Who Is Myrtle Materialist In The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald characterizes Myrtle as desperate and materialistic to highlight the use of her physical appearance to grab the attention of wealthy men in exchange for becoming apart of the elite class without having to put in the hardwork it takes to earn the American Dream. In the novel the Great Gatsby, Myrtle is seen as a materialistic woman who moves up in the social ladder by rejecting her love for her husband and instead finding the richest man to have an affair with. Myrtle finds new love with Tom Buchanan in hopes of marrying into all the luxuries. While at the apartment that Tom bought for Myrtle, Myrtle and Catherine were discussing Myrtle's false consciousness of George: “ I married him because I thought he was a gentleman. She said …show more content…
Myrtle realizes “he wasn’t fit to lick” her “shoe” because he did not “fit” the requirements it took to be her husband. Since he had borrowed the suit and was not as wealthy as he looked, Myrtle could not waste her time with him. This was unfortunate for Myrtle because her American Dream is the ability to move up the social ladder and live a very luxurious life; without money, that is not possible. For that reason, Myrtle devotes all of her love and attention to Tom. Since Tom is at the top of the social ladder, he can provide Myrtle all of her desires in order to achieve her American Dream. Tom and Myrtle keep their affair quiet from their spouses in order to continue their relationship. While Tom spoils Myrtle with a New York apartment and a dog, Myrtle must be cautious of her words and actions around Tom: “Some time toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs.Wilson stood face to face discussing in impassioned voices whether Mrs.wilson had any right to mention Daisy’s name...I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai-...Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald