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Contrasting Types Of Women In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Karen Giron English 11 Carr 5/11/23 In F.Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, Myrtle Wilson and Daisy Buchcan are two female characters created by the author. They are examples of two contrasting types of women from the Roaring Twenties. Although both women are preoccupied with matters of money and social status, their personalities differ and their core beliefs are what drive their behavior and judgment. Fitgerald emphasizes the shallowness and superficiality of the wealthy elite through these characters. Myrtle's character embodies the darker side of the American dream. Myrtle wants a new life with Tom, who represents wealth and status. “The only crazy person I was when I married him. I knew right away I made a mistake” (Fitzgerald 39) This reveals Myrtle's bitterness against her husband and her conviction that she is entitled to better. It also demonstrates her lack of accountability of her own decisions and deeds. She places the blame for her unhappiness on her husband rather than owning up to her actions. Myrtle says, “I married him because I thought he was a gentleman.. I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn't fit to lick my shoe.” This shows Myrtle's dissatisfaction with her present social status and her desire to move on to better. Her relationship …show more content…

Additionally, it is revealed that she is not happy in her marriage and struggles to find fulfillment in her rich lifestyle. Daisy struggles with balancing her feelings for Gatsby and for her love for her husband. When she says, “I love you now-isn't that enough? I can't help what's past.”(Fitzgerald 133) This shows Daisy’s conflicted with her past relationship with Gatsby and her current marriage. She is unable to decide between the two and is very torn. Daisy's persona stands in for the hollowness of riches and privilege since, despite having worldly possessions, she is unable to experience true

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