How Is Myrtle Portrayed In The Great Gatsby

Words: 615
Pages: 3

In the book The Great Gatsby, the author F. Scott Fitzgerald covers many topics about society, one of which is how the characters view their lives and the lives of others. Many of the characters are disillusioned, or dissatisfied with their lives. Gatsby, Daisy and Myrtle are all described with being unsatisfied with their lives, as of many other characters, but to what extent? Gatsby is introduced early in the book in Chapter 3, but his true history isn't told until the end of the book in Chapter 7. In Chapter 2 he is described by his guests as “looking as if he killed a man.” Although Gatsby is described as a wealthy businessman, readers later find out he grew up with poor parents, which he never really accepted as his parents. His story starts off with him leaving in search of a better life, which he finds when he befriends a man named Dan Cody. Gatsby worked toward his goal by bootlegging different items. Early on in his life he had met Daisy. He buys a large mansion on the beachfront right across from her house, having this illusion that she was still in love with him like before he went to the war five years earlier. Daisy, …show more content…
In Chapter 2, she is introduced to the readers as Tom’s mistress. Myrtle hides her affair from George Wilson, her husband. As the book progresses, George starts to become suspicious of his wife’s affairs, but is unsure with whom, so he locks her in a room in their apartment. While Tom, Daisy, Jordan, Nick, and Gatsby drive to town, Tom stops for gas. Myrtle peers down at them and notices Jordan sitting next to him, who she thinks is his wife. Since Tom is driving Gatsby’s car, she and George believes it’s his car. After leaving the city and driving home, Daisy insists on driving Gatsby’s car. Myrtle sees the yellow car and believes it’s Tom. She runs out into the road and Daisy tries to avoid her but hits her. Myrtle instantly dies from