Adam

Even at during our first reading of The Great Gatsby the oppression of women characters was obvious. The book takes place in the 1920's when women were first trying to break out of their set roles in a patriarchal society. Fitzgerald portrays any free movement or action by a woman in a negative light, yet when a man commits an equal or even identical offense it is let go as not a big deal. This can be seen especially easily with Myrtle's relationship with Tom. Her taking an agressive action and "getting" Tom is viewed in the book as irresponsible and immoral. Tom's relationship is equally immoral and irresponsible but he survives through the story. What's more, Myrtle is killed in a very symbolic and graphic way: "Michaelis and this man reached her first, but when they had torn open her shirtwaist, still damp with perspiration, they saw that her left breas was swinging loose like a flap, and there was no need to listen for the heart beneath." (pg 137) This obviously kills her while taking away her womanhood at the same time. Did she lose her womanhood during her death as a "consequence" for her actions? Or had she already lost her womanhood in the act of infidelity and the car crash was just it catching up with her?