Myrtle's Tragic Achievement - The Great Gatsby.

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Hallie Anoff

October 10, 2002

Period 7-Beyer

Myrtle’s Tragic Achievement

In the book The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald describes a world based around wealth and class in the roaring 20’s.  Voluptuous Myrtle Wilson is desperate to improve her life.  She shares a loveless marriage with George Wilson, who owns a run-down garage in the valley of ashes.  She begins to have an affair with Tom Buchanan in hopes of happiness.  Tom, who is married to Daisy Buchanan, is a Yale graduate who comes from an immensely wealthy midwestern family.  Myrtle’s relationship with Tom keeps her in high-spirits because she is now linked with the “upper-class”, however she has become phony and is treated poorly by Tom.  This all will lead to her “tragic” achievement.

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The affair between Tom and Myrtle has spoiled her.  On a visit to New York City, Myrtle “let four taxicabs drive away before she selected a new one, lavender-colored with grey upholstery” (Fitzgerald 31).  During the taxi ride, she spotted a man selling a dozen puppies in a basket hanging from his neck.  She demanded that Tom purchase her one.  He bought her an Airedale for the outrageous amount of ten dollars.  Tom also bought Myrtle her own apartment in the city.  Myrtle is used to living with George who is a lethargic and impoverished man.  It is very ...

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The Quality of Written Communication raises no causes for concern. The essay is written clearly and with an excellent use of language as well. The candidate's grammar, spelling and punctuation are in kept in good check and are consistently accurate throughout the answer.

The Level of Analysis shown here is excellent. The essay shows abilities of a candidate operating at a solid A grade for A Level. There are perceptive comments made about the character and her role as the wealth-corrupted phony from The Valley of Ashes. I would like to see however maybe more recognition of the contemptuous relationship she now shares with George, but nonetheless this answer feels precise and accurate in the analysis is does concern.

Though it is not clear what the question is here, this answer gives a deep insight into the character of Myrtle Wilson, her endeavours throughout the novel, her interactions and relationships with other characters, and an explanation into what Fitzgerald means by "Myrtle Wilson's tragic achievement". The answer demonstrates a very clear understanding of the context of Myrtle Wilson's character and of the novel on a whole, and indicates excellent analytical skills with regards to analysing the novel. The candidate reads well into Fitzgerald's descriptions, none of which are lightly made and so to see this attention to his richly elaborate detail is an indication of as very capable candidate indeed.