The Great Gatsby - 4 Questions Jazmin Contreras

Jazmin Contreras

IB English IV

The Great Gatsby 

Opening Question:

How has the definition of being an independent woman changed from the 1920's to today? Has it had a drastic change? Was it ever possible to be truly independent in the 1920's?

Core Question:

If Tom Buchanan is having an affair with Myrtle, is it possible for him to still have feelings for Daisy?

Although Tom Buchanan was in fact having an affair with Myrtle, the author clearly shows that Tom still has feeling for his wife, Daisy. On page 37, the reader can tell that Tom likes Myrtle enough to have an affair with her, however as soon as she begins to speak badly about his wife things take a turn for the worst. 
"Some time toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs. Wilson  stood face to face, discussing in impassioned voices whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy's name. '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." 
This excerpt proves that Tom still in fact had feelings for Daisy because he cared enough to defend her from Myrtles comments about Daisy.

Source : "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Page 37

What is Daisy truly upset about when she finds out that her offspring is in fact a female rather than a male?

I think that what upsets Daisy about the fact that her child is a girl is that she knows that people don't give much respect to women. She later goes on to say on page 17: 
"'All right,' I said, '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.'" 
When Daisy says this, I think she feels resentful to men in general, but specifically to her deceitful husband, Tom. She thinks that the best thing any girl can do at this time is be "a beautiful little fool" and then just marry someone wealthy. 

Source : "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Page 17

Closing Question: 

If being an independent woman was a goal commonly sought after in the 1920's, why didn't Daisy have the courage to leave her husband?