How Are Daisy And Myrtle Similar

How Are Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson Similar? A Comparative Analysis of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a masterpiece of American literature, renowned for its exploration of themes like wealth, love, and the American Dream. While the novel centers around Jay Gatsby's relentless pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a closer examination reveals intriguing parallels between Daisy and Myrtle Wilson, two seemingly disparate women who, upon closer inspection, share surprising similarities. These similarities, while subtle at first glance, ultimately illuminate the novel's central themes and provide a richer understanding of the complexities of the characters themselves.

Superficial Differences, Underlying Similarities

At first glance, Daisy and Myrtle appear worlds apart. Daisy is a wealthy socialite, inhabiting a world of privilege and elegance. Myrtle, on the other hand, is a working-class woman trapped in a loveless marriage. Daisy’s world is one of lavish parties and expensive clothes, while Myrtle’s is defined by the grit and grime of the Valley of Ashes. These stark differences in social standing and lifestyle are undeniable. However, beneath the surface of these contrasting exteriors lies a shared core of desires, vulnerabilities, and ultimately, tragic flaws.

The Pursuit of the American Dream (or a Version Thereof)

Both women, in their own ways, represent a distorted version of the American Dream. Daisy achieves a superficial fulfillment, marrying into wealth and securing a life of comfort and luxury. However, this achievement comes at the cost of genuine happiness and self-fulfillment. Her life is characterized by emptiness and a deep-seated dissatisfaction. She uses her beauty and social standing to manipulate those around her, seeking validation and a sense of power.

Myrtle, on the other hand, seeks to escape her impoverished reality through her affair with Tom Buchanan. She views Tom's wealth and status as a ticket to a better life, a way to transcend her current circumstances. While her pursuit is arguably less sophisticated than Daisy’s, it stems from the same fundamental desire for a life beyond her means, a desire fueled by the seductive allure of the American Dream's promise. Both women are acutely aware of the power and prestige that wealth brings, using it, or trying to gain access to it, as a means to an end.

The Power of Illusion and Deception

Both Daisy and Myrtle are masters of illusion, skillfully crafting personas to project an image that suits their needs. Daisy cultivates an air of delicate innocence and refinement, concealing her manipulative nature and emotional emptiness behind a façade of grace. She uses her charm to deflect responsibility and maintain her position within the elite circles of Long Island society.

Myrtle, too, constructs a façade, albeit a less polished one. She adopts a brash and assertive persona, attempting to mask her insecurity and desperation with an outward display of confidence. Her extravagant spending and attempts to emulate Daisy's lifestyle are manifestations of this desire to project a false image of wealth and sophistication. Both women are conscious of the performance of identity, shaping their behavior and presentation according to the context and their perceived aspirations.

The Destructive Nature of Their Desires

The similarities between Daisy and Myrtle extend beyond their pursuit of a better life and their masterful use of illusion. Both women are deeply flawed characters, driven by destructive desires that ultimately lead to tragedy. Their self-centeredness and disregard for the consequences of their actions contribute significantly to the novel's tragic trajectory.

Emotional Manipulation and Selfishness

Daisy's selfishness is evident in her treatment of Gatsby. She allows him to believe that she will leave Tom for him, stringing him along for years with false promises and manufactured hope. This is ultimately a form of cruel manipulation, as she knows that leaving her comfortable life with Tom is something she is unwilling to do, despite her supposed love for Gatsby.

Myrtle’s selfishness manifests differently, but with the same destructive effect. She flaunts her affair with Tom, disregarding the feelings of her husband, George. Her disregard for George's emotional well-being, much like Daisy's for Gatsby, reveals a deeply selfish and callous nature, oblivious to the pain she causes in the pursuit of her own desires.

The Price of Unfulfilled Dreams

Both Daisy and Myrtle pay a heavy price for their unfulfilled dreams. Daisy remains trapped in a loveless marriage, haunted by the past and unable to escape the confines of her wealthy, yet ultimately empty, existence. Her inability to fully commit to either Gatsby or Tom leaves her emotionally isolated and profoundly unhappy.

Myrtle, on the other hand, meets a violent and tragic end. Her affair with Tom, born of a desire for a better life, ultimately leads to her death. Her aspirations are brutally extinguished, a stark contrast to the seemingly endless possibilities that wealth and status supposedly represent.

A Shared Vulnerability: Trapped by Societal Expectations

Perhaps the most poignant similarity between Daisy and Myrtle lies in their shared vulnerability to the constraints of societal expectations. Both women are constrained by the limitations placed upon them by their respective social classes and the expectations of their time.

Daisy, despite her wealth, is bound by the rigid social conventions of the wealthy elite. Her marriage to Tom is not merely a union of love, but also a strategic alliance designed to maintain her social standing. She is expected to uphold a certain image, a perfect façade that masks the complexities of her internal world.

Myrtle’s limitations stem from her socioeconomic status. She is trapped in a dead-end marriage and a life devoid of opportunities. Her only means of escaping her reality is through her affair with Tom, a desperate attempt to achieve the status and freedom that seem perpetually out of her reach. Both women are constrained by a society that dictates their choices and restricts their possibilities.

Conclusion: A Reflection on the American Dream

The similarities between Daisy and Myrtle Buchanan serve as a powerful commentary on the corrupting influence of wealth and the unattainable nature of the American Dream. Their lives, though vastly different in circumstance, highlight the shared human desires for love, status, and fulfillment. The tragedy of their lives underscores the devastating consequences of chasing elusive dreams and the destructive nature of unchecked ambition. Through the parallel trajectories of these two women, Fitzgerald compels us to examine the complexities of desire, ambition, and the elusive nature of happiness within a society obsessed with wealth and status. Their shared flaws and ultimate fates serve as a cautionary tale, a reminder of the human cost of the relentless pursuit of the American Dream and its often distorted reality.