The Women of the Great Gatsby

The Women of the Great Gatsby Free Online Research Papers F Scott Fitzgerald was actually quite pro the emancipated women based on an analysis of the characters of women he portrays. Three female archetypes of femininity are given. All three characters of Jordon Baker, Daisy Buchanan, and Myrtle Wilson in varying degrees range from very liberated to oppressed. The Great Gatsby was written during the first wave of feminism. The great achievement of that era was the passing of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, the right for women to vote. In retrospect the liberations that took place during this time period pale in comparison with the outcomes of the modern day third wave of feminism. Yet for that time it was radical. With this change the behavior and dress style of women changed as well. The paradigm of thought was that â€Å"Women were the guardians of morality; they were made of finer stuff than men and were expected to act accordingly.† (Allen pg.76, 1931) This ideal very much contrasted with the ne w lewd and wanton archetype of the flapper. â€Å"The flappers wore thin dresses, short sleeved and occasionally (in the evening) sleeveless†. (Allen pg.77, 1931) Women emulated the flapper in style, and in some regions of the country in behavior. Jordon Baker is ultimately Fitzgerald’s golden girl. She is born free with haughty and bratty mannerisms. Within the course of the novel her hands stay clean. She is neither an adulteress, mistress, nor a murderer. Her lifestyle is one of a socialite golfer. She can choose to either be married or stay single. She is not constrained by economic burdens that would push her into matrimony for the sake of economic gain. Thus her life is carefree. She keeps the bourgeois Nick Carraway as a companion even though marriage with him is out of the question. Her body type is that of the flapper, â€Å"She was a slender, small breasted girl, with an erect carriage, which she accentuated by throwing her body backward at the shoulders like a young cadet.† (Fitzgerald, 1925) Nick picked up on the fact that Jordon’s disposition was masculine and rational; she was a player on and off the golf course. â€Å"Jordan Baker instinctively avoided clever, shrewd men, and now I saw that this was because she felt safer on a plane where any divergence from a code would be thought impossible. She was incurably dishonest. She wasn’t able to endure being at a disadvantage and given this unwillingness, I suppose she had begun dealing in subterfuges when she was very young in order to keep that cool, insolent smile turned to the world and yet satisfy the demands of her hard, jaunty body.† (Fitzgerald, 1925) In comparison to the plight of the other characters she walks away all limbs intact and is not an active participant of any of the tragic events that unfolded. She is the smart and strategic golf player who stays safe. She marries a man that she chooses and is left to be a player with acumen. Daisy Buchanan was trapped in a marriage to a violent and sexist brute of a man, Tom Buchanan. She is quite a contrast to the bold Jordan Baker. She has an unstable and flighty disposition. Even though Tom is an old money Yale man he is not her true love. She gave up on waiting for her true love Gatsby because he did not come from old money. Daisy tolerates Tom’s philandering ways. She carries on with an open affair with Gatsby to even the score with Tom who carries on an affair with Myrtle Wilson.â€Å"It was quite another thing for a man or women in whom the ideal of romantic marriage had been ingrained since early childhood to tolerate infidelities when they actually took place.† (pg.104 Allen, 1931). This quote summarizes why Daisy allowed Tom’s adulterous ways. Despite this being the era in which the first wave of feminism took place, being divorced in high society was not acceptable behavior. Daisy gives in to the paradigms of marriage in 1920â₠¬â„¢s society. In the midst of this she loses a bit of her sanity and her true love. Alcoholism plays a part in Daisy’s flighty disposition. She held on to Gatsby in her heart till the very day she stepped to the altar with Tom. â€Å"Here deares. She groped around in a waste-basket she had with her on the bed and pulled out the strings of pearls.†Take ‘em down-stairs and give ‘em back to whoever they belong to. Tell ‘em Daisy’s change’ her mine. Say; Daisy’s change her mine!† (Fitzgerald, 1925). She wanted to break free, but she did not have the strength or social support to run from the marriage. Jordon is quite cognizant to Daisy’s opposition, yet enables the proceedings of the wedding to take place. Gatsby was no where to be found. She allows herself to be entrapped. Daisy has no lofty aspirations to be a liberated woman. â€Å"I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool-that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.† (pg.85 Fitzgerald, 1925). She still has a very childlike way of approaching life and communicating with her spouse. Gatsby is a catalyst and extracts conflict out of Daisy. Without the conflict she would very gladly go about life in her childish oblivion, with Tom as her keeper. Myrtle Wilson is the most tragic character of all. She is the most oppressed one. Daisy has economic and social mobility. Myrtle is poor and married to an earnest man, who does love her, yet Tom Buchanan provides her with things her husband can not as his mistress. The double life she leads is not conducive towards her well being. She tolerates abuse from Tom and does not even have the security of being his wife. â€Å"Daisy! Daisy! Daisy! Shouted Mrs. Wilson. ‘I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai-. Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.† In the end Myrtle dies in a strange twist of feet in a vehicular accident with Daisy in the car she was hit by. â€Å"The first requirement of mental health was to have an uninhibited sex life. If you would be well and happy, you must obey your libido.† (Allen,1931). Jordan, Daisy, and Myrtle do just that. Fitzgerald makes Jordon the actual golden girl. She engages in lascivious behavior. Yet it is how she goes about it is the difference in the quality of her character. This is why Fitzgerald keeps her character out of trouble. Daisy and Myrtle fulfill their libido through adulterous means. Jordon stays single and plays the field. She breaks no marriage vows; she just breaks the mold and sets a new standard in regards to feminine paradigms. Her class and athletic ability allow her to do so. Jordon is ultimately the grounded lady albeit a maverick for her time, she still keeps grace and composure through out the novel. Thus is the difference between her and the other main female characters. Reference List 1) Fitzgerald, F.Scott (1925). The Great Gatsby. Ney York, NY: Simon Schuster. 2) Lewis, Frederick (1931). Only Yesterday. New York, NY: Harper Row. 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Synonyms for Think

Synonyms for Think Synonyms for Think Synonyms for Think By Mark Nichol The bland verb think (from the Old English word thencan, and cognate with thank) is easily supplanted by any one of an impressive assortment of synonyms, each of which has a precise connotation think cannot match. Here are some to think about. To cogitate is to think deeply and intently; the root of the word, which is unrelated to cognition (which refers to knowledge rather than thinking), stems from agitare (meaning â€Å"drive†), from which we also get agitate. Contemplate connotes thought that is extensive as well as deep; another sense is â€Å"view as possible or probable.† The root of contemplatus, the Latin source word, is templum, the word for a place where omens are observed; it is cognate with temple. Deliberate means to think carefully, as implied by its source, the adjective deliberate. An additional sense is â€Å"discuss before making a decision,† as when a legislative body meets to decide about whether to pass a law. (The derivation is from deliberare, meaning â€Å"consider carefully,† the root is possibly libra, meaning â€Å"pound† or â€Å"scale,† with the sense of weighing.) To meditate is to focus one’s thoughts on something; the word, which can, alternatively, allude to planning, also refers to a mental exercise conducted in order to achieve a high state of spiritual awareness. (Meditate is derived from the Latin verb mederi, meaning â€Å"remedy,† and is related to medical and medicine.) Mull, from the Middle English noun mul, meaning â€Å"dust,† is cognate with meal and refers not only to lengthy consideration but also to grinding. Ponder has the connotation of carefully weighing a problem (as a matter of fact, ponder stems from the Latin verb ponderare, meaning â€Å"weigh,† and is related to ponderous), with the implication of extended inconclusive thinking. A similar term with the same etymological origin is perpend. Reflect means, among other things, â€Å"think calmly and quietly†; its root is from flectere (meaning â€Å"bend†), which is also the source of flex. To ruminate is to slowly and repeatedly go over something as if chewing it like a ruminant, a type of animal, such as a cow, that chews its food over and over again. (The word stems from the Latin term rumen, the name in that language and in English for part of a cow’s stomach.) â€Å"Chew over† is an informal synonym. Others include the word eye and the phrases â€Å"kick around,† â€Å"pore over,† and â€Å"wrestle with.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:75 Contronyms (Words with Contradictory Meanings)A While vs Awhile3 Types of Essays Are Models for Professional Writing Forms

American Exceptionalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

American Exceptionalism - Essay Example The untold story of America is bit different as America was founded upon the principles of freedom. America’s tradition to build upon opportunity has been the pinnacle point that has made it exceptional over the years. Undoubtedly, it is also one of the key characteristics that has made individuals all across the world to migrate to America. A country where opportunities are prevalent and individualism is propagated is truly an element that makes this country exceptional. It is clear that USA has played a major role in many elements, both domestically and internationally that has allowed it to be an influential country. Issues such as westward expanionism, racism, reformation, industrial revolution are just few aspects that resulted because of American Exceptionalism. Hence, America continues to be exceptional because of the opportunities, firm belief in changing status quo, and diversity that it has celebrated over the centuries.One of the key reasons why America is exception al is because America is perceived as the â€Å"Golden land of opportunity,† many immigrants come to America for a better future. Without a doubt, many individuals immigrate to America because it allows them to harness their growth. The idea of obtaining their own version of American dream through â€Å"life, liberty and property† is a concept that makes America so unique. The true version of living the American dream can certainly become a reality for these individuals. Individuals are motivated to work hard for themselves to progress further in life. This mutual symbiotic relationship between the citizen and the nation itself is truly exceptional. Unlike other countries which continue to emphasize the well-being of the nation, Americans pride themselves in being â€Å"individualistic.† This theology has been the pinnacle point of what makes America truly unique and fueled westward expansion. America became the symbolism of pure individualism chasing the  "green power.† In addition, the expansionst movement also represents that of the quest for the â€Å"American Dream† that the new immigrants desired when they reached the â€Å"promise land† In essence, Looking at America back in the 1800’s, the westward expansionism was because of the young nation’s desire to expand its horizons. It was an accumulation of greed, individualistic American dreams, and a young nation’s desire to be in conquest. It was evident that this was attained within the American mentality at that time. American Exceptionalism influenced US domestic policies in many ways. First and foremost, it has made America a true super power because it has allowed America to focus within itself. Because of the US involvement in world affairs, the crackdown on terrorism has been a very provocative one1.Without the American involvement, the birth of United Nations would have never been initiated. This itself is a huge testament to how Am erican involvement has been a focal point in world affairs. The initiation of the United Nations is just one example of American influence in world affairs. The United Nations is a collaborative effort that has allowed the nations to put aside their differences and come up with a joint body of resolution. Although the United Nations was an anti-measure of American principles during the 1930’s, it showed that American mentality was flexible and circumstantial. America was ready to change its philosophy based on the circumstances it faced with. This mentality was a