In What Ways Are Daisy And Myrtle Different

In What Ways Are Daisy and Myrtle Different? A Comparative Analysis of The Great Gatsby’s Female Characters

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby features a compelling cast of characters, but none are more discussed and debated than Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson. While both women represent aspects of the Roaring Twenties’ societal landscape, their personalities, motivations, and ultimately, their fates, diverge significantly. This essay will delve deep into the contrasting characteristics of Daisy and Myrtle, exploring their social standing, desires, relationships, and the consequences of their choices.

Social Class and Status: A Stark Contrast

The most immediate difference between Daisy and Myrtle lies in their social class. Daisy hails from old money, embodying the established wealth and privilege of the East Egg elite. Her upbringing instilled in her a sense of entitlement and a sophisticated, albeit often superficial, demeanor. She moves effortlessly in high society, surrounded by luxury and accustomed to a life of ease. Her elegance, though sometimes perceived as artificial, is a direct result of her privileged background. She speaks with a languid drawl and possesses a refined air that sets her apart from Myrtle.

Myrtle, on the other hand, belongs to the working class, a stark contrast to Daisy's privileged existence. She inhabits the grittier, less glamorous world of the Valley of Ashes, a desolate landscape symbolic of the moral decay lurking beneath the glittering facade of the Jazz Age. Her social status directly influences her aspirations and the choices she makes, often driven by a desire to escape her reality. Her language is blunt, her demeanor assertive, and her aspirations are rooted in a tangible desire for upward mobility, something Daisy has always possessed. This fundamental difference in social class significantly shapes their personalities and actions throughout the novel.

The Illusion of Choice: Class and Agency

While both women navigate patriarchal structures, their agency is constrained differently by their social standing. Daisy, despite her wealth, lacks true agency. Her choices are often dictated by the expectations placed upon her as a wealthy, married woman. She is trapped in a loveless marriage with Tom, yet she is reluctant to truly defy societal norms and embrace a relationship with Gatsby. Her choices are limited by the fear of social repercussions and the potential loss of her comfortable lifestyle.

Myrtle, although seemingly possessing more agency due to her open affair, is ultimately just as constrained. Her agency is limited by her poverty and her reliance on Tom's financial support. Her pursuit of a better life is predicated on her relationship with Tom, a man who treats her cruelly and dismissively. While she exhibits a greater outward display of independence and rebellion, her agency is ultimately just as constrained, albeit in a different way. Her attempts to transcend her social class are superficial and ultimately futile.

Desires and Motivations: A Study in Contrasts

The desires and motivations of Daisy and Myrtle also reveal significant differences in their personalities. Daisy's primary desire seems to be security and a life of comfort. She values social status and material possessions, seeking a sense of belonging within the established social circles of Long Island. Her emotional needs are secondary to her material desires. Love, for Daisy, is often intertwined with the status and security her relationships provide. Her romanticism is deeply intertwined with the illusion of the American Dream, but this dream is filtered through the lens of her privileged upbringing and social standing.

Myrtle's desires, however, are far more tangible and less nuanced. She craves a better life, a life free from the drudgery of her everyday existence. Her pursuit of Tom is fueled by a desire to escape her impoverished reality, to experience the wealth and glamour that she observes from afar. Her desire is raw and unapologetic, lacking the subtlety and social graces of Daisy's aspirations.

The Pursuit of Happiness: Different Paths, Similar Outcomes

Both Daisy and Myrtle seek happiness, but their approaches differ dramatically. Daisy seeks happiness through maintaining her social standing and associating herself with powerful, wealthy men. Her pursuit of happiness is passive, reliant on external factors rather than internal strength. She allows herself to be controlled by societal expectations and the powerful men in her life, ultimately sacrificing her own happiness for a sense of security.

Myrtle, conversely, actively seeks happiness through an illicit affair and the material possessions afforded by her relationship with Tom. Her pursuit of happiness is assertive, but ultimately misguided. She clings to the illusion of social mobility and a better life, ignoring the reality of her relationship with Tom and the inherent limitations of her social standing. The irony, of course, is that neither woman achieves lasting happiness.

Relationships and Their Consequences: A Tale of Two Marriages

Both Daisy and Myrtle are involved in complex and ultimately destructive relationships. Daisy's marriage to Tom is a loveless union built on wealth and social status. She tolerates Tom's infidelity, seeking refuge in Gatsby’s idealized romanticism, yet ultimately unable to fully commit. Her relationship with Gatsby is fueled by nostalgia and a romanticized past, but it lacks the foundation of genuine commitment and mutual understanding.

Myrtle's relationship with Tom is similarly dysfunctional, based on his power and her desire for social advancement. Tom uses Myrtle, providing her with material gifts and fleeting moments of attention, but treating her with contempt and disregard. Her relationship with Tom is devoid of respect and ultimately leads to her tragic death.

The Price of Deception: Examining the Consequences

The consequences of their choices further highlight their differences. Daisy’s choices result in a continued existence of superficial happiness, but within a life filled with moral compromises. She remains trapped in a loveless marriage, haunted by the weight of her past actions. She does not escape the consequences of her choices, but bears them with an air of detached indifference, illustrating the numbing effects of wealth and privilege.

Myrtle, on the other hand, pays the ultimate price for her pursuit of a better life. Her affair with Tom, fueled by a desperate yearning for a different reality, leads to her violent death, tragically ending her already precarious existence. This difference in consequences underscores the disparities in their social standing and the limitations imposed upon them by their respective realities.

Symbolism and Representation: Examining the Broader Context

Daisy and Myrtle function as powerful symbols within the larger context of The Great Gatsby. Daisy represents the unattainable dream, the allure of wealth and beauty, and the fragility of the American Dream itself. She embodies the emptiness and moral decay that often lie beneath the surface of superficial glamour.

Myrtle, in contrast, represents the harsh realities of poverty and social inequality. She symbolizes the desperation and the lengths to which people will go to escape their circumstances. Her death serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked ambition and the disillusionment that can arise from chasing an unattainable ideal.

The American Dream and its Discontents: A Critical Analysis

Both characters contribute to a complex critique of the American Dream. Daisy's story showcases the disillusionment that can accompany wealth and privilege, while Myrtle's story highlights the inherent inequalities that prevent many from achieving the American Dream. Their contrasting fates reveal the complexities and contradictions of the American Dream during the Jazz Age, exposing the underlying social and economic structures that perpetuate inequality and disillusionment.

Conclusion: A Lasting Legacy of Contrasting Characters

In conclusion, while both Daisy and Myrtle are significant female characters in The Great Gatsby, they represent vastly different aspects of the Roaring Twenties’ society. Their contrasting social classes, desires, relationships, and ultimate fates illuminate the complexities of the era, highlighting the disparities of wealth, the illusory nature of the American Dream, and the devastating consequences of both privilege and desperation. Their individual stories, when analyzed together, provide a richer and more nuanced understanding of Fitzgerald’s social commentary and the enduring power of his work. The stark differences between Daisy and Myrtle underscore the enduring power of Fitzgerald's storytelling and the timeless relevance of his themes. Their contrasting narratives remain a compelling subject of literary analysis, inviting readers to continuously examine the complexities of class, aspiration, and the pursuit of happiness in the American experience.