Myrtle Wilson

Myrtle is Tom’s lover who lives in the Valley of Ashes. She is married to Tom’s mechanic, George, whom she settled for but is completely bored of. Nick’s description of her is almost entirely physically focused, indicative of her being the subject of objectification. He describes her as having a “thickish figure... and [being] faintly stout, but she carried her surplus flesh sensuously as some women can.” Her affair with Tom, a far more assertive and perceptibly masculine figure compared to George, provides her with the excitement that her life lacks. As well as this, she gets a substantial taste of the high life.