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
- Introduction
- Contextualization and Theoretical Framework
- Society and Masculinity in the 1920s
- Performative Gender Theory & Masculinity In Gender Theory
- Analysis
- Construction and Performance of Masculinity in Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby
- The Hotel Scene: Crisis and Deconstruction of Masculinity in The Great Gatsby
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper offers a new interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby by analyzing the contrasting masculinities of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. It aims to engage with current thought on gender and power, providing insights into the construction and representation of gender identities in literature and beyond. The analysis explores how historical gender roles and their performative aspects influenced societal structures and individual identities in the 1920s.
- Masculinity in the Roaring Twenties
- Performative Gender Theory
- Contrasting Masculinities of Gatsby and Buchanan
- The Influence of Societal Norms on Gender Identity
- Power Dynamics in the 1920s
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Set in the Roaring Twenties, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby explores masculinity through its protagonists, Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. Gatsby, the self-made man, constantly reinvents himself, his identity inextricably linked to his love for Daisy. His success is performative, a spectacle for Daisy and the world. Tom, embodying the "new style of manhood," uses aggression and control to mask inner insecurities, maintaining an image of strength. The paper argues that both men use dominance as masculine affirmation, but their crises reflect broader 1920s tensions.
2. Contextualization and Theoretical Framework: This chapter establishes the historical and theoretical groundwork for the analysis. Section 2.1 examines societal shifts in the 1920s, highlighting the redefinition of masculinity as aggressive and physically strong in response to social and economic changes. It discusses the crisis of male identity stemming from industrialization, women's emancipation, and mass immigration. Section 2.2 introduces Judith Butler's performative gender theory, emphasizing that gender is a performance influenced by historical and cultural factors. The chapter lays the foundation for understanding how societal pressures and performative acts shape the masculinities of Gatsby and Buchanan.
Keywords
The Great Gatsby, masculinity, performative gender theory, 1920s, Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, gender identity, social norms, power dynamics, American masculinity.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Contextualization and Theoretical Framework
- Society and Masculinity in the 1920s
- Performative Gender Theory & Masculinity In Gender Theory
- Analysis
- Construction and Performance of Masculinity in Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby
- The Hotel Scene: Crisis and Deconstruction of Masculinity in The Great Gatsby
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper offers a new interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby by analyzing the contrasting masculinities of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. It aims to engage with current thought on gender and power, providing insights into the construction and representation of gender identities in literature and beyond. The analysis explores how historical gender roles and their performative aspects influenced societal structures and individual identities in the 1920s.
- Masculinity in the Roaring Twenties
- Performative Gender Theory
- Contrasting Masculinities of Gatsby and Buchanan
- The Influence of Societal Norms on Gender Identity
- Power Dynamics in the 1920s
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Set in the Roaring Twenties, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby explores masculinity through its protagonists, Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. Gatsby, the self-made man, constantly reinvents himself, his identity inextricably linked to his love for Daisy. His success is performative, a spectacle for Daisy and the world. Tom, embodying the "new style of manhood," uses aggression and control to mask inner insecurities, maintaining an image of strength. The paper argues that both men use dominance as masculine affirmation, but their crises reflect broader 1920s tensions.
2. Contextualization and Theoretical Framework: This chapter establishes the historical and theoretical groundwork for the analysis. Section 2.1 examines societal shifts in the 1920s, highlighting the redefinition of masculinity as aggressive and physically strong in response to social and economic changes. It discusses the crisis of male identity stemming from industrialization, women's emancipation, and mass immigration. Section 2.2 introduces Judith Butler's performative gender theory, emphasizing that gender is a performance influenced by historical and cultural factors. The chapter lays the foundation for understanding how societal pressures and performative acts shape the masculinities of Gatsby and Buchanan.
Keywords
The Great Gatsby, masculinity, performative gender theory, 1920s, Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, gender identity, social norms, power dynamics, American masculinity.
Frequently asked questions about the analysis of Masculinity in The Great Gatsby
What is the main focus of this paper on The Great Gatsby?
This paper focuses on analyzing the contrasting masculinities of Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. It aims to provide a new interpretation of the novel through the lens of gender and power, engaging with current thought on these topics.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes explored include masculinity in the Roaring Twenties, performative gender theory, the contrasting masculinities of Gatsby and Buchanan, the influence of societal norms on gender identity, and power dynamics in the 1920s.
What theoretical framework does the paper utilize?
The paper utilizes Judith Butler's performative gender theory, which emphasizes that gender is a performance influenced by historical and cultural factors.
How does the paper approach the analysis of Gatsby and Buchanan's masculinities?
The paper analyzes how both Gatsby and Buchanan construct and perform their masculinities, highlighting how they use dominance as a form of masculine affirmation. It also examines the crises they face, which reflect broader tensions in the 1920s.
What historical context is considered in the analysis?
The analysis considers the societal shifts in the 1920s, including the redefinition of masculinity as aggressive and physically strong in response to social and economic changes. It also addresses the crisis of male identity stemming from industrialization, women's emancipation, and mass immigration.
What keywords are associated with this analysis?
The keywords include: The Great Gatsby, masculinity, performative gender theory, 1920s, Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, gender identity, social norms, power dynamics, American masculinity.
What does chapter one of the paper summarize?
Chapter one introduces the paper's focus. It provides a general overview of the Roaring Twenties, as well as an overview of the protagonists.
What does chapter two of the paper summarize?
Chapter two introduces the theoretical framework of the paper, focusing primarily on Judith Butler's performative gender theory.
- Quote paper
- Victoria Giambra (Author), 2024, Two Sides of the Same Coin. An Analysis of Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby’s Masculinities in "The Great Gatsby", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1588407
