy's relationship with Gatsby also exposes her contradictory ambitions [5, c. 1296]. Although she is drawn to Gatsby's idealism and his picture of the ideal future, she is unable to give up the stability and prestige that her marriage to Tom offers. This dichotomy highlights the restricted options accessible to women, who were frequently regarded more for their social status and adherence to conventional roles than for their individual goals. Finally, Daisy's emotional weakness also calls into question her seeming independence. She is frequently presented as a victim of expectations and her own aspirations. Her response to Gatsby's passing and the events that followed, for example, demonstrate her incapacity to deal with reality on her own without the help of others. After Daisy withdraws into the security of her well-established social group, Gatsby is left to be remembered as a tragic figure. In general, her persona exposes the underlying emotional and psychological costs associated with a life that is devoted to the ostentatious chase of wealth and prestige. Fitzgerald uses Daisy to show how easily
independence may be eroded and how persistently society's expectations can influence people's lives.
Jordan Baker embodies a more contemporary and self-reliant woman than Daisy does. Jordan defies gender norms as a professional golfer, illustrating the new opportunities that women had in the 1920s [4, c. 46]. She defies traditional notions of femininity with her independence and aggressiveness. The 1920s "New Woman," a term coined to characterise women who welcomed their newfound freedoms and defied the constraints of Victorian-era gender roles, embodies Jordan Baker. There was a great deal of societal change at this time, and ideas about gender were evolving. Women were starting to pursue their own goals, get into the workforce, and have more social freedoms. Jordan, with her sports career and independent way of life, embodies this cultural revolution. Fitzgerald examines issues of gender, autonomy, and societal change through Jordan, presenting a woman who challenges conventional wisdom and makes her way through a world undergoing significant change. Jordan Baker is a remarkable person in many ways, chief among them being her professional golf career. Jordan's career represents a departure from conventional female roles during a period when women's engagement in sports was still very uncommon and frequently frowned upon. Her accomplishment in a field dominated by men demonstrates her tenacity and fortitude. Jordan differs from characters like Daisy, who depend on men for financial assistance, in that her professional accomplishments grant her a degree of financial freedom uncommon for women of her social position in the book. Jordan defies conventional gender stereotypes in both behaviour and demeanour. She is presented as aloof, cold, and frequently misanthropic, qualities that are generally connected to masculine characters in literature. Jordan, in contrast to Daisy, who personifies the epitome of refined femininity, is confident and outspoken. Her interactions with males are notably different as well, she doesn't rely on them for approval or encouragement. Her personal liberty highlights her defiance of the expectations society places on women. Still, Jordan's moral ambiguity is another aspect of his character. Her disdain for the new liberties that accompanied the Jazz Age is suggested by her propensity to break the norms and her distant manner. Although she represents advancement,
Jordan's persona also highlights the difficulties and dangers of a society undergoing change. She is found to have cheated in her first significant golf event, for example, which calls into question her honesty as a professional. Her moral complexity deepens her character and makes independence more difficult to achieve. Furthermore, Jordan Baker represents modernism and the shifting social fabric of the 1920s. Her choices in clothing, way of life, and mindset are indicative of how the new period has broken with the past. She takes part in the social scene unaccompanied, drives her own vehicle, and pursues relationships on her own terms. Jordan's modernity captures the thrill and unpredictability of the Jazz Age in a way that is both seductive and unsettling. Fitzgerald illustrates the conflict between tradition and advancement by using Jordan to show how the 1920s profoundly altered American culture. Finally, Jordan's relationships throughout the book highlight her refusal to conform to social norms. Her relationship with the book's narrator, Nick Carraway, is distinguished by a lack of conventional romanticism. In contrast to Gatsby and Daisy's sad and intense love, Jordan and Nick's relationship is practical and a little cold. Jordan's realistic view of relationships highlights her independence and her refusal to follow conventional love norms. Overall, Fitzgerald gives a complex account of a woman navigating a world that is changing quickly through Jordan. Jordan Baker's defiance of convention is evidence of the Jazz Age's revolutionary power and enduring influence on American culture.
Jordan and Daisy are very different from Myrtle Wilson's portrayal. Myrtle is the wife of a poor mechanic, and her desire to move up in society leads her to have an affair with Tom Buchanan. Women from lower social classes confront terrible realities, as Myrtle's desperate search for a better life shows. Fitzgerald challenges the stark reality of class conflict during the Jazz Era and the American Dream through the figure of Myrtle. Actually, Myrtle's liaison with Tom Buchanan represents her struggle to overcome social expectations. Tom stands for everything that Myrtle desires: riches, prestige, and authority [2, c. 3]. In an effort to fit in with the upper class, Myrtle puts on an air of entitlement and sophistication when she interacts with Tom. For instance, she momentarily escapes her dull world by indulging in Tom's opulent parties and
pricey presents. But Tom's handling of Myrtle exposes the glaring disparities in power between them. His perception of her is one of objectification rather than companionship, underscoring the delusion of her supposed social advancement. Furthermore, Myrtle's "valley of ashes" home serves as a metaphor for her hardships. The terrible realities that people at the bottom of the socioeconomic scale must deal with are embodied in this desolate, industrial wasteland. It stands in stark contrast to the sparkling world of the affluent elite, being a site of desolation and degradation. The fact that Myrtle lives in the valley of ashes highlights both her imprisonment and the impassable obstacles to her upward social mobility. The valley serves as a continual reminder of how unequally distributed wealth is in society [3, c. 193]. Myrtle's tragic end, which is a poignant statement on the perils of the American Dream, is the result of her ambition for social mobility. Myrtle runs towards what she thinks is Tom's automobile in a desperate attempt to flee her life, signifying her last, hopeless attempt at a better life. Rather, the very representation of the wealth and status she so desperately desired strikes and kills her. Not only is Myrtle's passing a personal sorrow, but it also represents larger societal pressures that subdue personal ambitions. Her passing serves as a stark reminder of the harmful effects of class ambitions and the harsh realities of social stratification. Overall, Fitzgerald delivers a biting critique of the American Dream through the character of Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle's hazardous delusion that she may become wealthy and powerful by associating with the upper class is exposed. Her narrative highlights the perils and disappointments of a society fixated on monetary achievement by illuminating the false promise of social mobility and the ingrained inequality of the American social structure. The terrible warning that chasing the American Dream can result in disappointment and devastation is provided by Myrtle's untimely demise.
In general, «The Great Gatsby» provides a thorough examination of gender dynamics in America during the 1920s. Fitzgerald explores the changing roles of women and the enduring social restraints they faced through the characters of Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker, and Myrtle Wilson. The book explores the complexity of female identity in this revolutionary period by showing women as both change agents
and victims of their environment. Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby'" depiction of women highlights the conflict between temporary liberties and permanent constraints. The book shows that although American women's lives underwent tremendous upheaval in the 1920s, full equality and liberty remained elusive. "The Great Gatsby'" persists in its resonance as a potent critique of the social fabric of its day by delving into these gender dynamics.
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