Chapter+2

Summary:
=Nick accompanies Tom on a trip to New York to meet Tom's mistress. Tom takes her out in public restaurants and brings her places. Tom meets Myrtle, his mistress, at her house where her husband, who is unaware of the affair, believes that Tom is there to sell him a car. Myrtle tells her husband, George Wilson, that she is going to visit her sister for the day and actually meets up with Tom for the day. The three socialize in an apartment with Myrtle's sister, Catherine, and some friends. Catherine remarks that Myrtle should just leave George. They are all drinking and smoking and Tom breaks Myrtle's nose by hitting her when she refuses to stop saying "Daisy." Nick takes this chance to get away from them. =

Time Period:
===It is interesting that in this chapter, Tom hits Myrtle in the face. This shows how in this time period, men were sort of seen as superior. He demonstrates his power over her by striking her. In 1920, the 19th amendment is added to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. Tom is resisting women's growing rights. ===

Relation to Fitzgerald's Life:
===Tom's mistress, Myrtle Wilson, is relevant to the story because Fitzgerald also has a mistress. Fitzgerald was married to Zelda Sayre, but when she was admitted into the hospital for schizophrenia, he found someone else. Sheilah Graham was a columnist whom Fitzgerald was having an affair with. He still loved Zelda but he needed to be with someone because he felt so alone. This relates because Tom still loves Daisy but still chooses to have an affair with Myrtle. ===

Common Themes:
===Love is an important theme in this chapter, and is shown with a very cynical view. Tom is seen cheating on Daisy, and yet he hurts Myrtle for so much as speaking her name; he feels she is not worthy to talk about his wife. Myrtle is also an adulterer and leaves her poor, faithful, sad husband at home to go party with Nick. These characters know love, but it is not the same pure, sweet and beautiful love Gatsby feels for Daisy. ===

Marxist View:
===When Nick and Tom are going to get Tom's mistress, they pass the valley of ashes. The men are described as ash-gray, moving dimly, and there are rarely cars where they are working. The working class is seen as being dirty, sketchy, and not as good as the upper class. ===

Feminist View:
===Women are put down especially much in this chapter because Tom physically strikes Myrtle when she refuses to stop saying Daisy's name. ===

**Colors as Symbols:**
===**Gray is used to describe the area of land between West Egg and New York. It's described as a desolate area and a valley of ashes. The color gray is used to represent dullness and dreariness. The houses and hills are characterized as piles of ashes because the area is very empty and bare. There isn't much activity and occasionally cars pass by. The people living here seem to be going through a bit of a depression because of the war. It seems like the poorer part of town where the working class lives. This area shows the difference between the life that Nick Carraway and the others live. Their lives are about partying and being in the upper class while the people that live in the area of ashes are hardworking people who have to worry about supporting their families. (Fitzgerald 23)** ===

**Sources:**
===//Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for English Definitions//. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. < http://dictionary.reference.com/> ===