Myrtle Wilson Character Analysis

Myrtle Wilson, a vulgar, shallow, uneducated woman in her mid thirties, from the Valley of Ashes, is an individual who judges by appearance. Within the first two chapters of the novel, she portrays herself as a woman who finds pleasure through money and materialistic things. On her first meeting with Tom Buchannan during her trip to New York, Myrtle's eyes merely attract Tom's "dress suit," rather than the attires the other passengers in the train are wearing. Considering the look of Tom's clothing, Myrtle judges by appearance and makes the assumption of him being very rich, wealthy, and of high ranking position. Men typically attire in dress suits on formal occasions or when they care about their quality of dressing. When Myrtle sees an unusual

Just like advertisements, Tom is also an advertisements to Myrtle because she only judges by what she sees rather than knowing him properly. She is able to make the conclusion he is a rich by what she observes. Furthermore, Myrtles "artificial laughter," describes she is an attention seeker and a complete pretense. She tries to be someone she is not, which explains she desires to rise above her social status. This portrays her as someone who judges by appearance because according to her, judgment is based on the outside. Having a fake laughter shows this is what she wants people to see her as, and appearances only matters rather than personality. Finally, when Myrtles, says "[Myrtle is] going to give [Mrs. McKee] this dress as soon as [Myrtle is] through with it; [Myrtle has] got to get another one tomorrow," it shows how Myrtle describes her judgement. She wears fancy clothes in order to look classy, which she is not, hoping people would judge her based on what she shows. The way she wants people to judge her, is how she judges others, through their appearances and not their heart. Therefore, Myrtle Wilson is a shallow woman who judges others by