I believe that Fitzgerald constructs characters such as: Myrtle Wilson, Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker which manipulates the reader to perceive these women as sinful, lustful and provocative. However, Fitzgerald may have done this due to the radiant times of the ‘Jazz Age’ (Roaring Twenties). Although, throughout the novel the reader is able to notice that everyone is superficial and pretentious snobs due to the power of money. Furthermore, there is a clear obsession with materialism and the perception of your class as seen right the way through ‘The Great Gatsby’.
In the 1920s, the perception of the American Dream was that an individual can achieve success in life regardless of family history or social status if they only work hard enough. However, Daisy doesn’t work hard for her slice of success and social popularity, she marries into it. This can be seen due her superficiality as she masks the inevitable pain she feels as Tom has an affair with Myrtle. (Through inferring, it can be seen that money is a dominant factor as Tom commits the sin of infidelity due to wealth and power.) Furthermore, Daisy is portrayed as a woman who is beautiful, vibrant and attractive thus, she is able to portray the Roaring Twenties as it is conveyed as vivacious although, when peeling away at the exterior like Daisy, they are both full of shallowness and phony. On the other hand, sympathy can be felt for Daisy due to her shambles of a marriage with the bigot and brute that is Tom Buchanan. As his brutality is seen when Daisy blames him for her bruised knuckle that is “black and blue”.
I believe that the character ‘Myrtle Wilson’ was created by Fitzgerald not to sympathise with but, to judge and be shown the disgusting truths of which people had thought upon others. Myrtle conveys a theme of snobbish class and wealth as she has an affair with Tom due to his