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Chloe Page Mrs. Kolstad English III H, Period 6 21 November 2024 I will neither give nor receive unauthorized aid. The Great Gatsby In America during the 1920s, the patriarchal system set up marriages to trap and confine women economically and socially as that became the only access to power for a woman. This caused many loveless and unhappy marriages that resulted in women pursuing passionate affairs that allowed them to be more themselves and escape their marriages. The consequences of cheating were dangerous, as being caught could result in societal death, but many women were at peace with the consequences because of how unhappy they already felt. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows a man named Nick Carraway who learns about the culture of the rich and the upper class from a man named Gatsby. Gatsby attempts to rekindle his relationship with his past love, Daisy Buchanan, and they have an affair even though she has a husband, Tom Buchanan. Tom Buchanan also has an affair with a woman named Myrtle Wilson, the wife of George Wilson. When Tom and George find out their wives cheated, they make rash decisions that ultimately allow Tom to reconnect with Daisy and cause George to lose Myrtle. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows two men of different statuses, Tom Buchanan and George Wilson, who possess qualities that make them undesirable to their spouses Tom acts arrogant and unfaithful but saves his marriage from the benefits of his money, and George acts unsuccessful and unambitious and loses his marriage from his lack of money ultimately, wealth and status emerge as the only important factors in saving one’s marriage as character mean little in the face of what America in the 20th century deems success or power. Tom Buchanan’s arrogance and unfaithfulness cause his wife to deem him undesirable and have an affair later, Tom utilizes his wealth to his benefit and saves his marriage by using a person with a lack of wealth as a pawn to end his wife’s affair. When Nick comes over to Tom’s house for a meal, he shares this significant first impression “As for Tom, the fact that he ‘had some woman in New York’ was really less surprising than that he had been depressed by a book. Something was making him nibble at the edge of stale ideas as if his sturdy physical egotism no longer nourished his peremptory heart” Fitzgerald 21. Nick only knows Tom briefly and already characterizes him as egotistical and a cheater. The resentful tone from Nick when describing that Tom “‘had some woman in New York’ was really less surprising…” further characterizes Tom as a person who, predictably, would have an affair but carrying an unfaithful character proves not desirable for a partner. Additionally, “egotism” connotes selfishness and arrogance, an unpleasant characteristic in a partner, causing Daisy to turn to an affair. Although Daisy finds Tom unpleasant and has an affair, his wealth and status ultimately win her back. When George’s wife dies from a car, Tom informs him that the car belongs to Gatsby, George murders Gatsby and kills himself. Tom defends himself and Nick describes his character, “‘George was crazy enough to kill me if I hadn’t told him who owned the car…What if I did tell him Gatsby had it coming for him. He threw dust into your eyes just like he did in Daisy’s’…They were careless people, Tom and Daisy–they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated into their money, their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made” 108. Tom defends himself to Nick after he tells George about Gatsby owning the car that hit Myrtle and Nick explains how Tom’s wealth only benefits himself. “Crazy” connotes mad and insane, the result of pain as George feels hurt from the death of his wife, Tom uses this to his advantage in ending his wife’s affair by informing George of the car belonging to Gatsby. Additionally, “careless” connotes reckless and absentmindedness, Nick uses this to describe Tom, as his money allows him to cause damage to people’s lives, and then have a protective shield that prevents him from getting into trouble. Ultimately, the bitter tone in “money…or whatever it was that kept them together” shows Nicks disappointment in the fact that Daisy only stays with Tom because of his economic success and status because leaving him would leave her alone with no financial safety, at least she can be wealthy in an unhappy marriage. Tom utilizes his wealth by using George as a pawn to kill the man Daisy has an affair with while Tom remains without consequence, which saves his marriage. Wealth remains the only important factor in keeping one’s marriage as Daisy would have nothing without his wealth his undesirable character does not affect her as much as the inability to access wealth or power. George Wilson’s unsuccessfulness and unambition cause his wife to deem him undesirable and have an affair, later, moving becomes the only attempt George can make to salvage his relationship because of his lack of wealth, which causes him to lose his wife. Nick meets George for the first time and notices his character. Myrtle, George’s wife, feels tricked into a marriage as she had an incorrect illusion of George’s future as full of riches. Nick and Myrtle express their feelings about George, “He was a blond, spiritless man, anæmic and faintly handsome…‘I thought George knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe’” 25, 34. The quote explains Nick’s first impressions of George and Myrtles disappointment in George. “Spiritless” connotes unambition carrying no motivation to succeed proves undesirable to a partner, which causes Myrtle to deem George unwanted and have an affair. Additionally, the resentful tone of “wasn’t fit to lick my shoe” shows Myrtle’s disgust towards George’s lack of finances and low social status, another reason she deems him unpleasant. Although Myrtle finds George undesirable and cheats on him, George tries to salvage the marriage by moving West ultimately pushing her away. When George finds out about Myrtle having an affair, he takes her West to give her a better life living away from the city costs less, and they could rekindle their relationship far away from her affair. He begs Tom, his biggest client, for work so he can move, and when Tom asks why he needs money, George says, “‘I want to get away. My wife and I want to go West…now she’s going whether she wants to or not. I’m going to get her away…’ A moment later she rushed into the dusk, waving her hands and shouting–before he could move from his door the business was over” 123, 137. George explains his plans leave the city and move West and how Myrtle may not want to do the same but he plans to move with her, ignoring her protests. The tone in “she’s going whether she wants to or not” feels rash and desperate. George knows Myrtle disagrees with the move but he wants to move her before she can make any reckless plans of escape. Moving becomes the only way Myrtle can receive a better life from George, but this will take her away from her affair, her only source of happiness, as she has no opportunities with money or power without it. The diction of “dusk” shows a little light before complete darkness, meaning Myrtle’s last hope and chance before a life of despair. Myrtle runs into the street, hoping Tom will stop and take her with him but Tom not driving, causes the car hits her. She lost her happiness when George decided to move and Myrtle would rather die than move away with someone she does not love, someone she despises. Although Myrtle deems George Wilson undesirable because of his unambition and unsuccessful character, he attempts to salvage their relationship by moving away from her affair. George’s lack of wealth causes Myrtles death and unhappiness as she has no power with him she does not desire a life with someone she despises with no money or power, George cannot do anything to save her. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, illustrates the theme of wealth and status standing as the most important factors in saving one’s marriage as character signifies little in the face of what America in the 20th century deems success or power. Tom Buchanan and George Wilson’s wives both deem them undesirable, Toms character shows arrogance and unfaithfulness but his money allows him to salvage his marriage and Georges character shows unsuccess and unambition and loses his marriage from the lack of his money. Women have little besides their marriage as it gives them stability and power so although Daisy finds herself unhappy in her marriage, Toms wealth and status influence her to remain in her marriage. Myrtle also finds herself unhappy in her marriage and George’s lack of wealth and status shows no benefits to her marriage so she attempts to flee the trap of confinement to her undesirable husband. The shallow mindset of America in the 1920s, trapped women into unhappy marriages, their only access to status and power their only slip of happiness and love came through their affairs. Today, women feel less pressured to marry for wealth, power, and status as they can create that all on their own, but men have it easier. Women put more effort than men to achieve all they want, as opportunities for women take work, unlike most men. The more women continue fighting for power, the generations of women to come can achieve even more.