The Great Gatsby

Chapter 2 Critical Lens

Objective: Collaboratively develop claims through one of the critical lenses (marxist,
feminist, race/ethnic, historical context). Develop a claim with evidence and analysis.

Directions: In either individually, in pairs, or groups of 3, please select a scene to

analyze using a specific lens. This should include a claim (in the format that we have
discussed), and utilize close-read analysis to defend your ideas, The response should
be 1 paragraph in length. You may submit 1 piece of writing per group.

Feminist lens

The sister, Catherine, was a slender, worldly girl of about thirty, with a solid, sticky bob
of red hair, and a complexion powdered milky white. Her eye-brows had been plucked
and then drawn on again at a more rakish angle, but the efforts of nature toward the
restoration of the old alignment gave a blurred air to her face. When she moved about
there was an incessant clicking as innumerable pottery bracelets jingled up and down
upon her arms.

Your response here: in the scene where Nick meets Catherine, when analyzed
through a feminist lens, reveals how Nick is able to judge women because as a
man at this time it was common for men to think they were superior to women
and judge them. “Catherine, was a slender, worldly girl…her eye-brows had
been plucked and then and then drawn on again at a more rakish angle, but the
efforts of nature toward the restoration of the old alignment gave a blurred air to
her face”(25). Nick is very judgemental, especially of the female characters in
the novel. While analyzing this quote from a feminist lens it highlights the
importance of the physical appearance of women, especially in Nick’s eyes.
Nick’s opinion of women is based primarily on how they look.