Man, I remember the first time I went to New York City. I was like, eleven years old, and the minute the train busted out of that tunnel and the city lights hit me? Pure, unadulterated chaos in my brain. I was sweating bullets, kinda hangry, but also felt like I could absolutely run the world. It’s that feeling, that total mood shift when you cross a line and think you're suddenly a whole new person—you know?
That whole vibe is what’s going on with Myrtle Wilson when she rolls into the Big Apple with Tom Buchanan and Nick Carraway in tow. Seriously, she wasn't just arriving; she was performing a whole vibe transformation. She’s leaving the dusty, busted-up Valley of Ashes behind, and for her, Manhattan isn't just a place—it's the stage for her glow-up. Everything she does, from the second she steps off that train, is high-key about shedding her old, low-key life. It's truly a masterclass in 'fake it 'til you make it,' even if she’s gonna get busted for it later. This ain't just a trip, folks. This is a whole new identity being tried on like a too-tight pair of jeans.
Step 1: The Grand Entrance and the New Persona Prep
Before they even hit the jazz clubs and bright lights, Myrtle's behavior on the train is already doing the heavy lifting. She ain't acting like the mechanic's wife anymore. No cap. She's already got the city air in her lungs, even if it's just stale train air.
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| How Does Myrtle Act When She First Arrives With Tom And Nick In New York |
1.1 Ditching the Valley Ashes Vibe
Listen, Myrtle hates where she lives. Like, for real, for real hates it. So, when she's on that train chugging away from the Valley of Ashes, her energy is completely lit. She's not quiet or shy. She is bursting with a kind of over-the-top, restless vitality. This woman is high-key excited to escape. Nick sees it, and he’s like, “Whoa, this chick is full of life.” She's chatting, she's laughing too loud, and she’s already acting like she belongs in a nicer zip code. She's basically saying, "I'm leaving that dirt and dust behind me, bet!" This part of the journey is Myrtle mentally putting on her 'rich lady' costume before she even gets to the party store. It’s all about the anticipation and the sheer joy of temporary freedom.
1.2 The All-Important Dress Change Drama
Tip: Revisit this page tomorrow to reinforce memory.
The minute they get off the train and head towards their little New York love nest, Myrtle pulls the ultimate 'new identity' move: She changes her outfit. Immediately. And not just into a better dress—she changes into an elaborate, super fancy, brown figured-silk dress. This is a huge, screaming sign. It’s like she thinks the clothes literally make the woman. The dress is too expensive, maybe a little too much, and completely over-the-top for just walking around the city, but that's the point! It’s her armor for her new, temporary life as Tom's mistress. She puts on that dress and, boom, she thinks she’s suddenly got the class she craves. It’s kinda sad, but also a total power move, you know? She’s trying to slay with material wealth.
Step 2: Hitting the Pavement – The Fifth Avenue Swagger
This is the moment of arrival! They finally step out onto the real New York streets. The air is different; the people are different. And Myrtle's behavior shifts from anticipatory to actively performing.
2.1 The 'Get Me Everything' Vibe
Tom, being the big-shot he thinks he is, notices an opportunity. He asks Myrtle what she wants. She doesn't hesitate. She doesn't say "Oh, maybe a little trinket." No. She points out a little puppy—an Airedale—that a guy is selling on the street. She basically says, "I want that dog, for real." It’s an impulsive, totally unnecessary purchase. This isn’t about needing a dog; it’s about acting like a rich person who can just buy whatever she wants, whenever she wants. It's about exercising the newfound power that Tom's money temporarily gives her. She totally throws shade at her real life by making this ridiculous purchase. She's buying a pet for an apartment she doesn't actually live in! That’s peak escapism, I’m dead.
2.2 Her Body Language is on Fleek (But Also Faux)
QuickTip: Don’t just scroll — process what you see.
As they walk down the famous Fifth Avenue, Myrtle's whole body language changes. Nick notices that she carries herself with this fierce, almost aggressive pride. She isn't shrinking back; she's leaning into the public display of her connection with Tom. She's walking taller, maybe even a little slower, making sure everyone sees her with her wealthy, powerful man. She walks like she owns the place, even though she's just visiting. This outward display of confidence is super important. She’s not just Tom’s girl; she’s trying to be a society woman, even though the clothes are a little too loud and the confidence is a little too forced. It’s all about the optics, baby.
Step 3: The Apartment Takeover and The Final Performance
The true moment of "arrival" for Myrtle isn't stepping off the train; it's stepping into the messy, small, but still luxurious apartment Tom keeps for their rendezvous. This is where her new persona truly takes flight—and then crashes.
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3.1 Unpacking the Shopping Spree Aftermath
Once they get to the apartment, Myrtle is in full hostess mode, but with a crazy, high-strung energy. The apartment is quickly filled with the stuff they bought—the dog, magazines, and other small, random luxuries. This apartment is her castle for the night, and she acts like the queen. She’s bossing around the boy who brings up the ice and generally treating the place like it’s her own private pad she designed herself. She’s acting like this is her real life, and the life with George in the garage is just a bad dream she woke up from. She gets the party started, mixing up the drinks and encouraging the guests to get totally wasted because, hey, that’s what rich people do, right?
3.2 Commanding the Room Like a Boss
QuickTip: Focus on what feels most relevant.
This is the climax of her arrival behavior. Surrounded by her guests (Nick, the McKees, and Tom), Myrtle goes from being just Tom’s mistress to trying to be the absolute center of attention. She gets increasingly louder, increasingly more opinionated, and increasingly bold. She starts talking about George (her husband) in this super condescending way. She basically throws him under the bus, talking about how she was so silly to marry him, and how he wasn't good enough for her. She's drunk on gin and the thrill of her new identity. Her language gets rougher, her movements get bigger—she is dominating the scene. The change is stark. She’s gone from a small-town woman to a loud, entitled New Yorker in about two hours. It’s this total shift that leads to the infamous moment where she yells Daisy's name one too many times, proving that her forced persona can't hold up under pressure. Tom busts her fantasy by busting her nose, bringing the whole arrival party to an abrupt, ugly end. But for that brief, shining moment, Myrtle was absolutely, aggressively living her best life.
FAQ Questions and Answers
How to Tell When Myrtle is Acting the Most Fake?
Myrtle is acting the most fake right after she changes into the brown figured-silk dress and when she begins to criticize her husband, George, in the New York apartment. Her commanding and superior tone is completely out of place for her true social position, making it seem super forced.
How to Understand Why Tom Took Myrtle to the City?
Tom took Myrtle to the city because the city represents anonymity and freedom from the social rules of the Eggs. He can openly engage in his affair and indulge in his impulsive whims (like buying her a dog) without the constant judgment of his wealthy neighbors and society friends.
Tip: The details are worth a second look.
How to Spot the Symbolism of Myrtle’s Clothes in the Scene?
Myrtle’s clothes are a symbol of her aspirational identity. The fancy, expensive dress is her costume for the life she wishes she had. When she takes it off, she metaphorically takes off the persona. The dress is meant to scream "wealthy," but it ultimately just screams "pretender."
How to Describe Nick’s Feelings About Myrtle’s Behavior?
Nick is disgusted and fascinated at the same time. He is repelled by the vulgarity and loud, aggressive nature of the party and Myrtle’s performance, but he is also intrigued because this wild behavior is so different from the reserved world he is used to.
How to Relate Myrtle’s Excitement to the American Dream?
Myrtle's arrival and over-the-top behavior is a dark mirror of the American Dream. She believes that wealth (represented by the city, the apartment, Tom, and the dress) will instantly transform her and give her happiness and status. Her desperate actions show the materialistic and hollow side of seeking that dream.
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