I made this blog because I found out that some people don’t like her or show no sympathy for her, which is bizarre as I viewed her very differently. I don’t think she should be disliked just because she committed adultery as it dismissed everything that happened to her in the book. At the time I’m writing this, I included Myrtle Wilson in my paper on to why she represents the lower class and why she’s a tragic character. This is just an expansion of why you should view her in a different way.

Let’s state the obvious on why she cheated. She is in a terrible marriage where she is stuck on the poverty line and has desires to escape for a better life, like the upper-class. That’s where Tom comes in and gives her what she wants, status and temporary happiness, however, she falls victim to him. Not only is she a victim of poverty, but also a victim of domestic abuse. She may be annoying for saying his wife’s name multiple times, but she didn’t deserve to have her nose to be broken. Unfortunately for her two relationships, she is stuck in a vicious cycle in the patriarchy in which it is presented in the novel.

With the adultery going on, why didn’t she just divorce her husband for a better life? Let’s remember that this takes place in the 1920s, the Roaring 20s, and unfortunately, her options were limited for someone who is lower class. The feminist movement that happened in 1920, but its purpose is to give work equality and right to vote. Divorce was an option in the 1920s, at the time, it was highly looked down for woman be the one who divorce their husband (This is before the No-Fault Act which was introduced in 1969). Myrtle probably couldn’t divorce because she is not independent enough to have her own money so she mostly dependent on her husband for financial support. She also hoped that her husband’s business would improve, which is very unlikely for her reason to cheat. With all the factors, even though Myrtle decided to divorce to be with Tom, Tom would also have to divorce Daisy to be with her, in which he has no desire to do that.

Let’s not forget how her death was the climactic point in the story. She literally died by getting run over by Gatsby’s car in which it is drove by Daisy. Her life was cut short by the wealthy, which shows how much they lack empathy. It only took her death to show the upper class’s true color and how they face no consequence for their action. As much as her death is a tragedy and how unlikable her character is, she really shows the dark side of the lower class and the pivotal point of the story.