Thesis Essay: The Great Gatsby
... his thin coat. It was a body capable of enormous leverage – a cruel body.” (11) By this statement, one can conclude that this man has used his strength for wrongdoing; we may even assume that he has assaulted his wife. In any novel or even society, men are portrayed as powerful creatures and this excerpt demonstrates that they have control over their lives: their women and household. First impressions play a great part in Fitzgerald’s novels. When the reader first meets Tom Buchanan, the image exposed to the reader is one of success and wealth. As the novel progresses, we see a frail and humble women standing beside him. This man is shown to have a certain power over her, even she confesses to have married a brute man. “That’s what I get for marrying a brute of a man, a great big hulking physical specimen of a…” (16) Fitzgerald purposely included this passage in his work in subtly hint about Tom’s abusive manners. Physical appearances may tell much about one’s character, but his or her intellect may uncover other things. Fitzgerald portrayed his men as dominant figures but did not grace Tom with an open mind. “The idea is if we don’t look out the white race will be – will be utterly submerged.” (17) Tom, as well a society during this period of time, lived by the idea that white men were superior and that there was nothing morally wrong with having a mistress. Since Fitzgerald gave men this power, his women were quickly associated with idiotic sexual objects, obeying their man. “And I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” (21) As stated earlier, women in “The Great Gatsby” are seen as u...