In examining "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and "Sonnets from the Portuguese" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the composers challenge the ideology of a patriarchal society, religion and sexuality by creating individuals in their works that challenge or represent these aspects of their society. The ideology of a patriarchal society, religion and sexuality are challenged in the context of the composers through the use of literary techniques and characters. The ideology of a patriarchal society is explored in The Great Gatsby in the context of the Jazz Age in America. This was a time in which male were clearly dominant as represented through the character of Tom Buchanan. This is shown through the quote “two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance of his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward.” This quote comments on Tom’s physical appearance and dominant stance. Fitzgerald uses very descriptive language in this quote creating a clear image in the reader’s mind. The ideology of a patriarchal society is also shown when Daisy Buchanan says “I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool – that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” (repetition of ‘fool’). Daisy is commenting on the way in which women must stand by their husbands and tolerate them no matter their actions. This is relevant to the context of Fitzgerald personally as a male coming from a wealthy family and it is a concept considered normal in the time. While the Jazz Age was a time typically dominated by males, characters such as Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson, begin to break from this trend and symbolise the emergence of women in a patriarchal society. Both these women break out of the constraints of the society by having their own affairs. This context is accentuated when studied in comparison to Browning’s Sonnets from the Portuguese. The ideology of a patr