F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” is a tale steeped in the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties, but beneath its shiny surface lies a tragic narrative that includes the heartbreaking death of Myrtle Wilson. Her demise is not merely an event but rather a culmination of various factors that highlight the themes of class struggle, illusion versus reality, and the consequences of infidelity. To understand Myrtle’s tragic end, we must delve into the complex interplay between her desires, her relationships with Tom Buchanan and George Wilson, and the societal norms that ultimately seal her fate.
Myrtle’s Aspirations and Class Disillusionment
Myrtle Wilson is introduced as a woman trapped in a world she desperately wants to escape. Living in the desolate area known as “the Valley of Ashes,” she embodies the struggle for upward mobility in post-World War I America. Her affair with Tom Buchanan represents not only her desire for love but also her yearning for a better life—one filled with wealth and social status. However, this aspiration comes at a significant cost.
Tom epitomizes everything Myrtle craves: power, wealth, and influence. But their relationship is fundamentally flawed; it is based on exploitation rather than genuine affection. While Myrtle sees Tom as her ticket out of poverty, he views her as nothing more than an object to satisfy his carnal desires. This imbalance sets off a chain reaction that leads to tragedy. It’s crucial to note how Fitzgerald uses Myrtle’s dreams to critique the American Dream itself—her ambitions are unattainable because they are built on shaky foundations.
The Dynamics of Infidelity
Myrtle’s affair with Tom brings another layer to her eventual demise: infidelity creates an atmosphere rife with jealousy and violence. While Tom indulges in this extramarital escapade without any regard for its repercussions on others—including his wife Daisy—it doesn’t take long before those repercussions catch up with him—and Myrtle.
The complexity deepens when we consider George Wilson, Myrtle’s husband, who remains oblivious to his wife’s infidelities until it’s too late. George represents another facet of unfulfilled aspirations; he owns a garage but lacks the means or know-how to escape their bleak environment fully. His love for Myrtle blinds him to her betrayal until he confronts reality—a reality painted by deception and lies forged by wealthier social classes.
The Fatal Accident
The turning point leading directly to Myrtle’s death occurs during one fateful night when she runs into the street after seeing what she believes is Tom driving toward her—only it isn’t Tom at all; it’s Daisy behind the wheel of Gatsby’s car. This moment encapsulates several critical elements: misunderstanding fueled by desire, mistaken identities rooted in class differences, and ultimately tragic fate driven by reckless choices.
In this instance, Daisy inadvertently becomes an agent of destruction while driving Gatsby’s luxurious car—a symbol not just of wealth but also of unattainable dreams—as she strikes down Myrtle on that dark road. The irony here cannot be overlooked; despite Daisy being part of an upper-class society flaunting their privilege, she’s just as much a victim—the emotional turmoil stemming from years spent trapped within societal expectations shrouds her judgment during this pivotal moment.
The Aftermath: Blame and Responsibility
After Myrtle’s death occurs amid chaos—not only does Tom turn cold-heartedly indifferent about losing his mistress (which further illustrates his moral bankruptcy), but George quickly spirals into despair fueled by rage against both Gatsby (whom he believes killed Myrtle) and himself due lack understanding regarding true nature & motivations surrounding wealth disparity—all leading him toward revenge!
This culminates tragically when George seeks out Gatsby—the man whom he holds responsible—ultimately resulting in further tragedy marked by violence & loss! In reflecting upon these events’ cascading effects through multiple lives entangled within complexities beyond any single person’s control reinforces how intertwined fate can be when societal pressures combine forces over individual choices made or unmade along life paths walked through shifting values held dear amidst longing realities faced every day…
A Reflection on Societal Values
Myrtle Wilson serves as both casualty & reflection regarding broader commentary offered throughout “The Great Gatsby” around social structures dominating early 20th-century America–where morality often gets sacrificed upon altars shaped solely from materialism fueling greed instead love lost amidst elusive pursuits defined largely based upon external validation sought after so tirelessly at any cost necessary! Perhaps most poignant takeaway gleaned from analyzing these tragic events? That chasing illusions often leads nowhere good while exposing cracks hiding underneath ever-shiny surface glimmering like diamonds glittering under bright lights…but always concealing something darker lurking right below…
- Fitzgerald, F.S., The Great Gatsby
- Baker, Carlos (1941). “The Criticism Of The Great Gatsby”. New York: Scribner.
- Piper, Andrew (2006). “Myrtle Wilson And The Dark Side Of The American Dream”. Modern Fiction Studies.
- Sternberg-Courtesy Margery (1999). “Rethinking Myrtles Death In ‘The Great Gatsby’. Literature Compass.”
- Cullen, Jim (2003). “The American Dream: A Short History Of An Idea That Shaped A Nation”. Oxford University Press.
