Myrtle Flashcards
1
Q
Summary for Myrtle
A
- Part of working class and cannot achieve her dream of social mobility
- Represents those in society who are punished for acting outside of tradition due to their class
- Engages in an affair with Tom - belief it will bring her social mobility
2
Q
Themes for Mrytle
4x
A
- Disillusionment
- Morality
- Society
- Femininity
3
Q
Moments for Myrtle
4x
A
- Her death
- Her apartment
- Tom breaking/ punching her nose
- Valley of Ashes
4
Q
Myrtle’s apartment
A
Her dream of becoming part of the upper class
Fitzgerald criticises the immorality of this dream and how it is unable to occur
“Crowded to the doors with a set of tapestried furniture”
- Excessive
“Small”
- Dreams are too large, cannot work with her lifestyle
- Unattainable
“Simon called Peter”
- Hated
- Critique of the noveau riche (ostentatious)
5
Q
Myrtle’s death
A
Punished for her immoral dreams, only punished due to her working class identity
“Her life violently extinguished, mingled her thick blood with the dust”
- Life was ripped away from her
- Dust = unimportant, lost her value in death
“Left breast swinging loose like a flap”
- Sexualised and objectified even in death
- Fitzgerald shows that she does not deserve respect
“Death car”
- Killed by materials
- Technology
- Critque of the value of hedonism
6
Q
Valley of Ashes
A
Exploitative nature of the upper class by capitilism
Working class society
“Ash grew like wheat into ridges”
- Urbanisation grows here no hope or opportunity
“Obscure”
“Ash-grey”
“Ghastly”
- creates a haunting tone
