In the Great Gatsby, does F. Scott Fitzgerald depict any of the female characters as destructive users of men?

Question

Fitzgerald was good buddies with Hemingway - a known misogynist. HEmingway considered women to be nothing more than destructive useers of men. DOes the depictions of JOdran BAker, Myrtle Wilson, and Daisy support this?

Answer 1

Jay Gatsby was destroyed not by Daisy, but by his own distored ideals of how the American dream is supposed to be. In his mind, Gatsby created a world of large houses, clothes fresh from europe, fast cars and vast amounts of money with the goal of winning Daisy, and becoming part of the aristocratic world Daisy lived in. However, Daisy was not responsible for Gatsby doing and gaining the things he did, he was responsible for that. He merely used Daisy as the fuel to his fire. He chose to deal with gamblers and the seedier side of society to make his money. He drafted a web of lies and mystery around himself which led to his undoing and empty funeral at the end of the novel. All of these lies perpetuated the selfishness of everyone invovled, Daisy, Tom, Myrtle...and this lead to the tragedy of Gatsby's death at the had of a man he'd never really met.

Now, I'm not saying that Daisy is innocent of anything and everything, she did lead Gatsby on and cared very little when he died, but what we have to understand is that the women of that day and age and that particular class of living have certain standards which they are forced to maintain, fpr example how she cried and prayed for her daughter to be "an innocent little fool".

Daisy did love Gatsby, but to love him would have made her a poor beggar, she would have lost her family and place in society and that was not worthwhile to her--that kind of love was not as important to her. It was only when he made the fortune he did that she could even imagine making a life with him--and even then she seemed almost forced by Gatsby in her choice to say she was leaving Tom. Her love for Tom was more important as he allowed her to maintain they style of life she was accustomed to. They were very similar in the end, and as Nick said towards the end of the novel "they could retreat into their money" which is why she was able to cast aside any worry and feelings for Gatsby's memory at the end of the book. I think Gatsby used her more than she used him--and as for Tom, they proved to be two peas in a pod very deserving of on another.

I also agree with the lady who commented on NOT choosing Wikepedia as your refrence source--you really should read the novel...

Answer 2

Possibly - but remember that Fitgzgerald had a great love in his own life. Zelda. An interesting story about Hemingway's belief that the women in his life were users... Hemingway once arrived home to his house in Key West after a lengthy absence to discover his wife had built a very expensive swimming pool in the yard. It involved the blasting of rock and cost a fortune - probably even by today's standards. Heminway reached into his pocket and discovered it contained one single dime. He tossed it into the pool and said "Here, you might as well have my last dime." That dime is now cemented to the bottom of the pool and you can see it when you go there. I would say Hemingway probably told Fitzgerald many stories about the women in his life that used him. However there is another side to that dime. There were many times in his life when Hemingway stopped writing and it was his women who pushed him toward success. He tended not to acknowledge that, though. Read Snows of Kilamanjaro - -there were even times when a drunken and broke Hemingway actually lived off wealthy women. He was a very complex man. To call him a misynogist is kind of a stereotype. There was a lot more to it than that. PLEASE do not depend on "Wikipedia" to define a man like Hemingway's life. there was much more to it. Remember Stephen Colbert has manipulated Wikipedia many times. It is an unreliable resource at best and most teachers discount it immediately. I do. C.

Answer 3

Without agreeing with your assesment of Hemingway, which I think is a little oversimplified, I think it's clear that Fitzgerald means the reader to see Daisy as "a destructive user of men"--or at least of Gatsby. That's not all she is--she is also exploited by Tom, and the other female characters are more sympathetic: Myrtle gets punched by a man, and Jordan is dumped by Nick for no reason connected to her. But Daisy is certainly quite an unpleasant character.

Answer 4

I actual have study the e book and function seen the action picture. My mom became partial to F. Scott Fitzgerald. I actual have previous pictures of her in those spectacular flapper dresses. She and her acquaintances appeared eye-catching. did no longer the line "the wealthy are distinctive from us, they have money" come from the large Gatsby?

Answer 5

Best Answer - Chosen By Asker

Hi,

I noticed not many people answering!?

I'd check www.wikipedia.org or sometimes the summaries on www.amazon.com are very helpful.

Also you may want to repost this under Home->Education-Homework Help. Many , many school curriculums include this in thier subjects and assigned readings as homework. You’ll find a much more ready, and willing to answer, audience under this category!