Examples Of Myrtle In The Great Gatsby

Over the years public perception of the American Dream has deviated from its true meaning and has now come to be known as affluence, a lavish lifestyle, etc. The true meaning is self-fulfillment and the opportunity to make your dreams come true. In The Great Gatsby, author Scott F. Fitzgerald’s view on the nation’s understanding of the Dream is emphasized by his characters. This includes Myrtle and Jay Gatsby who both carry twisted perceptions the American Dream. Myrtle is a woman of the lower class who desperately desires to become accepted into the upper class, as such she emulates the typical snobbish behavior of a wealthy person in an attempt to “fit” in. In Gatsby’s case, his infatuation with the idealized image created of Daisy. Gatsby

On various outings with Tom Buchanan she feigns a snobbish persona in order feel like she is of importance. I informed

that kid concerning the ice...Low class people, you have to keep an eye them. (Fitzgerald 70) In this instance, despite being a member of the lower class, Myrtle considers herself to be of a higher class when she’s with Tom. This false interpretation of what the American Dream true meaning is eventually leads to her death as when she escapes her husband and runs out to Gatsby’s car which she believes is Tom’s. It is ironic how Daisy was the one who hit Myrtle as she was having an affair with her husband. Conclusively her death represents how the misguided interpretation of the American Dream can lead to

Gatsby’s infatuation with his idealized image of Daisy has influenced many of his decisions. His obsession with her has shaped his entire life. He feels that in order to achieve the Dream he has to have Daisy. Fitzgerald implies that Americans will still pursue our dreams as Gatsby chased after Daisy. Despite our Dreams being unattainable, like Gatsby in pursuit of his “green light,” we will still fight against the current for it until we can’t any longer. (180) In Gatsby’s mind Daisy had symbolized a lavish lifestyle which so unattainable that it was very desirable. In Gatsby’s mind in order to obtain Daisy, he would also have to be extravagantly wealthy and be from “old wealth”. He drafts a persona of a wealthy western scholar who attended Oxford in order to add to the illusion of him coming from wealth. This craze for Daisy had driven Gatsby to resort