Intervention in The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby: Intervention
Intervention: Page 39
Themes: The American dream and materialism
Main characters: Myrtle and Tom
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Nick Carraway had the eyes of an observer, Myrtle mused as she surveyed her small gathering. Awkwardly perched on the edge of his chair, clutching his straw boater in his lap, she regarded him with mild suspicion. As a good friend of Tom’s, he must possess some stance in society. She noticed however that Nick didn’t display his wealth with the same lavish flamboyance as Tom. Turning towards her lover on her toes, she placed a kiss on the underside of his chin.
“I’ll go find another bottle of whiskey, shall I?” she asked Tom in a loud, dramatic tone that was rewarded by murmurs of appreciation from the group. Tom merely glanced at her and grunted before turning back to the subject of Mr McKee’s photography, wearing his ever-present bored expression. Without hesitation Myrtle spun with a rustle from her cream, chiffon dress, deliberately brushing the edges of her skirts against Mrs McKee as she exited the group. Her dress was more expensive than Mrs McKee’s, she thought smugly, and her good friend knew it.
After selecting a bottle from the bureau, Myrtle Wilson took a moment of composure. She knew Tom loved her. Why else would he spend so much on her? Why else would he continuously visit her, whisking her away from her pathetic husband to a life of glamour and riches? She pictured her submissive, pitiable spouse jacking up cars, lugging new tyres into place, sweltering and stinking, day after day. The only essence of man he ever revealed was through physical labour, sweat and grease.
“How disgusting,” she whispered to herself in shame, “how beneath me.” Tom defined masculinity in her eyes. He commanded and dominated her as she relished the bliss of subservience. After all, Tom was her doorway to the grand lifestyle; the gentle flow of silk dresses, long chains of delicate pearls and the subtle sparkle of champagne.
Intervention: Page 39
Themes: The American dream and materialism
Main characters: Myrtle and Tom
****
Nick Carraway had the eyes of an observer, Myrtle mused as she surveyed her small gathering. Awkwardly perched on the edge of his chair, clutching his straw boater in his lap, she regarded him with mild suspicion. As a good friend of Tom’s, he must possess some stance in society. She noticed however that Nick didn’t display his wealth with the same lavish flamboyance as Tom. Turning towards her lover on her toes, she placed a kiss on the underside of his chin.
“I’ll go find another bottle of whiskey, shall I?” she asked Tom in a loud, dramatic tone that was rewarded by murmurs of appreciation from the group. Tom merely glanced at her and grunted before turning back to the subject of Mr McKee’s photography, wearing his ever-present bored expression. Without hesitation Myrtle spun with a rustle from her cream, chiffon dress, deliberately brushing the edges of her skirts against Mrs McKee as she exited the group. Her dress was more expensive than Mrs McKee’s, she thought smugly, and her good friend knew it.
After selecting a bottle from the bureau, Myrtle Wilson took a moment of composure. She knew Tom loved her. Why else would he spend so much on her? Why else would he continuously visit her, whisking her away from her pathetic husband to a life of glamour and riches? She pictured her submissive, pitiable spouse jacking up cars, lugging new tyres into place, sweltering and stinking, day after day. The only essence of man he ever revealed was through physical labour, sweat and grease.
“How disgusting,” she whispered to herself in shame, “how beneath me.” Tom defined masculinity in her eyes. He commanded and dominated her as she relished the bliss of subservience. After all, Tom was her doorway to the grand lifestyle; the gentle flow of silk dresses, long chains of delicate pearls and the subtle sparkle of champagne.