I really love the book.
And
I liked the film!
It was all lovely and wonderful and happy- until people had to go and sully the experience with their darn social media.
Darn you, social media.
I do study literature full-time - though you probably can't tell
from my rushed posts - and I do understand that It's all down to
interpretation; but this new fascination with the main female character is
grinding my gears. Daisy is not an inspirational figure. It kind-of
links to my last post- women being hailed worldwide for being nothing: just a
nice-looking object without the burden a sense of self.
“I hope she'll be a
fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little
fool.”
Is misinterpreted. Widely. On every internet-based outlet.
Everywhere.
I do - however- believe that if you interpret the quote to be
about women being at their best when they stop caring so much about silly
things, and just concentrate on being a happy carefree thing from which beauty
will shine- then that's great. Live your life by the quote- it's a good one.
But it is not Daisy's quote.
It is also significant at which point this line occurs, after Daisy receives a call from her husband's mistress. There is an interpretation that being a 'fool' would stop her daughter from noticing her future husbands misdemeanors, and this is what is intended by this line. However, this interpretation of the quote does not negate the widespread use of it in a modern context, and the idea of using Daisy as a quotable figure in the first place.
Daisy is a feckless, pointless, air-headed character. She is the
antithesis of the inspirational woman. She is there to look pretty, and have no
input: notably agreeing with her odious husband's every opinion, even the dodgy
racial supremacy ones. She KILLS someone, and then lets the biggest strongest
man take the blame for her (Gatsby). She floats about being confused in a
pretty dress; even incapable of feeling love, for anyone or anything- except
money.
What was intended by the line was: 'Women will get by- but only if
they are beautiful, and thick as pig crap. Being plagued by thought and
intellect only muddies your ability to agree with your affluent husband over
his stupid, backwards views; and might form connections to people that might
get in the way of your womanly desire for financial dependency on said rich
man'. This was sort-of acceptable in the 1920's.
The quote is not relevant in the western world anymore. It was
written nearly 100 years ago. In fact, let the whole world's views pre-madonna
die a final time, and then let's move forward in a land where (most) women have
grown quite attached to their brains and their bank accounts and their cone-shaped
bras.
plz?
tweet me @bakebakebaker
BAKER
xoxoxo
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