The Dark and Despairing view of America in the Great Gatsby

With reference to the novel The Great Gatsby, many critics would argue that Fitzgerald’s views on many key themes are indeed ambiguous and can be interpreted in a number of ways. Whilst it cannot be denied that in The Great Gatsby America is often portrayed as dark and despairing, Fitzgerald also often glamorizes the roaring twenties, which, equally were not always looked upon glamorously by the people of the time themselves. An area reflecting the dark and despairing nature of 1920s America can be seen in the role of women within the novel. Fitzgerald himself stated that the novel contained no important female character. The women in the Great Gatsby are portrayed as “incurably dishonest” and the narrator Nick states at one point that “dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply” . Fitzgerald’s portrayal of women reflects his views that the emancipation of women was perhaps only skin deep and that women in 1920s America were still dependent on men. Indeed, at one Gatsby’s parties, this idea is highlighted by “an unaccompanied group of girls” Throughout this chapter these girls are seen “putting their heads on men’s shoulders in a puppyish, convivial way, girls were swooning backwards playfully into men’s arms, even into groups, knowing that someone would arrest their falls.” Within the theme of women, the negative view of the double standards seen across America are brought to light. Jordan is judged for her dishonesty and Tom challenges Daisy’s infidelity with “I suppose the latest thing to do is to sit around and let Mr. Nobody from nowhere make love to your wife” when he himself is engaging in an affair with Myrtle Wilson. Overall, the “world and its mistress” in the Great Gatsby convey the idea that the women of 1920s America may not have had full emancipation- for example, an advertisement for a car was described as being so easy to drive, even a woman could drive it, showing that sexism was still rampant and that this portrayal was