Bodies in Narrative

Addressing bodies in narrative is yet another crucial component of narrative theory. Prior to taking this course, hearing the word body or bodies in terms of narrative, to me, meant female bodies. In part, I blame the culture I live in and the culture I was taught in for this long term assumption of mine. Nevertheless, I would like to elaborate on this assumption.

Throughout literature, women have been harshly criticized for wanting a form of power, yet if the men desire power, then that's seen as a plus and is almost expected of the male role in our Western culture. A perfect example of male vs. female dominance for power is F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. When this narrative is truly examined, both Daisy and Gatsby are power hungry, but while Gatsby is seen as this macho criminal who is admired for his risque life style and place in society, Daisy is labeled as a shallow, materialistic adulteress when really she is simply a woman attempting to earn her place in a man's world. Since the narrative is told by Nick, we see a male constructed image of a female. For instance, Nick admires Daisy for her beauty and her physical, womanly ways. Past that, we really do not know much about Daisy. She is simply Gatsby's downfall and is pretty. This is one of the classic stereotypes of the Western world in terms of gender.  Daisy's beauty and Gatsby's admiration of her beauty drive the narrative further showing women via appearance only. Another gender issue in the text is that Gatsby has to protect Daisy, and so Fitzgerald's classic becomes nothing more than a master plot for something we have seen throughout Western literature -- a master plot for the stereotypical female role presented through a male perspective with characteristics that remain even in narratives written today.

The Great Gatsby is considered to be an American classic that truly reflects our culture. Gender, as we know, is culture created, and in the 1920s (the setting of Gatsby), women were simply seen as pretty, beautiful, and delicate. However, sadly, as a culture, we continue to follow this cycle. Yes, improvements have been made, but if a woman is not labeled beautiful or pretty and does not fit the typical Daisy role, then there is something abnormal about her. Our narratives today do not focus on the abnormal or the unique ways of females today as they should, and this lack of focus leads individuals like me to associate bodies in narrative simply as female because that's all that's being portrayed to the masses. That's what our culture is, and if I am going to agree with Abbott's claim and accept that narratives reflect our world, our culture then making such an argument is valid.