Female Characters in ‘The Great Gatsby’ and Cormac McCarthy’s ‘No Country for Old Men’?

In a novel set in 1920’s patriarchal society dominated by the obsession of wealth, power, chasing dreams and an enigmatic narrator, just how independent can a woman really be? This is the context for the characters in ‘The Great Gatsby’ where, in the aftershock of a world war, there is celebration and the incarnation of women left at home into ‘flappers’, but it is debatable how far they have really changed from traditional housewives. For Jordan this is an exciting transition but more traditional characters such as Tom cling to the past. When a threatening situation looms over them will they run and hide or confront the problem head on, the only way they know, as in ‘No Country for Old Men’? These contrasting reactions could be a result of Fitzgerald deliberately creating ‘no important women characters’.

Both novels promote women’s liberation and introduce to a new era. In the ‘roaring twenties’, women were expected to be housewives and mothers before making careers for themselves, however Jordan Baker defies this image. With the rise of new fashion, shorter, more daring hairstyles and skirts came the new age woman - the ‘flapper’. With women’s suffrage just achieved and society only just accepting the power and strength women could offer, it was hard for them to impact society. Daisy is a perfect example of this new age woman; perhaps mirroring Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda Sayre, detached from her homely duties, her child and marriage. Sayre was quoted saying “I don't want to live -- I want to love first, and live incidentally”; this links closely to ‘The Great Gatsby’ and morality, mortality and Daisy’s flyaway ways.

The use of colour throughout the novel depicts Daisy as a woman of white and gold, metaphorically symbolisin...

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...The use of “artificial” shows that Fitzgerald may view Daisy as a fake and perhaps women in general. Resneck also suggests that “Daisy play(s) certain roles…as a way of coping with the pressure of the outside world”. This could imply such characteristics as talking with a “voice full of money” are merely an act to cope with the hidden pressures of her materialistic life.

In conclusion, although Fitzgerald does not intentionally present an important woman character, unintentionally they are vital. With the exception of Jordan none of the females have achieved anything particularly noteworthy within their lives, although, without Daisy the story would be dramatically altered and Myrtle’s death is a pivotal part of the novel, leading to the climax. In contrast ‘No Country for Old Men’ presents Carla Jean as the strongest character, highlighting female importance.