Kaylyn Galie

Mr. Boland
10th Grade English Honors
10/21/13
Realization Hurts

Azar Nafisi, an Iranian and English literature professor once said, The negative side of
the American Dream comes when people pursue success at any cost, which in turn destroys the
vision and the dream. Fitzgeralds commentary of Americans in the 1920s attaining the
American Dream is shown through his use of the character Myrtle Wilson. The American Dream
for Myrtle Wilson can be connected through the quote. This quote relates to the attainability of
the American Dream and how it isnt all that likely for Myrtle Wilson due to the fact that she is
originally from The Valley of Ashes and that she was dirt poor. It is also not likely for Myrtle to
attain the American Dream when Myrtle meets Tom and she thinks that she can have a higher
status, become wealthier, and have luxurious items, although Tom doesnt seem like he would
let Myrtle replace Daisys position. However, Myrtle believes that she can pull all this off by
having an affair with Tom, which in the end, ruins her dreams. Through the character of Myrtle
Wilson, Fitzgerald conveys his criticism of Americans of the 1920s trying to attain wealth and
high status through obscure and corrupt ways. Fitzgerald shows these criticisms of Americans in
the 1920s trying to attain the American Dream through Myrtle Wilson when she buys luxury
items with Toms money, when Myrtle yells Daisys name to Tom, and when Myrtle gets hit by
the car.
First, Fitzgerald displays how Myrtle Wilson and Americans in the 1920s dreams are
obscure and corrupt when Myrtle Wilson buys things using Toms money. On the way back to
Myrtles apartment that Tom is paying for, Tom, Nick and Myrtle all walk through New York.

Kaylyn Galie
Mr. Boland
10th Grade English Honors
10/21/13
Myrtle decides to buy unessential items and it is described as, At the news-stand she bought a
copy of Town Tattle and a moving-picture magazine, and in the station drug-store some cold
cream and a small flask of perfume (Fitzgerald 27). This passage conveys that Myrtle makes
unnecessary purchases using Toms money. This demonstrates Fitzgeralds vision of Americans
in the 1920s and how they will do anything just to attain high status and own frivolous items.
Just like the American Dream of the 1920s, Myrtle has an affair with Tom in hopes of attaining
her corrupt and obscure dreams. She wants high status, wealth, and to own these luxurious
items like the ones she had bought in New York, in hopes of being able to own more. This is one
way that Fitzgerald proves his opinions of Americans in the 1920s through Myrtle Wilson buying
luxury items using Toms money.
Another way Fitzgerald exhibits his attitude that some Americans of the 1920s are
obscure and corrupt when attaining the American Dream is when Myrtle Wilson yells Daisys
name to Tom. During the party at Myrtles apartment, Tom and Myrtle discuss whether or not
Myrtle has the right to mention Daisys name. Myrtle then replies yelling, Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!
Shouted Mrs. Wilson. Ill say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai-- Making a short deft
movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand (Fitzgerald 37). This passage
confirms that Myrtles dream of attaining high status, wealth, and luxurious items isnt going to
happen. Myrtle comes to the realization that she probably wont be in Daisys position anytime
soon. By Tom hitting Myrtle, realization literally hits Myrtle in the face, concluding that she isnt
going to attain her obscure and corrupt dreams of high status wealth, and luxurious items. Tom
doesnt want Myrtle to replace Daisy because Daisy is originally from The Valley of Ashes, which

Kaylyn Galie
Mr. Boland
10th Grade English Honors
10/21/13
shows that Myrtle has a low status. Tom doesnt want to be seen with Myrtle due to class
distinction. Myrtles low status and nonexistent wealth shows Tom that Myrtle could never be
able to replace Daisy. This is why some people in the 1920s would do anything to try to attain
the American Dream for that time era, even if it was having an affair. This is another way that
Fitzgerald relays his thoughts on Americans in the 1920s attaining the American Dream through
Myrtle yelling Daisys name.
Lastly, Fitzgerald communicates his view of Americans and the American Dream when
Myrtle Wilson gets run over by the car. On Gatsby, Nick, Tom, and Daisys way back from the
hotel in New York, Myrtle recognizes the car that Tom was driving earlier and runs up to it
thinking that it was Tom. However, it is actually Daisy driving the car with Gatsby in it as well.
Myrtle, rushed out into the dusk, waving her hands and shoutingbefore he could move from
his door the business was over (Fitzgerald 137). This passage explains that Myrtle gets hit by a
car and later ends up dying. This reveals that Myrtle is not successful in reaching her dream of
attaining high status, wealth, or luxurious items. It also reveals that the result of her obscure
and corrupt dreams and actions are followed by death. This also contributes to Fitzgeralds
thoughts on the American Dream of the 1920s and how obscure it is what people are doing just
to have a higher status or more money, and that their dreams and actions should be followed
by big consequences and even death, just like what happened to Myrtle. This another way that
Fitzgerald conveys his thoughts on Americans in the 1920s attaining the American Dream
through obscure and corrupt ways when Myrtle Wilson gets run over by the car.

Kaylyn Galie
Mr. Boland
10th Grade English Honors
10/21/13
In conclusion, Fitzgeralds feelings of Americans in the 1920s trying to attain the
American Dream is shown through the character of Myrtle Wilson. Fitzgeralds commentary is
demonstrated through Myrtle Wilson when she buys unnecessary items with Toms money,
when Myrtle yells Daisys name to Tom, and when Myrtle gets hit by the car. Myrtle believes
that she can attain her dreams of high status, wealth, and owning luxury items, but after time,
Myrtle realizes that her dream is starting to fade away. Realization literally hits her when Tom
punches her in the face and Myrtles nose is then broken. Her dreams at that point are ruined
and unsuccessful. She realizes that she isnt going to be replacing Daisy like she had hoped. Her
dreams are even more over, later on when she gets hit by Daisy, the person she was trying to
replace. The character of Myrtle Wilson displays Fitzgeralds attitude and commentary of some
Americans in the 1920s and how they would do anything to reach the dreams of high status,
wealth, and to own luxury items. Fitzgerald shows how he believes Americans dreams in the
1920s are wrong when killing off the character Myrtle Wilson. He let her die because she
represents the obscure and corrupt American Dreams of the 1920s and how it was ok to have
corrupt actions and have obscure dreams just to attain that high status, wealth, and luxury
items. This reveals that Fitzgerald believes that bad actions and dreams should be followed by
big consequences or even death, just like what happened to Myrtle. These are the reasons how
Fitzgeralds commentary and thoughts of Americans in the 1920s attaining the American Dream
are shown through the character of Myrtle Wilson when Myrtle buys luxury items using Toms
money, when Myrtle yells Daisys name to Tom, and when Myrtle gets hit by the car.