The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay

1856 Words8 Pages
The Great Gatsby is more than just a story about a man who gets rich and dies in a crime of passion, it’s a story that reflects the degradation of women that has been happening for hundreds of years. Most women in the story played the role of suppressed housewives who were completely controlled by their husbands, and by society and its standards. One scene that stands out in showing the suppression of women is the party scene in the Manhattan apartment with Myrtle, Tom, and Nick. Myrtle Winston is an example of a woman who sold her dignity for some luxury. She is married to a humble man who owns a humble garage in a place called the valley of ashes. She ends up degrading her own self-worth by getting involved with a married rich man so that she can have the nice apartment and the racy parties. As soon as she gets to the apartment, Myrtle changes into a fancy dress, and classy manners, as if she is trying to escape her identity as a humble wife, and become a high class lady even if only for a few hours. The party goes on to be a crazy event, where everyone gets drunk and start foolishly dancing and stumbling around. Myrtle, however, keeps trying to play the role of the high class, elegant lady, trying to get compliments and be the center of attention. Mrs. McKee especially admires Myrtle’s dress, while Myrtle arrogantly takes in the compliment, feeling accomplished, and attempting to make her attempt to earn such a statement seem effortless and natural. Myrtle has always
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