Analyse the role of marriage in the novel, are any of the romantic relationships successful?
Chapter Two
- Catherine says that Tom will not divorce Daisy because she is a Catholic when Nick knows that she is not. This implies that Tom has been lying to the both woman and is not sure that he want to leave Daisy.
- Tom does not allow Myrtle to say Daisy's name. When she does say her name, Tom "broke her nose with one hand". This shows that he feels guilty about what he is doing and is still both protective and possessive of Daisy.
- The marriages are partly spoken about through gossip. For example Catherine says to Nick "neither of them can stand the person they are married to". Later on in the novel there is a lot of gossip about Gatsby which is not true, questioning the reliability of gossip. This then questions if the marriages are as unstable as they are portrayed.
- Myrtle is seen dissatisfied in her marriage as she says she miss took Wilson for a "gentlemen" following that says "I later discovered he was not fit enough to lick my shoe".This shows that she despises her husband and so therefore neither their marriage or relationship are successful and more. The metaphor of the "borrowed suit" shows that she is not content with living her live married to someone who is working class and not rich and that she wants to be with someone who she considers to be a gentlemen with lots of money. Tom is seen as this person.
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