It’s a symbol of everything we dream of earning. Although while people may be greatly enjoying the luxuries they obtain through their riches, they often don 't feel as great on the inside. In most cases people buy things in order to fill voids or to impress others but sooner or later they realize that happiness has no price tag. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, consumerism robs characters of their happiness.
In the beginning of the book you are introduced to Myrtle when she makes a phone call to Tom during dinner. Tom excuses himself to speak with her which infuriates Daisy, his wife. You soon find out from Jordan Baker that Myrtle is Tom 's mistress in New York. Her and Tom share a secretive and toxic relationship. Although they are both married they refuse to suppress the feelings they have toward one another. What makes their relationship so toxic is that Tom is physically abusive to Myrtle yet she remains with him for his money and social ranking and disregards his abuse. In chapter 2 Tom invites Daisy 's cousin, Nick with him to Myrtles home which she shares with her husband. Myrtle lives in The Valley of Ashes. A place …show more content…
Tom may be rich, but not rich enough to win over his own wife. At first Daisy and Gatsby meeting again was awkward and uncomfortable for both of them but once Nick has left them alone for a bit he returns to see Daisy radiantly happiness and Gatsby as well. Gatsby invites them over his house. Since Gatsby is incredibly proud of his possessions he would love to impress Daisy by showing them off to her. His plan goes accordingly and Daisy is overwhelmed by his luxurious lifestyle, and when he shows her his extensive collection of English shirts, she begins to cry. Nick realizes the two have forgotten he was there so he begins to leave. “They had forgotten about me, but Daisy glanced up and held out her hand; Gatsby didn 't know me now at all. I looked once more at them and they looked back at me, remotely, possessed by intense life. Then I went out of the room and down the marble steps into the rain; leaving them there together”(Fitzgerald 96). Daisy is enjoying the company of Gatsby and being in his mansion surrounded by his expensive things causes he to completely forget about