F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is renowned for its captivating characters, and Myrtle Wilson, despite her limited role, sparks significant debate regarding her character arc. Is she a dynamic character, undergoing significant internal change, or is she a static figure, remaining essentially the same throughout the novel? This analysis delves into Myrtle's portrayal, examining her actions, motivations, and ultimate fate to determine the extent of her development.
Understanding Dynamic vs. Static Characters
Before analyzing Myrtle, it's crucial to define the terms. A dynamic character undergoes a significant, internal change throughout the story, often in response to major events or conflicts. A static character, on the other hand, remains essentially the same, even amidst external changes. Their core personality and beliefs don't fundamentally alter.
Myrtle's Initial Presentation: A Trapped Soul
Myrtle is first introduced as a vibrant, yet tragically trapped, woman. She's married to the pathetic George Wilson, a man lacking in ambition and vitality. Her affair with Tom Buchanan, a powerful and wealthy man, represents her attempt to escape her mundane and suffocating reality. This initial portrayal establishes her as a character yearning for a better life, a desire driven by her dissatisfaction with her circumstances. This yearning is a key element in assessing her potential for change.
The Illusion of Escape
Myrtle's pursuit of Tom is not driven by genuine love, but rather by the allure of wealth, status, and the escape it represents from her impoverished life. She seeks a life beyond the limitations imposed by her marriage and social class. The party scene in her apartment vividly illustrates this pursuit; it's a temporary escape filled with superficial glamour, masking the underlying emptiness of her situation.
Does Myrtle Undergo Significant Internal Change?
The question of Myrtle's dynamic nature hinges on whether she demonstrates any significant internal growth or transformation. While she experiences external changes – the affair, the party, her death – these events don't necessarily indicate a corresponding internal shift.
Her actions are largely driven by impulsive desires and immediate gratification. She doesn't exhibit any signs of self-reflection or genuine personal growth. Even amidst the opulent facade of her affair, her core motivations remain unchanged – the pursuit of a better life defined by material possessions and social status. This reliance on external factors rather than internal transformation weakens the argument for her being a dynamic character.
The Tragic Ending: A Lack of Transformation
Myrtle's death, though tragic, doesn't significantly alter her character arc. It serves as a consequence of her choices, a culmination of her reckless pursuit of a life beyond her reach. It doesn't illustrate an internal shift or lesson learned, instead highlighting the consequences of her actions and the destructive nature of her affair. Her final act, running into the road, suggests a desperate, impulsive behavior, devoid of the introspection often associated with dynamic character development.
Conclusion: A Static Character Trapped by Circumstances
While Myrtle is a compelling and sympathetic character, her actions and motivations throughout the novel primarily point towards her being a static character. Her desires and behaviors remain largely consistent, driven by a longing for escape, rather than an evolving understanding of herself or her situation. Her tragic fate underscores the consequences of her choices, but doesn't fundamentally alter the core of her personality. She remains a product of her circumstances, a woman trapped by her social class and yearning for a life beyond her reach, without the internal growth that defines a dynamic character.
