5.1.4
Patriarchy & Presentation of Women
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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.
1Specification Overview
1.1Specification Overview
2Context
3Plot Summary
3.1Chapter One
3.2Chapter Two
3.3Chapter Three
3.4Chapter Four
3.6Chapter Six
3.7Chapter Seven
3.8Chapter Eight
4Character Profiles
4.3Daisy Buchanan
4.5Minor Characters
5Key Ideas
6Writing Techniques
6.1Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice
7Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis
7.1Love Through the Ages
Jump to other topics
1Specification Overview
1.1Specification Overview
2Context
3Plot Summary
3.1Chapter One
3.2Chapter Two
3.3Chapter Three
3.4Chapter Four
3.6Chapter Six
3.7Chapter Seven
3.8Chapter Eight
4Character Profiles
4.3Daisy Buchanan
4.5Minor Characters
5Key Ideas
6Writing Techniques
6.1Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice
7Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis
7.1Love Through the Ages
Practice questions on Patriarchy & Presentation of Women
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Whose nose does Tom Buchanan break?Multiple choice
- 2
- 3Which character epitomises patriarchal values?Multiple choice
- 4
- 5How is Jordan Baker presented?True / false
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