Miss Baker is described as “a slender, small-breasted girl” and compared to a “young cadet.” This description of her androgynous features characterizes her as a “flapper,” and makes her representative of the novel’s emphasis on modern styles that clash with established, traditional standards, including gender roles.
The Great Gatsby – 1
The Great Gatsby – 8
When Tom confronts Gatsby about his affair with Daisy, he makes hypocritical reference to “family life and family institutions,” even though he’s guilty of infidelity himself. This reference to traditional institutions symbolizes the challenge to tradition that is at the heart of this modernist novel. Gatsby’s modern dream is to be the upstart who topples tradition and wins the girl of his dreams, despite the fact that he’s not from an old, established family. Furthermore, Tom compares the affair between Gatsby and Daisy to the idea of interracial marriage, another prospect that represents a challenge to tradition and, in Buchanan’s mind, civilization.
The Great Gatsby – 9
As they recover her mangled body, Myrtle Wilson is described as having “tremendous vitality.” This description contrasts with that of the other women, the lithe, androgynous, modern flappers. What does it mean that the woman with the traditional appearance is killed, albeit accidentally, by the modern woman?
The Sun Also Rises – 11
As he talks to Brett, Romero indicates that there is something disgraceful about the fact that he speaks English. He says, “It would be very bad, a torero who speaks English.” This reference to public perception about English corresponds with the idea that American culture, or the culture of other English-speakers, clashes with Spanish tradition. Romero goes on to indicate that Spanish people don’t like English “yet,” and he suggests that for the time being, bullfighters are expected to be more traditional.
The Sun Also Rises – 12
Pedro Romero presents the ear of a bull to Brett Ashley in front of the crowd, after he kills it, but her lack of regard for this totem seems apparent when she leaves the ear “shoved far back in the drawer of the bed-table that stood beside her bed in the Hotel Montoya, in Pamplona.” This could represent her lack of regard for tradition; her indifference to the customs that are important to Romero.
The Sun Also Rises – 13
After their affair has ended, Brett indicates that Romero was ashamed of her because of her style, saying “He wanted me to grow my hair out. Me, with long hair. I’d look so like hell.” Apparently, Romero feels like Brett isn’t sufficiently feminine because she has a short haircut. He symbolizes the traditional male and her modern style defies traditional gender roles.