Myrtle's Use Of Materialism In The Great Gatsby

In the novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author showcases how the pursuit of the American Dream is nonexistent and has a negative influence on the characters’ beliefs and decision-making, leading to dissatisfaction. The author demonstrates how the accumulation and desire of materialism distracts one from the important things and experiences in life, questioning the morals and values of the characters from various social classes. Fitzgerald illustrates the imagery of The Valley of Ashes, Daisy’s voice, and night to expose the declining morals of Americans in the 1920’s due to their desire for money and status which is mistaken for happiness. The Valley of Ashes reveals the irony of the American Dream, deprivation, and desperation

Objects that showcase one’s wealth attract people for the wrong reasons. Myrtle sees Tom for his money and eventually dies when running to his yellow car because of the false conception that money solves everything. Nick narrates that, “the death car didn’t stop; it came out of the gathering, wavered tragically for a moment, and then disappeared around the next bend” (137). Myrtle’s pursuit of the American Dream dies through the symbolic use of the Tom’s yellow car. The colour represents wealth in the beginning but transforms into corruption due to the revelation of how the money is achieved which showcases how wealth is pretentious and has a false image. Myrtle is caught cheating on Wilson because he does not provide her with a glamorous life and chooses to run away with a man who does not care about her. By choosing men for their credentials rather than their character, Myrtle ends up discontent with her life and relationships. Furthermore, one might marry someone with for their wealth or/and academic achievements without loving them leading to confusion and their expectations not being met. Daisy chooses to marry Tom because her love is penniless to satisfy the expectations of the society in the 1920s. At dinner she says, “I always watch for the longest day in the year and then miss it” (11). Her repetition of this phrase in various ways displays the lack of night in her life due to the glamour she achieved. Yet Daisy discovers as early as her honeymoon that Tom’s world is hopelessly corrupt; in fact, Daisy’s lyric energy (which so attracts Gatsby) must be frozen before she will marry Buchanan (Person Jr., Leland S). It is ironic how she has all the money and time in the world and does nothing at home but somehow manages to miss the day. The pursuit leaves her empty not knowing what to do in her life and not being able to make a decision on her own. The