ABSTRACT

The Great Gatsby depicts three totally different heroines-- Daisy Buchanan, Jordan Baker and Myrtle Wilson. They have something in common, that is, the hollow, materialistic and hypocritical nature. The work not only depicts a variety of different vivid characters but also shows us the attractive panorama of American Jazz Age. This thesis explores Fitzgerald’s two-fold values towards women in order to experience again the beauty and charm of the greatest work of America in the twentieth century and brings to a natural conclusion that Fitzgerald’s inner world and his attitude towards women are of complexity and duplicity.

Key words: Jazz Age; The Great Gatsby; American Dream; feministic values

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-3

Chapter Three ANALYSIS OF THREE FEMALE CHARACTERS-5

  3.1 Daisy Buchanan: A Deadly and Distorted Soul in the Flashy World-5

  3.2 Jordan Baker: An Sincerely Upward Middle Class Woman-7

  3.3 Myrtle Wilson: A Victim in the Love Game of the Upper Class-9

Chapter Four FEMINIST VALUES IN FITZGERALD’S NOVELS-12

  4.1 Commonalities between Fitegerald’s Heroines-12

  4.2 Formation of His Feminist Values-13

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-15

WORKS CITED-17