female freedom

Question 1

‘i h - - - s - - - - be a f - - - t - - - - t - - b - - - t - - - - a g - - - c - - be in t - - - w - - - - a b - - - - - - - - l - - - - f - - - ‘

Answer 1

“I hope she’ll be a fool - that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool” (Daisy - C1)

Daisy recognises that traditional women must be subservient and docile, a societal act that she tries to play and then imbue on Pammy. Yet, this view appears outdated, as it contrasts with the attitudes of the ‘flappers’.

Question 2

‘ i t - - - - - - he k - - - s - - - - - - - - a - - - - b - - - - - - - b - - he w - - - - f - - to l - - - my s - - - ‘

Answer 2

“I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe” (George - C2)

The notion of ‘breeding’ indicates Myrtle’s, and society’s, expectation that women should marry men of good wealth/standing. George cannot fulfill this role, as he is resigned to his povertous position.

Question 3

‘ i n - - - - c - - - w - - - i do, so i a - - - - - h - - - a g - - - t - - - ‘

Answer 3

“I never care what I do, so I always have a good time” (Lucille - C3)

Lucille’s quote to Jordan summarises the increasingly prominent ‘flapper’ culture and growing female freedom, as they disregard conservative gender tradition.

Question 4

‘s - - f - - - s - - - - on a p - - - - w - - - - a - - d - - - - - - - - - f - - - a c - - - w - - - - be t - - - - - - i - - - - - - - - - ‘

Answer 4

“She felt safer on a plane where any divergence from a code would be thought impossible” (Jordan - C3)

Jordan’s cheating at golf could be a reflection of her underlying ‘flapper’ attitudes, as she uses Gatsby’s parties to express her feminine independence.

Question 5

‘ s - - c - - - - a - - c - - - - … if he l - - - t - - r - - - f - - a m - - - - - s - - - l - - - u - - - - - - - ‘

Answer 5

“She cried and cried… If he left the room for a minute she’d look around uneasily” (Daisy - C4)

Daisy’s transitioned from vulnerable lover of Gatsby to Tom’s “fool”, willingly playing the traditional role that the aristocratic society wants her to.

Question 6

‘ i m - - be o - - f - - - - - - - - in my i - - - - , b - - w - - - - r - - a - - - - - t - - m - - - t - - - - d - - - to s - - - me’

Answer 6

“I may be old-fashioned in my ideas, but women run around too much these days to suit me” (Tom - C6)

Tom ironically fears Daisy’s infidelity, while depicting the aristocracy’s condemnation of the modern world, particularly in the divergence from the traditional position of women.