Myrtle

In Chapter 2, we are also introduced to Myrtle — Tom Buchanan'southward mistress and George Wilson's wife.  Myrtle is described equally beingness "faintly stout, but she carried her surplus mankind sensuously as some women tin can" (25).  Opposite to Daisy, Myrtle is not a squeamish, sparse woman, just rather on the bigger side.  However, although she is not every bit pristine and dainty as Daisy, she even so possesses a vitality about her that is striking; Myrtle is interesting in that she is not the typical definition of "beautiful", merely rather she possesses a charm that separates her from the balance of women in East Egg.

Interestingly enough, Tom introduces Nick to Myrtle, fifty-fifty though Daisy is Nick's second cousin; the fact that he does so obviously indicates his sociopathic tendencies.  We also discussed that Tom is about likely using Nick to boost his own ego.   Remember that contrary to Tom, Wilson actually worksandhas his own business organisation, yet he is stuck in the Valley of Ashes.  How is this contradictory?  When we think of the American Dream, isn't 1 of the first things that comes to our mind entrepreneurship?  Fitzgerald seems to use Wilson as a fashion to critique the American Dream; here is a human being who owns an honest business concern, withal it remains unprosperous mainly because the residents in the Valley of Ashes cannot afford Wilson's services.  Unfortunately, this is why Wilson depends so desperately on Tom — when he comes around a "blink of hope" comes into his eyes.  Pay special attending to how Tom and Wilson speak to 1 another; Tom slaps him on the dorsum and calls him "old human being" (similar to Gatsby'southward "quondam sport"), and Wilson backs downwardly as soon as he thinks that he may have offended Tom.  Again, social classes are at piece of work here; because Wilson is of the "Valley of Ashes" (the lowest social order in this novel), he cannot defy Tom (who is former coin, and who is essentially aristocratic).

It becomes obvious then equally to why Myrtle is having an matter with Tom; evidently, at that place is no hope for Myrtle to rise above the Valley of Ashes if she does not associate herself with a wealthy human from East Egg.  Being that women were incredibly dependent on men during the 1920s, Myrtle must depend on an affluent man to have her away from the Valley.  Unfortunately, she cannot depend on Wilson — who ironically enough, owns a business concern simply cannot generate any profits.  This explains her unfortunate dependency on Tom.  Also notation that contrary to anybody in the Valley of Ashes, Myrtle does non possess the ash-gray color that her husband and the others take:  "A white cadaverous dust veiled his dark conform and his pale hair as it veiled everything in the vicinity — except his wife who moved close to Tom" (26).  We discussed that this means Myrtle possesses a strong desire in her to ascension above the Valley of Ashes, and participate in the American Dream.  Perhaps, through Tom, she nonetheless has promise to do so.Also, why would Tom have a mistress that belongs to a lower, social class?  What does this suggest about Tom?  What might his intentions be in having this thing?

Where is the American Dream?

As Myrtle, Nick, and Tom leave to New York City, it is key to note that Tom mentions that the Valley of Ashes is a "terrible place" (26).  He and Dr. T.J. Eckleburg actually commutation a frown together.  Why might this be ironic?  It may exist ironic considering members of East Egg take directly influenced and created the "Valley of Ashes".  Considering these people cannot participate in the American dream, the Valley of Ashes exists in the first place.Nick too makes sure to provide the image of immigrants and the Quaternary of July in his narration of the Valley of Ashes; this highlights how hypocritical the American Dream is.  If the American Dream actually exists, how is the Valley of Ashes direct proof that the Fourth of July is not promised to immigrants and residents of the Valley of Ashes in the 1920s?Recall how we discussed that considering Due east Egg holds most of the power, wealth, and social status, information technology is nearly impossible for Wilson, Myrtle, and those who reside in the Valley of Ashes to achieve the American Dream.  Therefore, this highlights that Tom is completely unaware and oblivious to the decay and toxic waste that he helps create.

Myrtle's Political party

When Nick, Tom and Myrtle finally arrive to their apartment in New York, Myrtle does several things:  she changes her apparel at a rapid charge per unit, and Nick notes that she changes her dress to a "muslin" which is a wearing apparel that suggests a higher social form.  Equally nosotros discussed, there is a lot of importance in how we clothes — especially in the novel; the characters pay special attention to their outer appearances, since class is actually based on general superficialities — such as what they wear, and what possessions they obtain.  We yet see instances of this today.  Before even arriving to their flat, Tom buys Myrtle an expensive dog (now $133), and lets nigh 4 taxi cabs laissez passer her by earlier she decides to become into one.  Myrtle is behaving like she is from East Egg; New York is a key setting in the novel in that characters tin create their own identities in New York because anything seems to be possible. Therefore, it is all likewise easy for Myrtle to conduct similar an aristocrat, when in reality, she is from the "Valley of Ashes" and is extremely poor.

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One can too debate that Nick continues to exist an unreliable, biased narrator in this novel; for one, he judges practically all of the characters at the party — especially Myrtle and her friends.  Secondly, he claims that he has only been boozer twice, but based on what we have seen Nick say since the very commencement, this may be questionable.  Finally, the whole party scene is incredibly disjointed; Nick becomes extremely intoxicated and does not even think near of the events that took place.We do know a couple of events for sure though:  Catherine gossips to Nick about Myrtle, and our first rumor of Gatsby is mentioned; Myrtle continues to human action every bit though she is from East Egg in that she mocks Catherine equally though she is higher up her, and complains about the service as though she is some wealthy aristocrat; Myrtle and Tom take a huge blow-out and Tom breaks her olfactory organ considering she decides to speak near Daisy (this further proves that Tom is a hypocrite in that he tin can estimate and critique Wilson's social class every bit much every bit he wants, but when Myrtle mentions Daisy'south name, it is off limits; this non only points out the breathy sexism of the human relationship, merely how Tom dominates Myrtle in a frightening style.  We also meet that Myrtledoes nonleave Tom even after he breaks her nose.  Who is she going to turn to?  Tin she participate in the American Dream without Tom?  Do we empathise with her at all?).  Afterwards their huge fight, Mr. McKee leaves his wife Catherine, and Nick follows him.

Nosotros spoke near the obvious sexual imagery in the lift, and how Nick and Mr. McKee get habitation together.  Patently, we do non know what happened for sure merely it is obvious that something happened between them.  Clearly, there is nothing wrong with this at all (and let'south remember that!!). This scene also highlights on Nick'south unreliability as a narrator because he explains the events in such a disjointed, unorganized way; many literary critics too state that Fitzgerald and Zelda traveled to many places where experimentation was popular.  Either way, Nick's sexuality is questionable at this indicate:  for ane, we know that he has some interest in Jordan just nothing has solidified even so; apparently, something nigh probably happened betwixt him and Mr. McKee; and, finally, Nick'southward relationship with the adult female back dwelling (end of Chapter 3) has not exactly been broken off yet.  Therefore, Nick's sexuality is in question, which is extremely interesting for a novel that is gear up during the 1920s.

"Enchanted and Repelled"

I last thing to highlight on:  during the political party, it is obvious that Nick wants to get out several times, only he is always coerced in some fashion to stay.  Y'all could besides argue that it is his choice to stay because he does have the opportunity to leave when Tom is with Myrtle, but he allows Tom to command him.This connects back to Nick's inner thoughts:  "I was inside and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life" (35).  Nick is torn between two worlds here; for one, he wants to remain an observer (or an unbiased narrator), merely he is constantly sucked back into the story as a participant — which fuels his judgement and subjectivity. In add-on, he is enchanted with the lifestyles of these people — the wealth, the adultery, the excessive drinking, the excitement, and the absurdity of it all — but at the same time, he is repelled or disgusted by it.  This connects back to Chapter one, when Nick mentions that when he came dorsum, he wanted the world to be at a sort of "moral attending forever"; this means that he wants 1920s social club to actually possess morals and ethics — the exact opposite of how people behave at Myrtle's party.  This also connects dorsum to the lavish and somewhat sickening lifestyle of the rich (East Egg and West Egg tin can exist guilty of this also); they accept no conscience, no morals, and are obsessed with maintaining their ain social form.  Excessive drinking, gossip, and a lack of consciousness fills their lives.

Yet, Nick is torn; thereare some qualities of this lifestyle that attract or implore him to stay.  We encounter this though his initial feelings of Gatsby in Chapter i; even though Gatsby represents everything he has an undeniable scorn for, he still values him in some shape or form.  Although Nick is an unreliable narrator, we tin run into howhomoandrealistiche is.  How often do you meet someone that is certain about everything?  Often we are all torn onsomething, and Nick is conveying a very natural feeling that we have all experienced at ane indicate in our lives.