Editor's Choice
What kind of mistakes are the women discussing on page 34 of The Great Gatsby, and what does this reveal about their characters?
Quick answer:
The women on page 34 of The Great Gatsby discuss mistakes related to their marriages, revealing their shallow and materialistic natures. Myrtle regrets marrying George for his lack of wealth, while Mrs. McKee laments almost marrying someone beneath her social class. Catherine criticizes unhappy marriages, showing her opinionated and intrusive character. This conversation highlights their superficial concerns with social status and financial security.
In chapter two, Myrtle's sister, Catherine, tells Nick that Tom and Myrtle cannot stand the people they've married, and Mrs. McKee declares that she almost made the mistake of marrying a "little kyke" who was significantly below her social class. Myrtle Wilson then laments about marrying George and mentions that she was devastated to discover that he borrowed his suit for the wedding ceremony, which revealed that he was not financially wealthy. Myrtle feels like she was deceived and thought that she was marrying a wealthy man.
The conversation between Catherine, Mrs. McKee, and Myrtle Wilson illustrates their shallow, materialistic personalities. Each woman is primarily concerned with social status and financial security. Judging from their conversation, Mrs. McKee and Myrtle Wilson are extremely superficial women who are primarily concerned with marrying wealthy men in order to enjoy luxurious lives like Daisy Buchanan. Myrtle Wilson clearly regrets marrying George and...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
hopes to replace Daisy in Tom's life.
Myrtle's sister Catherine is explaining to Nick the sad state of the marriages of her sister to George Wilson and of Tom and Daisy Buchanan.
'Neither of them can stand the person they're married to.'...She looked at Myrtle and then at Tom. 'What I say is, why go on living with them if they can't stand them? If I was them i'd get a divorce and get married to each other right away.'
Catherine goes on to add that Daisy is blocking the idea of a divorce because she was Catholic - a statement which Nick knows is untrue. Nick is "shocked" by the amount of detail Catherine manages to include in her lies about the relationships of other people. Catherine is showing herself to be opinionated, eager to poke around in other people's affairs, and smug about her freedom to do as she wishes. She considers the marriages of Tom and Daisy and of George and Myrtle to both be mistakes.
Lucille McKee interrupts the conversation to relate the story of the near escape she had. "I almost made a mistake, too....I almost married a little kike who'd been after me for ten years." Earlier in the chapter, Nick had concluded that she was "shrill, languid, handsome, and horrible." She is pushy and interested keeping up with the others in attire, in artistic activities, and in relationship difficulties.