The Great Gatsby As A Feminist

According to a study conducted by the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, females comprise of only 29 percent of progratonists in the top 100 films. This evidence shows that even in 2017, females are discriminated against in all types of media. In “The Offshore Pirate”, F. Scott Fitzgerald takes a different approach. Written during the height of the women’s suffrage movement, Fitzgerald places a strong female character as the protagonist of his story. Ardita Farnam, a young 19 year old has her mind already set on what she wants to do in life, and has no intention of changing it. While most stories both then and now place men in a commanding position, Fitzgerald befittingly places a strong woman with typical masculine characteristics
While reading on her uncle’s yacht, Ardita is approached by her uncle, Mr. Farnam, attempting to set her up with a man named Toby. “‘Oh, yes. Young woman, Colonel Moreland has called up again to ask me to be sure to bring you into dinner. His son Toby has come all the way from New York to meet you and he's invited several other young people’” (Fitzgerald 3). The author gives very little description of Toby, only that he is the son of Colonel Moreland and is from New York. From this passage, the reader can assume that Ardita’s uncle has tried to set her up with men before, and every time she has turned them down. Mr. Farnam is portrayed as someone who is commanding Ardita to obey his rules and wishes, but much to her uncle’s avail, Ardita refuses to meet the man. Ardita has her mind set on going to Palm Beach and meeting the man of her dreams. This characteristic is one not very often attributed to female characters even by today’s standards. Fitzgerald allows Ardita to be defiant and not confine to the social norms of the time. Mr. Farnam does not approve of this man and believes she only loves him in order to spite himself. Through this exchange, it is evident that Ardita is an empowered young women who will not give in to the demands of the masculine figures in her life. She instead takes on the masculine characteristics by speaking her mind and not giving in when she is not
Through the next pages, Ardita affection for Carlyle eventually turns into a love and admiration. While it may appear that Ardita has her mind set, in actuality it is often changes as shown by the mysterious man she met. The one quality that Ardita possesses throughout the whole story is that she will not tolerate paternal attitude. She will not be controlled by anyone or anything and Ardita may not know what she wants but she is intent on finding it herself. To sum it up in one word, Ardita had courage. The courage to do what she wants, when she wants, and with who she wants. In the end, the truth is finally revealed to Ardita. Curtis Carlyle is not who he seems to be, he is in fact Toby Moreland, the man Mr. Farnam tried to set Ardita up with. Almost everything Toby told her was a lie, but Ardita does not seem to mind that much. Ardita is actually in love with this man and everyone is happy with the result. Throughout the entire story, Fitzgerald gave Ardita common masculine characteristics that helped define her as a person. She is unwilling to back down and will always have her own