Abstract

The Great Gatsby is the representative work of Francis Scott Fitzgerald and is also a classic in American literature. Fitzgerald is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers in the twentieth century. As a representative of “the Jazz Age”, he reproduced social style and life style with his own experiences in the 1920s, showing the disillusionment of the postwar generation of American dream. In the book, he described three impressive female characters: Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker and Myrtle Wilson. They come from different classes, have different views on things, and have different endings, but they are all the victims of the times. This paper analyzes the oppression of the three women, their own lost, and their different forms of resistance, obedience, and escape based on the social background of 1920s. It is pointed out that the female image was the product of the times which was a patriarchal and material society, and it also reflected Fitzgerald’s deep sympathy for women.

Key words: Female; The Great Gatsby; Social Background; Female Characters

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1  Introduction-1

2  Social Background for Women-3

2.1 Politics-3

2.2 Economy-4

2.3 Gender-5

3  Women’s Oppression-6

3.1 Male Gaze-6

3.2 The Lost Self-7

3.3 The Victim of the Transitional Decade-9

4  Women’s Attitudes toward Their Fate-11

4.1 Rebellion-11

4.2 Compromise-13

4.3 Escapes-14

5  Conclusion-15

Bibliography-16

Acknowledgements-17