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The Role Of Myrtle Wilson In The Great Gatsby

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The American dream is defined as the land of possibilities, where mankind can achieve their dreams of wealth and recognition of being capable with no barriers; however, in a world where social order is essential, the ability to fit in with the upper class becomes more challenging. In Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, the characters, Jay Gatsby and Myrtle Wilson share the same ambition of achieving the American Dream where Gatsby strives to fit into the upper class with the use of wealth to win the heart of Daisy Buchanan, whereas Myrtle is determined to obtain wealth and status through her love interest, Tom Buchanan, but ultimately, due to their social position in society, they are permitted from accomplishing the American dream.
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In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, an educated young man named Nick Carraway moves to New York in look for business, but then becomes fascinated by how the rich society lives. He strikes to live like his wealthy friends: his neighbor Jay Gatsby, his cousin Daisy and her husband Tom. He becomes a bondsman while attending mansion parties, drinking and always celebrating without having to worry about what truly is going on in the rest of the world. Nonetheless, confronting the life style of these wealthy people makes him realize who they truly are. Gatsby, who has an affair with Daisy, is accused and murdered for running over Tom’s mistress, Myrtle, while it was truly Daisy’s fault.

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Caroline Goveas Mrs. C. Custodio ENG 3U1 8 May 2023 Patriarchal Perpetuation and Victimization in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Human rights lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Shirin Ebadi once said “Women are the victims of this patriarchal culture, but they are also its carriers” (Ebadi). In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic American novel, The Great Gatsby, women portray the changing ideologies of femininity in 1920s society, yet continue to perpetuate the patriarchal structure, by which they are victimized. Women of the 1920s are perpetually criticized by male characters, specifically by Nick Carraway, the narrator. In particular, Myrtle Wilson is manipulated to serve the desires of men, both willingly and unwillingly. Furthermore,

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The American Dream suggests that every American citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work. One of the major ways that Fitzgerald portrays this is by alluding to outside events or works of literature specifically from that time period. Another major relationship that develops in The Great Gatsby is between Tom and Daisy. F. Scott Fitzgerald alludes to things such as the World’s Fair and “The Love Nest” to display the eventual dismantling of Tom and Daisy’s relationship. Both of these separate plots consolidate under the idea of Gatsby trying to become the epitome of the American Dream, as seen through his strive for a “perfect life.”

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Although the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald emphasizes the parties and prosperity of the American 1920's, it reveals many major characters meeting tragic ends. The characters who meet these ends - Jay Gatsby, Myrtle Wilson, and George Wilson - possess the same tragic characteristic: they endeavor for something more out of their lives than what they have. This ambition for what they could not have ultimately spelled their doom: Gatsby wanted money and Daisy; Myrtle wanted wealth and luxury, and sought it from Tom Buchanan; Wilson earned what he could only to please Myrtle. The Great Gatsby reveals a tragic nature through the trials and tribulations these characters endure to progress and prosper, only to receive death for their ambition. The exciting and wild time period of the "Roaring Twenties" provides a stark contrast to the deaths in order to further highlight the tragic nature of the novel, and leaves a theme that even those with the most hope and strong ambitions can fail and die miserably, no matter how much money they have.

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The Corruption of The American Dream in The Great Gatsby In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald illustrates society in the 1920’s and the desire for the people with in it to achieve the American Dream, which embodies the hope that one can achieve power, love and a higher economic/social status through one’s commitment and effort. The novel develops the story of a man named Jay Gatsby and his dream of marrying what he describes as his “golden girl”, also known as, Daisy Buchanan, his former lover. Fitzgerald explores the corruption of the American dream through the Characters; Myrtle, Gatsby and Daisy.

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The Facade of the American Dream The American Dream is the opportunity for all Americans to live a life of personal happiness and material comfort, but is it actually achievable? F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, is a story of characters working hard to achieve the American Dream, but ultimately they are unable to ever realize their perfect life. The novel makes a strong naturalism argument about the rigid class system in society and the disillusionment of the American Dream.

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