Myrtle Wilson is the character who intertwines the entire story together in The Great Gatsby. Every character is connected to her in a significant manner. For example, Tom is her illegitimate partner while Daisy is her partner in crime who has an illegitimate partner, Gatsby. But out of all these characters, Myrtle is the most important. She is the insecure one, the emotional one and the fake one.
Myrtle Wilson is always seeking companionship. Her insecurity is evident through the decisions that she makes. Her husband, Wilson, isn’t very useful for anything so she turns to Tom for attention. Although Tom is married, he is wealthy and enjoys the company of other women. Myrtle uses this to her advantage and keeps Tom under her control. When she leaves the New York train station, she sees an old man selling dogs and she immediately asks him for a police dog.( Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Simon & Shuster, 1925.)(pg31) He tells her he only has an Airedale and that the coat is water-proof, but she still wants to purchase it. She forgets her need for the police dog and only wants to cuddle with something. Her quick decision-making reflects her insecurity and how she lives her daily life. On another day, Myrtle mistakes Jordan Baker for Tom’s wife. (pg131) The more she sees Jordan Baker the more jealous she becomes. Jordan Baker makes Myrtle realize that there are many women who are prettier than her. As a result, Myrtle believes there is someone else other than Daisy that she has to compete with in order to continue controlling Tom.
Because Myrtle’s heart is easily swayed, she doesn’t use logic to make decisions. When she marries Wilson, she knows he is below her, but she still marries him. She hopes that Wilson knows something about breeding, but she is mistaken. (pg39) Marrying Wilson is a mistake since he can’t provide for her expensive needs that only Tom can afford. She regrets ever marrying Wilson so she runs off with Tom whenever the chance appears. She feels that Wilson is too lowly for her. Although marrying Wilson is a serious mistake, she isn’t able to learn from this experience. One night when she is on her way to her sister’s, she meets a handsome stranger whom she falls in love with on first sight. (pg40) The stranger is Tom and she only loves him because of his status symbols. Myrtle’s behavior reflects her decision making abilities and how she is vulnerable to manipulation. Although Tom is brutal and violent, his wealth keeps her content.
Myrtle is also a poser. She uses Tom’s wealth in order to live the life of an aristocrat. She attempts to be an aristocrat when she waves off four taxis before selecting a new taxi. (pg31) This taxi seems to be of higher class with its lavender-colored grey upholstery. However, any real aristocrat would reveal her as a fraud since they can afford their own transportation. Later that day, she decides to throw a party for her friends at her apartment. (pg33) This attempt to play hostess miserably fails since she has neither the elegance nor the image. Gatsby is able to host party after party since he knows how to be a host. During the party, Mrs. McKee comments on her dress, but Myrtle simply brushes the comment away stating that she wears it whenever she wants. (pg35) She doesn’t even try to be modest. It’s as if she can afford any dress she chooses to buy. As long as she has Tom, her aristocratic façade is safe.
Myrtle Wilson is a woman with many flaws. She sees Tom more as a source of money than as a source of love. Her actions make her seem shallow especially when she sees Tom with Jordan Baker. In The Great Gatsby, she is the essential character that intertwines the entire story together. Her aristocratic nature represents both the East Egg and West Egg, yet she is from the valley of the ashes. Her insecurity and easily manipulative nature ultimately results in her tragic death.
