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The Pre-Depression 1920 s sets the story for F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby. New York paints an amazing picture as the backdrop for the story. East and West Egg (two communities outside New York City where our cadre of characters live) play a more specific role in our characters lives as symbols of wealth.
In this novel, Fitzgerald, with a definitive purpose in mind, carefully contrasts three women, Myrtle Wilson, Toms lower class mistress; Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy socialite with marital problems; and Jordan Baker, a professional golfer with a shady past. Myrtle Wilson is the wife of a mechanic in the Valley of Ashes, and is Toms unfaithful mistress. Myrtle is a wannabe socialite who denies her place in society. She sneaks away from her husband to gallant about the city with Tom and waste her money on gossip magazines and dogs and other extravagances. She buys these only for status, and the magazines, to study and sound like she knows what shes talking about. Myrtle is also very regretful for marrying George because he is a working class schlep.
He borrowed somebody's best suit to get married in and never even told me about it. (38) This is a prime example of just how shallow Myrtle can be. Myrtle represents Toms mistakes that wind up hurting other people (i. e. Gatsby's death). Myrtle is no match for pain-causing to Daisy. Daisy is Toms socialite antagonist wife.
Daisy is a very charming young lady who will do anything or nothing to come across as charming. Daisy gave an absurd laugh and remained seated as Nick entered. (13) Daisy, that charming Daisy, is also very provocative. She constantly teases Tom into anger, or leads somebody to an unexpected emotion. Daisy is the only desire of Gatsby in this novel, and winds up costing him his life.
The only character not directly responsible for Gatsby's death is Jordan Baker. Jordan Baker is a professional golfer whom Nick dates throughout the novel. Jordan is a very dishonest character with a shady past. She was involved in a scandal at one of her tournaments that suspected cheating on her part. She is also very foolish, and probably doesnt think before she speaks.
I hate careless people... (63) Jordan tells Nick her opinion of careless people, right after admitting her own carelessness. She says, essentially, that she hates herself. Jordan breaks the ice between Gatsby and Nick, and acts as a link between the two for the early part of their relationship. Of the three, very different ladies, Myrtle contributes the most to conflict and confusion, even in her small role. Without Myrtle, Tom might be more active in Daisy's life, which might not drive Daisy back to Gatsby, which means Gatsby will live. Myrtle is the keystone holding this story together.
It falls apart at her death. So, we read on, eyes glued to our novels, for a hope we can never achieve to fully understand this, Fitzgeralds greatest work of art.
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Research essay sample on Jordan Baker Myrtle Wilson
