How Does Myrtle Wilson Change In The Great Gatsby

In the novel “Great Gatsby,” written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, many characters work towards their dreams in order to escape from their current lives and origin. The novel takes place in Long Island and New York during the 1920’s. The narrator of this novel is a man named Nick Carraway, who moves to a place called “West Egg” and becomes neighbors with a rich man named Jay Gatsby. Across the bay is another place called “East Egg,” where Nick’s cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and her husband, Tom Buchanan live. During this time, wealth and class were a prominent part of a person’s identity. Without wealth or class, a person is restricted from certain privileges. Throughout the novel, Myrtle Wilson, and Jay Gatsby both are trying to reach their goals, but are faced with obstacles and barriers due to their lack of wealth and social status.

Myrtle Wilson lives in the industrial area of Queens, called the Valley of Ashes, with her husband George Wilson.

She has an affair with Tom Buchanan and often goes with him to visit her sister, Catherine, in Queens. During one of their visits, Nick Carraway accompanies them to Catherine’s apartment. At the apartment, the readers see how Myrtle Wilson changes from a poor wife to an elite socialite. For example, the writer states, “With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change. The intense vitality that had been so remarkable in the garage was converted into impressive hauteur” (Fitzgerald 30). In this quote, as Myrtle escapes from her husband and current life, she pretends to be wealthy and sophisticated as if she were the wife of Tom Buchanan. With the help from Tom, she tries to escape the lower-class life she was born with. However, at the end of the novel, she attempts to flee from her husband and gets hit by a car. Although she died before she could achieve her dreams, her chances of marrying Tom and climbing the social ladder were

slim.
Another character that strives to change his future is Jay Gatsby. Before his name was James Gatz and he was the child of penniless farmers. He is then employed by Dan Cody and fails to obtain his inheritance after Cody’s death. Later, he joins the war and falls in love with Daisy Fay. He promises to marry Daisy when he comes back from the war, but he is accidentally sent to Oxford. Unfortunately, Daisy moves on and marries Tom Buchanan. Despite his setbacks, he still pursues his dream to become rich enough to marry and support Daisy. When Nick helps Gatsby meet Daisy, Gatsby tries to convince her to leave Tom and their unhappy marriage. In the end, Gatsby fails to convince Daisy and was shot to death by George Wilson. Regardless of the fact that Gatsby manages to escape from his past, he was unable to get what he truly wanted in life, which was Daisy.
In conclusion, all the characters who try to change their destinies or class end up failing. Throughout the book, Fitzgerald views the American Dream as an illusion and often points out the differences between the lower and upper class. Through the actions and lives of the upper class, the readers see how they treat the lower class with disrespect. Moreover, the audience can tell that despite their differences, both classes are unhappy or dissatisfied with their lives. Some characters try to change their lives to be happy, however, all attempts end in disaster.