AO1 ~ Myrtle Flashcards
(8 cards)
What does Myrtle do during her argument with George Wilson?
Myrtle taunts her husband, showcasing the tumultuous and abusive nature of their relationship.
“Beat me!” he heard her cry. “Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward!” (Chapter 2)
How does Myrtle attempt to appear more affluent?
Myrtle changes her dress to emphasize her desire to ascend socially and her focus on physical appearance.
“She had changed her dress to a brown figured muslin, which stretched tight over her rather wide hips.” (Chapter 2)
What does Myrtle express about her marriage to George?
Myrtle reveals her regret and disillusionment with George’s lack of wealth and status.
“The only crazy I was was when I married him. I knew right away I made a mistake. He borrowed somebody’s best suit to get married in…” (Chapter 2)
What does Myrtle say about her first encounter with Tom Buchanan?
Myrtle indicates her immediate attraction to Tom’s display of wealth and sophistication.
“He had on a dress suit and patent leather shoes, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off him…” (Chapter 2)
What does Myrtle justify about her affair with Tom?
Myrtle’s desire to escape her mundane life and experience luxuries drives her to engage in an affair.
“All I kept thinking about, over and over, was ‘You can’t live forever; you can’t live forever.’” (Chapter 2)
How does Myrtle express her contempt for George?
Myrtle criticizes George’s lack of sophistication and expresses her sense of superiority over him.
“I married him because I thought he was a gentleman… I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe.” (Chapter 2)
What does Myrtle’s desire to purchase a dog symbolize?
Myrtle’s impulsive desire symbolizes her attempts to emulate the lifestyle of the wealthy.
“I want to get one of those dogs,” she said earnestly. “I want to get one for the apartment. They’re nice to have—a dog.” (Chapter 2)
What does the graphic depiction of Myrtle’s death illustrate?
It underscores the violent end Myrtle meets as a result of her entanglement with Tom and her pursuit of a better life.
“Michaelis and this man reached her first, but when they had torn open her shirtwaist, still damp with perspiration, they saw that her left breast was swinging loose like a flap.” (Chapter 7)
