Myrtle Wilson

MYRTLE WILSON

'mid thirties, faintly stout, thickset figure, face isn't beautiful, however she has vitality, is continually smouldering and carries herself very sensuously'.
 - Nick Carrway's Description of Myrtle

After studying the text and considering the characters, the character I want to focus on for this project is Myrtle Wilson. Myrtle is quite a mysterious character, but its her doing in the novel that is the shape of things to come. This is why I chose to look into herc character, because she is definitely the dark horse.

The story is Myrtles character is quite sad. She is married to George Wilson, the owner of a run down auto shop on the edge of the Valley of Ashes. Her husband is lifeless and exhausted, struggling to make ends meet, but his love her Myrtle is unconditional. Myrtle on the other hand takes what shes got for granted. She is constantly looking for a way to improve her situation, looking for a way out of the lower class life and a way in with the rich and famous. She is having an affair with Tom, but Tom treats her more of an object rather than a desire. There is a scene in the novel where Tom takes Nick to the hotel Myrtle is at. Myrtle mentions Daisy's name, and Tom hits her suggesting that Myrtle has to right to mention his wives name. A lot of emotion can be felt towards Myrtle throughout the novel such as sympathy, hatred and anger. Her character doesnt grow in ways that other characters do, but some would say she gets what she deserves. The sympathy on the other hand should go towards her husband. However, it would appear that anyone in the novel who deserves sympathy manages to change for the worse and commit some sort of disaster.

I have brainstormed some facts about Myrtle. These are the things that make up her character and what I think the audience should recognise about her.