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Both ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’ use characters who change their ideals to fit their view of the American Dream. For example, in ‘The Great Gatsby’, Fitzgerald creates Myrtle’s lifestyle in a way that lures her to have an affair with Tom Buchannan, Daisy’s husband. Her physical description that is mentioned could perhaps imply that her lifestyle is nothing but a false representation of her own American Dream. In Chapter 2, Fitzgerald sensually describes Tom Buchanan’s mistress, “She had changed her dress to a brown figured muslin, which stretched tight over her rather wide hips”. Using words like “stretched” and “wide” could imply how men only look at the appearance of women and not their personality. She is just a sexual object to him that can be used whenever he desires, which portrays women as materialistic and submissive.
Nonetheless, Myrtle’s behavior in the novel demonstrates the fact that she wishes to climb the social status ladder via her sharp manner and sensuality. Having wealth is a dream for her which she expresses through her choice of clothing as it could give her an illusion that she is one step closer to her version of the dream. Myrtle, like Gatsby, was not born into money and instead relied on her intelligence to make something of herself in 1920s America. Contextually, when The Great Gatsby was written, it was the post-war financial boom that brought the Great Depression. During this period, anyone was able to experience upward social mobility which is seen in Myrtle as she has an affair with a wealthy man. It signifies how easy it was for social mobility hence why so many people did it in 1920s America. Additionally, S.P. George criticized that “Myrtle displays the ideology of having an affair to be a show of power.” It’s clear that Myrtle perceives herself as confident and self-assured, and assumes that her relationship with Tom is a permanent ticket into the world of the rich, not just an uninterested relationship. Fitzgerald characterizes her as possessing “an immediately perceptible vitality” which seems to overstate her boredom and carelessness. This is exemplified by the following quotation from Nick’s first meeting with Myrtle: “I’m going to make a list of all the things I’ve got to get…and a collar for the dog” The list used highlights how she is trying to fulfill her needs in such a small space of time. She wants “a black silk bow for mother’s grave” which seems to be a very materialistic thing to ask for.
The fact that she beautifies death could be an aspect of foreboding as her life also comes to an end. This could perhaps indicate how as soon as she has access to wealth; she immediately spends it on things that aren’t necessary; it shows how one can be so desirous for money, which is ultimately her dream. Time is another motif used, which could entail that Myrtle’s simultaneous desire to reach the future will be nothing but a belief because her pride got her killed. Additionally, Fitzgerald criticizes The American Dream through the description used to portray Myrtle and Tom’s relationship. According to Daisy, Tom is “uncivilized” and is a “brute”. Her thoughts are evidenced in chapter 2 when we see Tom’s moral corruption as “he broke her nose with his open hand” for suggesting a divorce with Daisy.
The brutality of this quote shows that both characters are impulsive, and driven by their needs. Tom is aggressively asserting that his needs are more important than Myrtle’s; after all, to Tom, Myrtle is just another mistress who he can dispose of. Moreover, in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, Williams contrasts the American Dream by exploring Stella’s view. Her dream is different from Myrtle's in ‘The Great Gatsby’ which is significant as it outlines the fact that the view on the American Dream is a personal interpretation; Myrtle’s dream is to be wealthy whereas Stella’s dream was to have a family. Stella’s dream is significant as it outlines the fact that wealth doesn’t always bring happiness into one’s life-, in most cases, great wealth brings sadness into a person’s life. This is shown in both texts. 'Aren’t you being a little intense about it? It’s not that bad at all! New Orleans isn’t like other cities.” Stella seems to be defending her choice of lifestyle as “New Orleans isn’t like other cities” when Blanche critiques her, bearing in mind that she did come from an upper-class family but she chose to live in a deprived neighborhood. Freeman argued that “Stella is among those who take ownership of their values to gain comfort.” This can be supported by Stella’s comment on New Orleans being “not bad at all” which could potentially outline how she doesn’t need prosperity to be happy, she just wants love and calmness within a household.
Furthermore, throughout the play, we see a change in Stella as it could be argued that she is dramatizing domestic violence as well as using it as a stepping stone to reach her dream. We hear “a sound of a blow and Stella cries out” which occurs in Scene 3. Stanley is trying to assert his control over Stella by hitting her; reinforcing his role as the dominant male in the relationship. It also reveals the drawback to the vibrant life that we have seen in Elysian Fields as it foreshadows violence, which we see throughout the play, that finishes during the rape of Blanche. The fact that Stella takes the “blow” and doesn’t do anything about it could perhaps indicate how she is blinded by the idea of marriage and family and sees it as a normal continuing series of abuse that naturally occurs in a relationship. The fact that she is willing to go through this stage of her relationship just to reach her end goal of being happy in a family, suggests how determined she is for a better future. Stella, according to Kazan, is “driven by her determination to hold onto Stanley.” This is shown throughout the play where she defends him when he raped her sister. It indicates how Stella can be so self-driven to achieve her dream of having a family.
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