Chapter 2, pages 23-38

Summary


     In Chapter 2, Nick and Tom take the commuter train to the "valley of ashes." There, Tom and Nick stop off at George Wilson's car repair shop where Tom talks about selling a car and coincidentally we meet Myrtle Wilson, George's wife and Tom's mistress. Tom tells Myrtle he wants to see her, so she tells her husband she's going to visit her sister in New York. From the garage, Tom buys Myrtle a dog and they (along with Nick) go to Tom's apartment that he keeps for the affair. Myrtle decides to throw a party and invites her sister, Catherine, and their neighbors, the McKees, over. They end up smoking and drinking heavily and Nick tries to leave but he's mesmerized by the way they were partying. The festivities ended as Myrtle began getting a bit carried away and kept repeating Tom's wife's name when he had told her not to. He broke her nose and Nick left with Mr. McKee and went on the 4 am train back to Long Island. 


Character Analysis

• Myrtle Wilson
• "Mrs. Wilson rejected the compliment by raising her eyebrow in disdain."
• Myrtle's Best Qualities: 
• She likes dogs
• Myrtle's Bad Qualities:
• She's cheating on her husband
• She's superficial
• She's arrogant
• She's fake and annoying
• She only cares about herself
• Myrtle's Role in the story is to be Tom's mistress. In my opinion, she is exactly just like Tom, but a woman. She and Tom have the same personality and are both extremely arrogant. Myrtle and Tom's not-so-secret relationship empowers her because she feels like she can do whatever she wants, regardless of whether she's a woman. This is the opposite of Daisy, who is still married to Tom because of the comfort and ease.

  Important Quote & Significance


"With the influence of the dress her personality had also undergone a change."

I found this quote extremely significant because it not only explains Myrtle, but also Tom. I feel like they are so similar the only difference is their gender. I also find both of them very fake and deceptive. I think this theme will be coming up a lot as the novel progresses because this high class group of people exemplifies the wealthy society of the time and their life style. Also, I found it significant because it shows that we never really know a person completely. Like their clothes, they can just change depending on certain circumstances.