Introduction
This essay examines the exploration of gender identity and gender roles in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s *The Great Gatsby* (1925) and William Shakespeare’s *Macbeth* (1606). Both texts, though separated by centuries and cultural contexts, present complex portrayals of gender that reflect societal expectations and individual struggles. In *The Great Gatsby*, gender roles are intertwined with class and the American Dream, often illustrating the constraints placed on women in a materialistic society. In *Macbeth*, gender identity is problematised through characters who challenge or subvert traditional norms, particularly in relation to power and ambition. This analysis will focus on key characters—Daisy Buchanan and Lady Macbeth—as central figures in exploring these themes, while considering how each text critiques or reinforces contemporary gender ideologies. The essay aims to highlight both similarities and differences in their portrayals, supported by textual evidence and scholarly perspectives.
Gender Roles and Constraint in The Great Gatsby
In *The Great Gatsby*, Fitzgerald critiques the rigid gender roles of 1920s America, where women are often objectified and confined to domestic or decorative roles. Daisy Buchanan embodies the idealised yet trapped woman of the Jazz Age. Her voice, described by Gatsby as “full of money” (Fitzgerald, 1925, p. 115), symbolises her commodification; she is less an individual with agency and more a prize to be won. Indeed, Daisy’s passivity—her inability to choose between Tom and Gatsby—reflects the societal expectation that women should conform to male desires rather than assert their own (Tyson, 2006). This is further evidenced in her marriage to Tom, where she tolerates his infidelity, arguably because economic security and social status outweigh personal fulfilment.
Moreover, Fitzgerald uses Daisy to critique the American Dream’s gendered nature. While men like Gatsby can pursue wealth and self-reinvention, women are generally denied such agency, reduced to symbols of achievement. Therefore, Daisy’s role as a passive object of desire reinforces the limitations imposed on women, highlighting a broader cultural critique of gender inequality in the modernist era (Person, 1978).
Gender Identity and Power in Macbeth
In contrast, Shakespeare’s *Macbeth* explores gender identity through characters who explicitly challenge societal norms, particularly Lady Macbeth. Her infamous plea to be “unsexed” and filled with “direst cruelty” (Shakespeare, 1606, Act 1, Scene 5) reveals a desire to reject feminine traits associated with weakness and embrace masculine attributes linked to ambition and violence. This subversion of gender norms is striking for its time, as Lady Macbeth equates power with masculinity, reflecting early modern anxieties about women in positions of influence (Adelman, 1992).
However, her eventual descent into guilt and madness suggests a tragic consequence of transgressing gender boundaries. Unlike Daisy, whose passivity aligns with expectation, Lady Macbeth’s active manipulation of her husband disrupts the patriarchal order, only to be punished by psychological collapse. This arguably reinforces the notion that women who defy gender roles face inevitable ruin, though some scholars interpret her character as a critique of restrictive norms rather than an endorsement of them (Bloom, 2008).
Comparative Analysis: Contrasts and Commonalities
While both texts critique gender roles, their approaches differ significantly. *The Great Gatsby* presents women as victims of a patriarchal, materialistic society, with Daisy’s lack of agency reflecting broader systemic oppression. Conversely, *Macbeth* offers a more individualised exploration, where Lady Macbeth’s attempt to redefine her gender identity leads to personal downfall, suggesting a tension between ambition and prescribed roles. Yet, a commonality lies in the tragic outcomes for both characters; whether through passivity or rebellion, neither escapes the constraints of their gendered world. Furthermore, both texts engage with societal fears—Fitzgerald with the modern woman’s limited role, and Shakespeare with the threat of female power—illustrating how gender remains a site of conflict across time (Tyson, 2006).
Conclusion
In summary, *The Great Gatsby* and *Macbeth* offer nuanced explorations of gender identity and roles, reflecting the cultural anxieties of their respective eras. Fitzgerald critiques the objectification of women through Daisy’s passive conformity, while Shakespeare challenges and ultimately punishes Lady Macbeth’s gendered transgression. Both texts reveal how deeply ingrained societal expectations shape individual lives, often with tragic consequences. The implications of these portrayals remain relevant, prompting modern readers to consider how far such constraints persist today. Ultimately, these works underscore the complexity of gender as a construct, inviting ongoing critical engagement with its impact on identity and power dynamics.
References
- Adelman, J. (1992) Suffocating Mothers: Fantasies of Maternal Origin in Shakespeare’s Plays. Routledge.
- Bloom, H. (2008) Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human. Riverhead Books.
- Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925) The Great Gatsby. Scribner.
- Person, L. E. (1978) ‘Herstory’ and Daisy Buchanan. American Literature, 50(2), 250-257.
- Shakespeare, W. (1606) Macbeth. Edited by K. Muir, Arden Shakespeare, 2005.
- Tyson, L. (2006) Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide. Routledge.
