“…She Complained…”: The Female Complaint and Voice in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Works

My thesis explores the themes of female complaint and female voices in the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, specifically focusing on "The Cut-Glass Bowl," "Winter Dreams," and The Great Gatsby. Drawing on J. L. Austin's concept of performative speech and Sarah Ahmed and Lauren Berlant’s explorations of the female complaint, I argue that Fitzgerald's female characters are silenced, dismissed, and punished when they express their wants, desires, and grievances. Despite their attempts to use their voices, words, and complaints to enact change in their lives, these women are portrayed as nagging and powerless, oftentimes being punished for speaking up, perfectly reflecting patriarchal societal views towards women's voices in the early 20th century and in Fitzgerald’s works. By examining the speech acts and complaints of Evelyn Piper, Judy Jones, Irene Scheerer, Daisy Buchanan, and Myrtle Wilson, I demonstrate how their concerns are repeatedly ignored by male characters, their emotions considered inconvenient, and their voices portrayed as background noise that is easy to ignore. I conclude my argument by emphasizing that Fitzgerald's portrayal of female voices and their complaints highlights the struggle of women in patriarchal societies to be heard and taken seriously, adding to the discourse on feminist readings of 20th century novels.