Deconstructing Myrtle's Character through Quotes

"All I kept thinking about, over and over was "You can't live forever; you can't live forever!""

- Myrtle Wilson



'Myrtle Wilson'



Since Myrtle is quite obviously below the Buchanan’s class (yet another reason she goes for Tom), Fitzgerald (through Nick) ridicules her for insisting that she is above her husband. He didnt have a lot of positive to say about her:

 "She was in the middle thirties and faintly stout but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can....She smiled slowly and walk[ed] through her husband as if he were a ghost."

- Nick Carraway's description of Myrtle, Chapter 2.



Proof of Nick's statement in which she treats George like a ghost is this quote here:

‘Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward!’ p146

This shows her desperate desire for a strong man to take care of her life. She is begging Wilson to beat her, probably because Tom has done so before, but when she finds out how weak Wilson actually is she is so desperate to be subservient to a man she begs to be beaten.

AMERICAN DREAM:

Myrtles idea of the American Dream is to become a trophy wife. She believes that this is the best life a woman can have at this age. She enjoys belonging to Tom, who constantly refers to her as "my girl". This suggests his ownership over her which she finds flattering that such a high status character want to own her.

BEAUTY:

Myrtle is often describes as a beautiful fool.

Nick describes her to have features that didnt quite fit the ideas of a beautiful woman with

"Her face contained nofacet of gleam of beauty", she has "Rather wide hips" and a "thickish figure for a woman".

He also goes on with many other quotes such as:

"faintly short but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously". The only compliment she receives here is that she is sensuous, which suggests that Tom is only interested in her for sex.

"His wife thats keeping them apart, shes a Catholic".

not only does this suggest that she is easily tricked, by Tom of all people, but it shows that she still believes that one day she and Tom will eventually marry. This shows she is naiive, vulnerable and to put it bluntly, stupid.

"I thought he knew about breeding".

This shows her characters selfishness, lack of respect towards her husband and want for a rich life. With this quote, she is talking about her disappointment with the fact that Wilson never became rich, when she thought that he would. However, it is made clear in the novel that Wilson has never even owned his own suit, which should have been a good sign for Myrtle when realising he wasnt going to be rich. Although this may not seem to come under beauty, I think its important because it suggests that she isnt beautiful on the inside.

MYRTLE REPRESENTING WOMAN:

It is clear that Myrtle see's men as more powerful than her and rather than working her way up the ladder to success (like Gatsby), she see's the only way is to find a rich man to love and marry her.

"A dress suit and patent leather shoes I couldnt keep my eyes off".

This is Myrtle's description of Tom, which shows that she is attracted to his wealth by discussing what he wears and how he looks. This says everything about her relationship with Tom. He is a rich man she desires but only for money, and she is just an object he knows he can have when he wants.

"His white shirt front pressed against my arm".

She is very dominant by men and loves the power that they have over her. In her eyes, they are pristine and perfect, like a pressed white shirt.

"Beat me you coward".

Again, this quote is appropriate when looking at her representation of women. It shows that she needs that strong dominant figure to survive. She asks Wilson to satisfy her need, but he doesnt, not like Tom.

MYRTLE REPRESENTING THE LOWER CLASS:

Myrtle represents lower class with her looks, attitude, brains and being subservient. Here are some quotes that show how she represents the lower class:

"Some of the small scandal magazines of Broadway".

Unlike the people who attend Gatsby's parties, like Daisy, who gossip amongst themselves to find out the latest, Myrtle has to read cheap magazines to find out whats going on.  

"A wreath with a black silk bow for my mothers grave".

Again, this represents class, suggesting her lower status because she has experience death which is something the lower class are familiar with. This is not to say that the upper class dont experience death, but the way Myrtle discusses it shows that the lower class have the harder life.

"Her left breast was swinging loose like a flap".

The breast is a symbol of femininity, so the idea of it being ripped of as she dies could suggest that her femininity is being ripped away from her because of her lower class birth. It also shows the difference between her and Daisy because its a much more vulgar image, which was Fitzgerald's way of showing the lower class.

MYRTLE COMPARED TO DAISY:

There are major obvious differences between Myrtle and Daisy. This is strongly pushed through the book because Fitzgerald was so harsh when it came to writing about the lower class. He made the difference in hierarchy a big thing, but this was a good thing when it came to noticing the difference in woman. Here are some quotes I have found that show the difference between Myrtle and Daisy:

"Dress of cream".

Daisy always wore the colour cream as a sign of purity. Myrtle on the other hand is often seen in vulgar colours like reds and bright pinks. She tries to impersonate her with the style, but never gets the idea for colour right.

"She looked at me and laughed pointlessly".

Daisy's laugh is "absurd" but it is also "charming". This quote from Nick shows another attempt of Myrtle trying to copy Daisy, but failing again.

"The answer...came from Myrtle... was violent and obscene".

Daisy is always described as pure and polite, whereas Myrtle is often describes and vulgar, obscene and crass.

"Daisy Daisy Daisy I'll say it whenever I want to!".

This is a quote from a big scene between Myrtle and Tom. Tom doesnt see Myrtle fit to mention Daisy's name and hits her for doing so. However, there are two occasions that this happens and the second time is much more serious than the first. At the beginning, Tom tells Myrtle to stop calling him "hulking"but she carries on and Tom does nothing. But, when told to not say Daisy, she pays the price for being childish and repeating her name, by getting her nose broken. This shows how she is difference to Daisy because this is the behavior of lower class and clearly how Myrtle behaves with George because she can get away with it.