The Great Gatsby as Criticism of American SocietyIn the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald critiques American society in the 1920s. He uses the characters to demonstrate the power that men had over women in those days, along with their foolish and self-indulgent actions, the consequences of which were an afterthought. The attitude and role of women are shown throughout the novel. Fitzgerald also shows how many people in America at this time were delusional and led meaningless lives. Fitzgerald used Tom in The Great Gatsby to demonstrate the power that men had in the 1920s. In order to understand Tom's purpose in the book, one must know that he was deliberately presented as a character that the reader would not I don't like it. Fitzgerald did this because he doesn't like men whose lives mirror Tom's. Tom is a violent man, who completely controls the women in his life. It shows how disrespectful some men were towards women. For example, he breaks his mistress Myrtle's nose. Making a short, skillful movement, Tom Buchanan breaks his nose with his open hand. Another example showing the lack of respect towards women is the fact that Tom cheats on Daisy quite openly. She knows he's having an affair, but there's nothing she can do about it. Fitzgerald comments on this power and lack of respect that men had towards women because he does not agree with it himself. He believes that men should not do these terrible things. Tom never once expresses guilt for his actions and never considers Daisy's feelings. His life is full of selfish actions that get him nowhere. Fitzgerald comments on the changing roles and attitudes of women in 1920s America. He shows this through the characters Daisy and Jordan. Daisy and Jordan drink, smoke, drive, and freely associate with men. Daisy's flirting is an example of this, as well as her drunken state in the first chapter when she says "I'm p-paralyzed with happiness". Daisy also shows the attitude that Fitzgerald considered common in this society, when he spoke of his daughter: "I'm glad it's a girl." I hope she'll be a fool - that's the best thing a girl can be in the world, a beautiful little fool. “This demonstrates that in the 1920s, women were not seen as equals and had little chance of making something of their lives..