Decoding Myrtle Wilson: A Deep Dive into Her Physical Appearance in The Great Gatsby

Myrtle Wilson, a pivotal character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby, is far more than just a mistress. Her physical description, meticulously crafted by Fitzgerald, serves as a powerful symbol of her aspirations, her social standing, and the tragic chasm between her desires and her reality. This article delves into the nuanced details of Myrtle’s appearance, exploring how Fitzgerald uses physical attributes to convey her character, her motivations, and her ultimate fate. We will explore how her portrayal reflects the societal anxieties and the allure of the American Dream during the Roaring Twenties, offering a comprehensive analysis that goes beyond a simple summary of her looks. This detailed examination will provide a deeper understanding of Myrtle’s role in the novel’s complex tapestry of themes.

The Significance of Physical Description in Character Development

In literature, a character’s physical description is rarely arbitrary. It’s a carefully chosen set of details that contribute to the reader’s understanding of their personality, social context, and role within the narrative. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald masterfully employs physical descriptions to differentiate between characters, highlight their social class, and foreshadow their destinies. Myrtle Wilson’s depiction is particularly significant because it contrasts sharply with the ethereal beauty of Daisy Buchanan, representing two vastly different facets of womanhood in the Jazz Age. Understanding these descriptions is crucial to grasping the novel’s deeper meanings about wealth, class, and the elusive American Dream. It’s also important to note that descriptions can be subjective, colored by the narrator’s perspective, adding another layer of complexity.

Myrtle Wilson: A Detailed Portrait

Fitzgerald’s initial introduction of Myrtle paints a vivid picture. She is described as a stout, heavily built woman, a stark contrast to the slender, delicate figures associated with the upper class. Her features are not traditionally beautiful, but they possess a certain vitality and sensuality. Fitzgerald emphasizes her “thickish figure,” her “wide hips,” and her “fleshy figure.” These details suggest a raw, earthy quality, a departure from the refined elegance of the wealthy elite. While not conventionally attractive, Myrtle exudes a powerful presence, driven by a desire to transcend her circumstances. Her choice of clothing, accessories, and makeup further contributes to her carefully constructed image.

The Power of Clothes: Myrtle’s Attempts at Transformation

Myrtle’s clothing choices are particularly revealing. When she escapes to the city with Tom Buchanan, she immediately undergoes a transformation, shedding her drab, working-class attire for more extravagant and fashionable garments. She dons a cream-colored chiffon dress, expensive shoes, and a lavish hat, attempting to emulate the style of the wealthy women she sees in magazines. This transformation is not merely about vanity; it’s about aspiration. Myrtle believes that by adopting the outward appearance of wealth, she can somehow elevate her social status and escape the confines of her life in the Valley of Ashes. However, her attempts often come across as exaggerated and artificial, highlighting the superficiality of her efforts. She doesn’t just buy clothes; she buys into an entire persona.

The Role of Color: Symbolism in Myrtle’s Wardrobe

The colors associated with Myrtle’s clothing and surroundings also carry symbolic weight. The bright, bold colors she favors, such as red and purple, represent her passion, her vitality, and her desire to be noticed. However, these colors can also be interpreted as gaudy and ostentatious, reflecting her lack of taste and refinement in the eyes of the upper class. The Valley of Ashes itself, a desolate landscape of gray and industrial waste, serves as a constant reminder of the bleak reality she is trying to escape. The contrast between her vibrant clothing and the drab surroundings further emphasizes her desperation and her futile attempts to transcend her environment.

Contrasting Myrtle with Daisy: A Study in Opposites

The physical descriptions of Myrtle and Daisy are deliberately juxtaposed to highlight their contrasting social positions and personalities. Daisy is portrayed as delicate, ethereal, and almost otherworldly. Her voice is described as being full of money, and her appearance exudes an effortless elegance that is unattainable for Myrtle. While Myrtle strives to emulate the style of the wealthy, she can never truly achieve the same level of sophistication. The contrast between their appearances underscores the vast social divide that separates them and highlights the impossibility of Myrtle’s dreams. Daisy represents the established wealth and privilege that Myrtle desperately craves, but can never possess.

Daisy’s “Beautiful Little Fool” Persona

Daisy’s physical presence, combined with her carefully cultivated persona, contributes to her power and influence within the novel. She is aware of her beauty and uses it to manipulate those around her, particularly Gatsby and Tom. Her apparent fragility and innocence mask a deeper layer of cynicism and self-preservation. In contrast, Myrtle’s attempts at transformation are often perceived as vulgar and unrefined, reinforcing the societal prejudice against those who dare to challenge the established social order. The difference in their reception is not just about physical appearance; it’s about the inherent privilege that Daisy possesses by virtue of her birth and social standing.

Beyond the Surface: Myrtle’s Inner Desires and Motivations

While Myrtle’s physical appearance is a significant aspect of her character, it’s important to look beyond the surface and understand her inner desires and motivations. She is driven by a deep longing for a better life, a desire to escape the poverty and monotony of her existence in the Valley of Ashes. Her affair with Tom Buchanan is not merely about physical attraction; it’s about the promise of wealth, status, and excitement. She sees Tom as a means to an end, a way to achieve the American Dream that seems so tantalizingly close, yet remains forever out of reach. Her ambition, however misguided, is a testament to her resilience and her refusal to accept her predetermined fate.

The Illusion of the American Dream

Myrtle’s pursuit of the American Dream is ultimately tragic. She believes that by changing her appearance and associating with the wealthy, she can somehow transform herself into someone worthy of their acceptance. However, she fails to recognize the inherent limitations of her social position. No matter how hard she tries, she will always be seen as an outsider, a social climber who doesn’t belong in their world. Her tragic end serves as a cautionary tale about the illusion of the American Dream and the destructive power of social inequality. She is a victim of a system that promises opportunity but ultimately reinforces existing power structures.

Myrtle Wilson’s Tragic End: A Foreshadowed Fate

Myrtle’s death is a direct consequence of her pursuit of the American Dream and her entanglement with the wealthy elite. Her physical presence, which she so carefully cultivated, becomes a symbol of her vulnerability and her ultimate demise. When she runs into the road, believing she is running towards Tom, she is instead running towards her own destruction. Her death is a shocking and senseless act of violence that underscores the recklessness and moral decay of the wealthy class. It is a tragic end for a character who, despite her flaws, possessed a certain vitality and a yearning for a better life. The manner of her death also emphasizes her objectification, reducing her to a mere body struck down in the road.

Symbolism of the Yellow Car

The yellow car that strikes Myrtle is a significant symbol in the novel. Yellow is often associated with wealth, extravagance, and recklessness. The fact that it is driven by Daisy, albeit unintentionally, further implicates the wealthy in Myrtle’s death. The car represents the destructive power of wealth and the carelessness with which the upper class treats those they deem to be beneath them. Myrtle’s death is not just a personal tragedy; it is a indictment of the social inequalities and the moral corruption that permeate the world of The Great Gatsby.

Myrtle Wilson’s Enduring Legacy

Despite her relatively brief appearance in the novel, Myrtle Wilson remains a compelling and unforgettable character. Her physical description, her aspirations, and her tragic fate continue to resonate with readers today. She represents the marginalized and the disenfranchised, those who are lured by the promise of the American Dream but are ultimately denied access to its rewards. Her story serves as a reminder of the enduring power of social class and the devastating consequences of unchecked ambition. She is a complex and multifaceted character whose physical appearance is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Her legacy lies in her ability to provoke thought and challenge our assumptions about wealth, class, and the human condition.

Unveiling the Layers of Myrtle’s Character

Myrtle Wilson’s character, often overshadowed by the grandeur of Gatsby and the allure of Daisy, is a critical lens through which Fitzgerald critiques the societal ills of the Jazz Age. Her physical description, as much as her actions and desires, contributes to this critique, painting a portrait of a woman caught between worlds, striving for an unattainable ideal. She is a reminder that the pursuit of the American Dream can be a dangerous and destructive endeavor, especially for those who are already marginalized and vulnerable. Her enduring presence in the novel is a testament to her complexity and her lasting impact on our understanding of The Great Gatsby.