This paper analyzes the constructions and crises of masculinity in The Great Gatsby through the characters of Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby. Drawing on Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity alongside insights from masculinity studies by Connell and Buchbinder, it explores how both men perform gendered identities shaped by the social, cultural, and economic context of 1920s America. Tom embodies a hegemonic masculinity rooted in inherited wealth, dominance, and control, while Gatsby constructs a self-made, emotionally charged persona dependent on romantic idealism and class aspiration. The analysis demonstrates how both masculinities, despite their differences, rely on performative acts driven by social validation and power. Their confrontation in the hotel scene serves as a moment of crisis where both performances unravel—Tom’s authority reveals its insecurity, and Gatsby’s ideal collapses under the weight of social hierarchy and personal vulnerability. Ultimately, the study argues that Tom and Gatsby represent two sides of the same coin: competing expressions of masculinity that, while opposed in form, are equally fragile and contingent.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Contextualization and Theoretical Framework
2.1 Society and Masculinity in the 1920s
2.2 Performative Gender Theory & Masculinity In Gender Theory
3. Analysis
3.1 Construction and Performance of Masculinity in Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby
3.2 The Hotel Scene: Crisis and Deconstruction of Masculinity in The Great Gatsby
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the construction and representation of masculinity in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, analyzing how protagonists Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan navigate societal expectations of the Roaring Twenties. By applying Judith Butler's gender performativity theory alongside historical context, the study aims to uncover how these characters use dominance and self-presentation to assert their masculine identities, while simultaneously revealing the inherent vulnerabilities and contradictions within their performances.
- The influence of 1920s socio-economic shifts on gender norms.
- The application of Judith Butler’s performative gender theory to literary figures.
- Contrast between hegemonic masculinity and self-made masculine identity.
- The deconstruction of masculine facades during moments of crisis.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Construction and Performance of Masculinity in Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby
Examining how Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby exercise and perform their masculinity is crucial to understanding not only their individual psychological profiles, but also the social context of the 1920s. Through their different approaches to masculinity, one can discern how gender identities are shaped, manifested, and perceived in a period of great social transformation, illuminating the intersections of gender, class, and power and revealing how gender norms are intrinsically linked to other social structures and profoundly influence human interactions and relationships.
Tom Buchanan, one of the protagonists of The Great Gatsby, represents a form of masculinity deeply rooted in the culture and social context of the 1920s, exemplifying the hegemonic masculinity that Connell defines as sustaining male dominance through the marginalization and control of women (832). Tom’s gender performance, as theorized by Butler, is not just a repeated act that conforms to social expectations but becomes a deeply rooted belief, seen as natural and justified by his contemporaries and himself (“Performative Acts” 520). Tom exercises his dominance through a series of behaviors that strengthen his social position and power: his despotic treatment of Daisy, his affair with Myrtle Wilson, and his disdainful attitude towards those he considers inferior. His confidence in monopolizing social resources and ensuring female inferiority reflects the patriarchal society in which he lives, where male success and power are often measured by the ability to control and dominate (Walters 86). This display of power is not just a manifestation of security but a calculated performance that reinforces his credibility in a social environment that values strength and authority as epitomes of virility. As Butler states, gender is an act that constructs the social fiction of an individual’s psychological interiority (“Performative Acts” 528).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research focus on masculinity in The Great Gatsby and the theoretical approach using Judith Butler’s performativity theory.
2. Contextualization and Theoretical Framework: Provides historical context for 1920s gender dynamics and defines the foundational gender theories used throughout the paper.
3. Analysis: Investigates the specific masculine performances of Gatsby and Buchanan and analyzes how their identities are deconstructed during the hotel confrontation scene.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings regarding the inherent instability of the characters' masculine performances and the societal pressures of the era.
Keywords
Masculinity, Gender Performativity, Judith Butler, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hegemonic Masculinity, 1920s, Roaring Twenties, Identity Construction, Tom Buchanan, Jay Gatsby, Power Dynamics, Social Class, Gender Norms, Self-made Man.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper examines the masculine identities of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby within the socio-historical context of the 1920s.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include masculinity, gender performativity, social class, economic power, and the evolution of American identity during the Roaring Twenties.
What is the main objective of the analysis?
The objective is to explore how both characters construct their masculinity and to reveal how their performances challenge or conform to the gender norms of their time.
Which theoretical framework is applied?
The paper primarily utilizes Judith Butler's theory of gender performativity, supported by concepts of hegemonic masculinity and scholarly perspectives on the 1920s.
What content is covered in the main body?
The main body covers the historical context of the 1920s, theoretical definitions of gender, an analysis of the protagonists' distinct masculine styles, and a detailed look at the hotel confrontation as a moment of crisis.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Masculinity, Gender Performativity, Hegemonic Masculinity, The Great Gatsby, and Identity Construction.
How does Tom Buchanan represent a different type of masculinity compared to Gatsby?
Buchanan represents a hegemonic, inherited masculinity focused on dominance and aggression, whereas Gatsby portrays a performative "self-made" masculinity reliant on wealth and romantic idealism.
What role does the hotel confrontation play in the author's argument?
The author uses this scene as a critical pivot point where the "facades" of both characters crumble, exposing their internal insecurities and the limitations of their constructed identities.
- Citar trabajo
- Victoria Giambra (Autor), 2024, Two Sides of the Same Coin. An Analysis of Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby’s Masculinities in "The Great Gatsby", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1588407
