Role Of Myrtle Wilson In The Great Gatsby

905 Words2 Pages

` Dreams are arguably most important motivators, inspiring and guiding the paths in life that make us who we are. The American Dream, is the ultimate dream for many people all over the world. It is the idea that with hard work, determination, and education anything is possible. Those who have lived the roughest of lives can rise from the ashes and become strong, contributing members of a society. Myrtle Wilson, a minor character in The Great Gatsby, is the perfect example of The American Dream becoming an obsession. Myrtle Wilson is known primarily as the mistress of Tom Buchanan and wife of George Wilson. She met Tom while riding a subway train to meet her sister. Tom quickly swept her off her feet and this is where their affair began and where Myrtle became infatuated with Tom. From that day on, she spent her life imagining what it would be like to fulfill her own American Dream and live a rich, pampered life with Tom as the new Mrs. Buchanan. She assures herself and those around her that she is miserable with her current husband, George, claiming: “The only crazy I was was when I married him.” Myrtle also convinces herself that she was born to be above the social class she is apart of, saying such things as: “These people! You have to keep after them all the time!” She appears to have brainwashed …show more content…

Dream have lead many to live extraordinary lives leaving meaningful legacies behind. The Great Gatsby is full of dreams and aspirations that shape the characters to make decisions in their lives. However, Myrtle Wilson and her desire to become a rich, exorbitant woman quickly turned into a storm of delusion. With her death came the end of a hopeless and tragic fantasy lifestyle. Had she of woken up from this diluted state of mind, maybe she would be alive and well living with George. But she decided to stray from the safe and calculable life and was swept into a beautiful

Open Document