The Great Gatsby is a male dominated book

Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker :

• Initially they have similar attitudes : entitled and bored attitude
• Daisy :
  • Pessimistic attitude
  • Nihilistic
  • Enchanting voice and feminine charms
  • She maintains a squeaky-clean reputation
  • She is self-absorbed
  • She struggles in her marriage
  • She is depressed
  • She is sticking to her prescribed societal role by marrying and having a child
• Jordan :
  • Pragmatic opportunist, sees possibilities everywhere, she is excited about the possibilities life has to offer
  • Masculine,sharp, physical
  • Rumors about Jordan cheating in a golf tournament
  • Dishonest attitude
  • Very observant
  • She hasn't settled down yet
  • Cool, calm, uncaring, collected

Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson :

• Both derive power from their looks (Tom and Gatsby)
• Myrtle :
  • She is reduced to being just a body, used by George and Tom
  • Wields considerable social power within her group
• Daisy :
  • Her voice males her less of a person in her own right
  • Idealized myth figure
  • For Gatsby, her voice is appealing because it is full of money, she is a prize to him
  • She seems to move with the crowd, doing what it expects of her (marriage with Tom)
• While Daisy is protected from any lasting harm by her wealth and old money status, Myrtle is punished for the exact same behavior