The Great Gatsby 'By Klages' Interlude: Self To Subject
If we were Romantic selves in the previous era, how are modern individuals like subjects caught in the spider web of modern structures? These structures allow some individuals to be a self while others are cast as subjects. In Klages ‘Interlude: Self to Subject’, self is defined as “a conscious being who had the power of logic and rationality to discover the truth about workings of the world, and who was able to act and think for himself or herself, independently of external influences, and also able to think reflectively about the status of his or her own being.” On the other hand, subject is defined as “radically decenters the idea of self, stripping it of its autonomy and its ability to deduce ‘truth’ ” Both of these definitions can be used for defining the motives of the characters in the Great Gatsby. A character that best represents self is Myrtle Wilson. As previously mentioned, self was defined as a person that had the power to think for themselves, despite what other people say. Myrtle is a 30 year old woman married to George Wilson, a poor mechanic who reside in the Valley of Ashes. She is not proud of this and so, plans to seduce old money Tom Buchanan through her appearance, personality, and behavior. Because of this, Myrtle proves to fit the definition of self. To begin with, Myrtle is ashamed of her class and pretends to be rich and high class in order to impress Tom. In Tom’s apartment in New York, she bought an expensive dress that people from her class typically cannot afford, and talked rudely to the servants that are also of the same class as her: “I told that boy about …show more content…
It is a tragic modernist piece of literature that makes it hard for a self like Myrtle to take a subject’s seating position. Characters such as Daisy will always prove in the end that the seat belongs to
Character Analysis Of Tom In The Great Gatsby
254 Words | 2 PagesTom is an aggressive alcoholic, who uses his money for lustrous and entertaining ways with myrtle. When Tom “goes” to the Yacht Club with Nick, he decides instead go to George’s place to go see Myrtle secretly. When he goes to see Myrtle, He tells her to go to the apartments so they can “meet up.” When
Examples Of Elitism In The Great Gatsby
879 Words | 4 PagesWhat she doesn't understand, in any case, is that Tom and his companions will never acknowledge her into their circle. (Notice how Tom has an example of picking lower-class ladies to lay down with. For him, their frailty makes his particular position considerably more prevalent. Strangy, being with ladies who seek to his class improves him feel about himself and enables him to sustain the dream that he is a decent and imperative man.) Myrtle is close to a toy to Tom and to those he speaks to.
How Does Myrtle Marry George Wilson
162 Words | 1 PagesAfter Myrtle answers Catherine questions and why she married George Wilson which indicates that Myrtle doesn 't think he is fit enough to be her husband. She was basically using him for the things she thought he had. And now she 's saying that he isn 't even worthy enough to lick her shoes. This is basically saying that he is worthless. During this time people consume more alcohol than nowadays and alcohol is a great want and need for the lives of most people to get away from stressful times, to have fun or to make a living.
Compare And Contrast Daisy And Wilson In The Great Gatsby
720 Words | 3 PagesAs we get to know throughout the novel, both of them have an affair, Daisy meets again with her old love, Gatsby, and Myrtle is the mistress of Tom. Daisy comes from a wealthy upper-class family and she has been raised in privilege while Myrtle has to fight for everything she has. Myrtle is attempting to give the impression of a wealthy, high-class woman, but she does not have the figure of a high-class woman. She has a “thick fish figure” (25) which connotes that she is not a skinny type nor beautiful. The appearance of Daisy is the contrast of Myrtle.
Women's Power In The Great Gatsby
1399 Words | 6 PagesMyrtle is accustomed to living an underprivileged life where feminine power engulfs her, but Tom is too egotistical to allow Myrtle to speak with such authority to him. Similarly, Gatsby’s need for assurance from Daisy pressures her into revealing to Tom that she never loved him (Fitzgerald 132). Deep down, Daisy knows that she truly did love Tom once, but Gatsby’s assertiveness and persistence drives her over the edge to telling Tom that what the two of them shared meant nothing to her. Daisy’s attribute of being a pushover is revealed immensely because she refuses to stand up for herself. Daisy is used to enabling Tom to constantly control all aspects of her life, and that leaves her powerless in society.
Literary Analysis Essay On The Great Gatsby
1208 Words | 5 PagesIn the novel, Myrtle Wilson is the perfect example of a woman that would substitute morals for desires. Her actions were the result of her yearnings for money and power, which is in direct relationship with the Marxist critical perspective. She not only degrades herself to being a mistress, but she betrays a good man for a materialistic life. She uses her sexual appeal to achieve the lifestyle she wants. In the novel, The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nick describes his meeting with Myrtle and gives the reader a clear visual of how Myrtle uses her looks to get what she wants and how she treats her husband as a result.
Use Of Syntax In The Great Gatsby
864 Words | 4 PagesMyrtle is focusing on the fact Tom is with another woman, who Myrtle assumes to be Tom’s wife. She hasn’t considered that if Tom is having an affair with her, then he could have an affair with another woman, even though he isn’t. Wilson cares so much for Myrtle that he is physically sick yet, Myrtle is only focused on the fact Tom had brought another woman with him. Tom couldn’t care less about who he hurts and Myrtle knows she can’t trust him but she still cares for tom and would rather be with him, as a distraction, instead of being with her husband Wilson who actually loves
Myrtle Wilson In The Great Gatsby
951 Words | 4 PagesFrancis Scott Fitzgerald once stated, “The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart and all they can do is stare blankly.” Throughout his famous work, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald portrayed the American Dream. Contrary to the ideology of the “Roaring Twenties” society, he described the American Dream as a delusion. People of the era focused on materialism in order to boost their wealth and status and forgot the importance of their relationships. Several characters within the novel sought to gain a higher status in society.
Money And Power In The Great Gatsby Analysis
1149 Words | 5 PagesJust like Daisy, Myrtle chooses money over love. She cheats on her husband George with Tom. Myrtle was a woman from the lower class who desired to be a part of the higher class. Tom spoiled Myrtle and gave her the lifestyle she always wanted. She belittles her husband and talk bad about him because he is not at the top of the social ladder where Tom is.
The Great Gatsby Tom Buchanan Quotes
435 Words | 2 PagesFitzgerald highlights Tom Buchanan’s controlling yet restless character through the visual imagery and metaphor associates with the Buchanan household and Tom himself. The way Tom’s eyes “flash[ed] about restlessly” as he looked over his estate implies that Tom longs for change despite his fear of the unknown (14). Tom’s fear of new ideas and people is developed throughout the novel through his contempt of Gatsby and racist worldview, here it takes the form of a nautical motif. Fitzgerald’s comparison between the shadow cast on the carpet with the “shadow wind [casts] on the sea” (24). “Wind” is a symbol for new ideas and discoveries, as wind is the primary driving force behind sailing vessels, symbolizing the way in which change pushes society in different directions (24).
Gatsby's Self Conception
777 Words | 4 PagesThe American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of race, class, gender, or nationality, can be successful in America if they just work hard enough. The American Dream presents a view of the American society in which ignores racism problems, income inequality, etc. In the 1920’s, it was a very difficult and resulting time for the American Dream. Due to increased immigration, changing women’s roles, and a extraordinary income inequality. The country was also in the midst of an economic boom, which fueled the belief that anyone could “strike it rich”.
Examples Of Alcoholism In The Great Gatsby
609 Words | 3 PagesTom’s altercation with Myrtle accentuates his hypocrisy and lack of self-control; while he doesn’t feel guilty for cheating on Daisy with Myrtle, he feels that he has the right to maintain his authority over Myrtle. In this same scene, Myrtle, who is also drunk, draws attention to the negative aspects of her personality.
Women Behind Sexual Bribery In The Great Gatsby
2653 Words | 11 PagesWomen behind Sexual Bribery In The Great Gatsby, As the Tom’s mistress, Myrtle is a tragic character. Her life ends by a car accident what Daisy makes. Beyond all question, Myrtle is pitiful. She not only is regarded as a toy by Tom and lose her body, but also is criticized by moral and law. But the question goes why Myrtle is willing to become the Tom’s mistress.
Stereotypes Of Women In The Great Gatsby
1557 Words | 7 PagesShe could also be attempting to convince herself that certain aspects of her life are not as miserable as she believes by denying their existence through a mask of innocence. Contradictory to Daisy, Myrtle paints herself as an outspoken, opinionated woman. However, her desire for control over Tom and hope in their future seems to be a way of reassuring herself that she does mean something to him. For example, when at her party, as she and Tom discuss whether she has the right to say Daisy’s name in front of him, she begins to shout “Daisy! Daisy!
Love And Desire In The Great Gatsby
1890 Words | 8 PagesMyrtle was a “gold-digger”, but she also believed that he would genuinely love her and pick her over Daisy, even though Tom gave no indication of doing so. Like Daisy, breathed out wealth, Myrtle had breathed out vitality and sensuality, hoping for Tom to chose her as his love and for him to give her riches and luxury. As for Daisy, much like Myrtle, was also chasing both money and love, at different points in her life. Daisy, initially wanted love, and she displayed that, by first waiting for Gatsby and then once again when she was newly married with Tom. Over time, like with Myrtle, this dream of love evolved to of riches further on in her life.
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