The Great Gatsby: The Death of Myrtle Wilson Essay

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The Great Murder
Death can come in many ways, shapes, and forms. None of which are pleasant, but by far murder is the worst way to go. In the story, “The Great Gatsby” the character Myrtle, who was just a poor confused girl that was drug into the love triangle that Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom had created amongst themselves, and it ended with her being murdered in a hit and run accident.
Now in all cases of murder, everyone begins pointing fingers at each other. But out of all the people that are involved in this situation, which include all of those in the love triangle, Tom is the most responsible for the killing of his mistress, Myrtle Wilson.
Yes in a technicality Daisy is the one that killed her, for she was the one who was driving the car. Gatsby says to Nick after everyone heads home post­accident, “You see, when we left
New York she was very nervous and she thought it would steady her to drive…” (Fitzgerald
151). She was in no condition to be driving and Gatsby let her. Everyone knows that it’s dangerous to drive when you are experiencing heavy emotions; Such as anger, fear, depression, etc. But although Gatsby had insisted that he drive, Daisy persisted that she drive. Gatsby soon after begins to defend Daisy by saying, “Well first Daisy turned away from the woman towards the other car, and she she lost her nerve and turned back... must have instantly killed her.”
(Fitzgerald 151). Although Daisy was driving emotionally impaired, and a fair speed over the limit, it appeared that there was no way to avoid the accident without putting more lives in danger (the other driver, herself, and Gatsby). But this still leaves one question unanswered. Why was Myrtle in the street to begin with?

During Gatsbys explanation of the whole situation he too was confused as to why she was in the street. He proclaims to Nick, “...this woman rushed out at us just as we were passing a car coming the other way. It all happened in a minute, but it seemed to me as if she wanted to speak to us, thought we were somebody she knew.” (Fitzgerald 151). But that justa just adds more to the whole situation. For some reason Myrtle was heading towards Gatsbys car like she had recognized it. But here is the strange thing; Gatsby’s car was practically a one of a kind gold painted Rolls Royce. And neither he or Daisy knew who Myrtle was. To them she was just some random nobody that lived in the Valley of Ashes. Soon Nick puts it together. earlier that day before they headed out of town, Tom approaches Gatsby and proposes to him, “Well you take my coupe
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