Myrtle Wilson In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

In some works of literature, a character who appears briefly, or does not appear at all, is a significant presence. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, Myrtle Wilson drastically affects other characters by her worldly desires, actions, and static characteristics. In most circumstances it is believed that the story is solely about the main character, but one needs to objectively look at all the cast members, specifically Mrs. Wilson. The author chooses each person with great intentions. Myrtle loved her husband George Wilson when they got married, but has since been disappointed by his lack of cash and social status, and now feels stifled by her twelve-year marriage. In this quote, "I married him because I thought he was a gentleman and knew something about breeding, but he was not fit to lick my shoe" (Fitzgerald 34) Myrtle clearly states that George is not her type. She wants to escape her unhappy life with George; therefore, she has an affair with Tom Buchanan to fulfill her worldly desires of partying and having a rich man. Her lust for life leads to her death. Myrtle’s death emotionally and mentally affects George, which prompts him to murder Gatsby (who he mistakes for both his wife’s killer and lover), and then kills himself.

Mr. Buchanan’s wealth and ego makes him a bully and leads him to believe that he is entitled to anything he desires. Myrtle, being the one below Tom and Daisy in social stature, is expected to obey Tom. Myrtle obnoxiously says, "Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!" she shouted. "I'll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai—" (Fitzgerald 37) affecting Tom in an atrocious way that causes him to be violent. Myrtle’s childish actions led to a physical altercation involving Tom which leaves her with a broken bloody