Chapter 2
Characters:
 Myrtle Wilson
o Tom’s girlfriend/ mistress, and lives half way between West Egg and New York (also
known as the valley of ashes) with her husband George Wilson.
o She cares about being up to date with the news and tries to change the way she
smells/looks when she goes out.
o “At the news-stands she bought a copy of Town Tattle and a moving-picture magazine
and in the station drug-store some cold cream and a small flask of perfume.”
o Jealous of Daisy Buchanan
o She shows symbols of wanting to have protection and caring about what others think of
her, and pretends that she has a luxurious life.
o “I’d like to get one of those police dogs; I don’t suppose you got that kind?”
o “Mrs. Wilson had changed her costume some time before, and was now attired in an
elaborate afternoon dress…”
o ““It’s just a crazy old thing,” she said. “I just slip it on sometimes when I don’t care what I
look like.””

George Wilson
o Husband to Myrtle Wilson
o Has no clue about the affair going on between Myrtle and Tom
o Owns his own repair shop, where he buys and sells cars
o Wilson shows symbols of cluelessness, “He’s so dumb he doesn’t know he’s alive.”
 Chester McKee
o Friend of Myrtle and Tom, he and his wife live in the same apartment complex.
o Feminine and respectful, he is a photographer.
Chapter 2
 Mrs. McKee
Wife to Chester, she seems to be the backbone of their relationship.
Takes pride in her husband’s work, but tries to tell him what to do.
““Chester, I think you could do something with her,””, ““I wouldn’t think of changing the light.”
cried Mrs. McKee. “I think it’s-“. Her husband said “Sh!””
 Tom Buchanan
o Shows that he believes himself to be better than any and everyone
o “”And if you feel that way about it, maybe I’d better sell it somewhere else after all.”
o He is very protective of Daisy and doesn’t allow Myrtle to talk badly about her.
o “””Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!” shouted Mrs. Wilson. “I’ll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai“. Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.”

Catherine
o Myrtle’s sister, she lives in New York with a friend in a hotel.
o She believes Myrtle and Tom belong together, and tells Nick that they can’t because
Daisy is catholic and doesn’t believe in it. (This is not true)
 Nick
o Meets Myrtle and immediately is judgmental toward the way she looks.
o He doesn’t want to go up to Tom and Myrtle’s apartment, but goes to be polite.
o Tries to leave several times but he keeps being drawn back into the conversations
Chapter 2
Themes:

Hope: Mr. Wilson hopes for his business to grow.

Know your limits: Myrtle shouts about Daisy, and finally Tom hits her, if she knew
her limits she would have stopped before things got that carried away.

Jealousy: Myrtle towards Daisy.

Possessiveness

Others opinions matter: Myrtle is so concerned with what people think of her, she
always changes her outward appearance.
Plot:

Nick and Tom take a train ride to New York.

They make a stop in between New York and West Egg, to see Tom’s mistress, Myrtle.

Tom tells Myrtle to meet them at the train station, and they take a train in New York, where
Tom and Myrtle have an apartment.

Myrtle stops and gets materialistic items on the way to the apartment, and she invites her sister,
Catherine, Mr. and Mrs. McKee to come over for drinks.

When they get to the apartment, Nick learns a bit about Tom and Myrtle’s relationship.

Myrtle starts to shout about Daisy and Tom hits her and breaks her nose.

Nick and Mr. McKee plan to have lunch someday soon, and then Nick goes to the train station
to wait for the four o’ clock train back to East Egg.