Abstract

The Great Gatsby is considered as Fitzgerald’s greatest masterpiece by some people. The images of female characters Fitzgerald shaped are of importance to reveal the theme. At the same time, the images of female characters indicate Fitzgerald’s complicated female concept, which is often researched by literary critics. However, many literary critics analyze the female concept in the aspect of Fitzgerald’s patriarchal ideology. There are few studies discussing the Fitzgerald’s appreciation of the flapper. Moreover, most studies fail to attach importance to Fitzgerald’s family education and the social background which contribute to his complicated female concept largely. Therefore, this paper makes a research on the 1920s---the Jazz Age besides Fitzgerald’s female view. Studying Fitzgerald’s complicated female concept is not only helpful for us to learn Fitzgerald’s inner world but also useful in further studying of other plays in that period.

This paper makes a research on Fitzgerald’s female concept and tries to explain the reason why he holds such a complicated view to women. Through an analysis of the female characters and an analysis of the background, it is clear that Fitzgerald’s attitude towards female is very ambivalent: he fixes an extreme distrust of “golden girl”—a distrust which named fear—with a deep sympathy on them at the same time. From the analysis of women characters in the novel, this point is obvious. 

Key words: female concept; patriarchal ideology; Jazz Age

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-4

1.1 Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby-4

1.2 A Survey of Fitzgerald Studies-4

1.3 The Organization of this Thesis-5

2. Female Images-6

2.1 Attractive Appearance-6

2.2 Money-oriented-6

2.3 Moral Decadence-7

2.3.1 Irresponsibility-7

2.3.2 Dishonesty-7

2.3.2 Snobbery-8

3. Fitzgerald’s Patriarchal Ideology-8

3.1 The Setting of “A Man’s Book”-8

3.2 Subordinated to Men-9

4. The Causes of His Female Concept-10

4.1 Social Background-10

4.1.1 Economic Boom-10

4.1.2 The Communication Revolution-11

4.1.3 New Ideas in Philosophy-11

4.2 Fitzgerald’s Experience-12

4.2.1 Early Life-12

4.2.2 First Love-- Ginevra King-13

4.2.3 Wife-- Zelda Sayre-13

5. Conclusion-14

References-15