In the beginning of the chapter, Tom drags Nick off the train so Tom can induce his girl to Nick. Tom's girl, Myrtle Wilson, and Mr. George Wilson are married and live and work at a run down garage in the valley of ashes, which is in the middle of West Egg and New York City. After speaking in the garage, Tom, Nick, and Myrtle go to Catherine's place; Catherine is Myrtle's sister. Each time Nick wanted to leave, he was brought back by arguments. Later that evening, Myrtle and Tom argue whether Myrtle has the right to say Daisy's name, which leads to Tom punching and breaking Myrtle's nose. At the end, Nick promises to eat lunch with Mr. McKee another day.
Character: Myrtle Wilson
"I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn't fit to lick my shoe." (Fitzgerald 34)
Myrtle, a woman in her thirties, is unfaithful, egocentric, and arrogant. Her unfaithfulness is shown as she scoots near Tom when her husband takes a leave to get something. Her arrogance and egocentric self is exemplified when she says the quote above.She thinks she is better than everybody.
Myrtle Wilson's role in this novel is to be an object of Tom. Myrtle is able to chose from two men: one who is faithful, loving, and hardworking but poor, or another who is rich. But even though Myrtle cheats with Tom, Tom only treats her like a toy for his amusement, punching her when she gets annoying and useless.
Significant Quote: "All I kept thinking about, over and over, was 'You can't live forever; you can't live forever." (Fitzgerald 36)
The quote stuck out to me not because this is how Myrtle justified her cheating, but because it is true. One cannot live forever. It is important to live out one's life to the fullest. Myrtle, even though she had a corrupt motive, wanted to live her life to the fullest and be set free of her burden of not being satisfied with her current life. I personally do not want to waste my life away and want to do the things I want to do so I do not end up regretting later on. There is only one lifetime, and it doesn't last forever, so I have to make full use of it.
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