May Kim / Re-write

The Great Gatsby is one of the biggest literary documents written in 1925 which the economy soared in America bringing unprecedented levels of prosperity to the nation. After the World War I people turned out to be more wild and extravagant living to compensate. The underground culture of revelry increased dramatically with the amount of people drinking alcohol and throwing parties every day (Sparknotes, 2013).  

I have chosen the character Myrtle from The Great Gatsby (1925) to do my re-write and from the post-colonial perspective she is a character who is oppressed in the entire story showing her dreadful life between the lower class and the upper class status of the time. Such critics argue that Postcolonial writers should see out non-Western influences with which to engage however, critics and other writers’ view that re-writing should enable the readers to read the old text in a new way by giving the voice to voiceless. Edward Said argues that experiences of the ruler and the ruled are not easily sorted, this is included in my re-write where we can see the main character’s desire to change her life by adultery with a wealthy man. In addition, telling of a story from another point of view is exploring the gaps and silences in the text (Said, 2008). In my story, the wealthy man Tom is the new world for Myrtle and she always thought she could be one of ‘them’ the upper class people. However, she has a limit in the new world and experiences the discrimination from Tom where she could never be a part in his world. The re-write reflects on Myrtle’s life in her thirties and the background is in the 1990’s where it is different from The Great Gatsby’s time frame.    

Part one: where I stand

It was a sunny afternoon when I was following my mum around to look at different houses somewhere far from where we use to live. I remember because I had to sit next to my sister on the cab for hours and hours while she went on and on about her new fiancé. It was middle of spring where everyone had new plans, getting new houses and new cars and also my sister found a new fiancé. Yes, she was once engaged to this other bloke who entirely lost all his money to his business partner. I don’t want to start that story but my mother told her to break up with him instantly and we packed our bags that night and we moved to another town. It happened so fast that there were no tears from my sister and it was amazing how quickly she fell in love with someone new. Of course he was rich; he had a fancy car, a really dazzling smile. I really wanted to ask him why he’s marrying my sister, because my sister isn’t that attractive in anyway. She’s pale white with freckles and very tall for a 32 year old women. Comparing to her I am the attractive one in the family with long red golden hair that I have been growing for over a year now. My family is me, my unattractive sister and my mum. The day when were looking around different houses, my mum picked the smallest house in the corner where I thought it was a tiny garage that was linked with the normal house next door. However, I was wrong; it was the house that we three girls were going to live in.

“Come on girls, there’s no time to stand outside like that”

“Now we have two rooms so Myrtle, you’ll just have to share with your sister or make yourself comfortable in the living room”

I was used to not having a room to myself so I wasn’t too disappointed. But one thing I was sure was that each time we moved, our house was getting smaller and smaller. My father died when I was young, and my mum told me that she and dad promised each other that they won’t allow me and my sister to move out of the house unless we find a rich man to take our whole future away. It was every girls dream to find a rich man and to move out. However, it was different for me, loving someone or pretending to love someone for my future to change was absolutely a disgusting way to live in this world.

After a week later I was rushed to hospital with George, Jane’s fiancé and I was lead to a room where it took many steps and stairs and I was beginning to sweat with fear and anger. And there I saw a person who was covered in a white sheet from head to toe and next to that was my mother with pale blue face looking at me in terror.

“…..no way, no, please don’t tell me this is Jane ma…”

There was still silence, I could see my mum trying to say something but she closed her eyes with tears running down her face.

“I’m sorry, your sister was in a car accident and it was too late for her to recover”

The police who was standing near the door tapped on my shoulder. “May I have a word with you?”

“I’m very sorry to say that your sister Jane was in a car crash this afternoon and the driver disappeared afterwards and we are still tracking them now, I’m very sorry, we will try our best to get the driver as soon as possible”

In that moment I felt millions of emotion crashing inside my mind where I could see the vision of that moment of the accident. I could see a man and a woman laughing their heads off holding a bottle of whiskey and accidentally ran into my sister where she was left their bleeding for minutes while they took off accelerating in their highest speed. Then I realized this was the world I was living in. I can’t dream of being happy and rich without money, man and power. My sister’s in a room covered with the white sheet where now she can live in the real world, ‘heaven’ whereas the world I’m living in is as cruel and bitter as hell. I went back into the room where Jane was and we said our goodbyes leaving her cold inside that room.

Not long after my sister’s death, my mum ran away leaving me with all the debt she had.

Myrtle,

I’m sorry, please forgive me

I have no choice but to leave the country,

I’m going to Mr. Wright’s house, and I know I will be safe there.

Please take care, and please find a good man who will take care of you too.

There is nothing in this world but to find a man who will buy your future.

This was the last message from my mum which was placed in the table with few dollar notes all crunched up together.

Devastating it was, without a real man with real cash, I would never be able to run away from this hell.

Part two (admire)

While I was growing I was always fascinated with the things I could never get. For example, women’s beauty, fame, money, lust and the last element was happiness. I thought my life would change after my sister died and after my mum ran away, I mean I thought living hopelessly was better than trying to figure out why everything happened to me. But never or less I forgot all the bad things in my life because of the joy and the love someone gave me. George Wilson, my husband. I don’t want to think of him as my sister’s fiancé, that’s just creepy now, he’s my one and only husband who I love and who loves me. We got married not too long after my mum disappeared; he was taking care of me where I gradually moved in with him. It started off pretty good, I mean my sister liked him because of money but I really liked him, love was such a dangerous word but he was my love. As time went by I could see the money draining down and George was beginning to drink excessively through midnight after work. George always had pride in his work having quite a few auto shops in the city. He would always tell me that people from all around the world comes and visits him to check out new deals in the automotive industry. Few days later, George seemed very angry the whole day and didn’t say a word to me, he just poured himself a drink after another. I was worried but also scared. My mother always told me to be careful around drunk people especially men but this was different. George looked as if he lost his entire world. That night I couldn’t fall asleep and it was my first time holding a bottle of whiskey and drank few sips off the bottle.

“Hey Myrtle, what are you doing?”

“I couldn’t sleep, you feeling better now?”

“yea, I’m sorry I’ve been a bit off these days, guess what”

“what?”

“We only have our own auto shop left now, this young rich bastard made some kind of deal with the company where he bought five auto shops that were under my name”

“Under your name? I mean, they are yours right? How can he buy them off from the company?”

“Sorry love, it wasn’t all mine, it was just under my name for his benefit while he was in jail, and now he gave us this auto shop to keep”

I remember, as soon as George told me that he lost all of his business, it looked like he was naked with bare feet trying to cover up his body being ashamed. I always thought of George day and night knowing that he’s my future and my love. However, the whole dream of living a good life vanished after that night. I wrote a letter to myself with all the emotions that were running through my body.

Dear Myrtle

So I guess life has gone upside down where you just found out that George is nothing but a useless man. You’re just the same like any other women, now I realise how hard it was for you to pretend everything from the moment he took you to his house. Just admit it Myrtle, you’re the same. You want to find a better man.

After reading the little note over and over, I felt that the devil inside me had grown much bigger and was hungry for wealth, the parties, the alcohol, the diamonds and most of all a strong man who will take me away from this filthy house and this filthy man. George. Did I really love him? No. I thought he was my only way to survive in this world but I deserved more. I deserved much better.

It was getting colder and colder as there weren’t many people coming by our neighbour nor to our auto shop, however, something triggered George to work harder and harder every day. George’s alcohol didn’t seem to slow down but he still got up the next morning to work for his only auto shop that was left for us.

“Myrtle my dear, a guy named Tom Buchanan is going to come by to look at the new car that I’m working on right now, he’s a big fella with plenty of cash to spend so be nice to him, if he comes while I’m gone just pour him a drink and tell him to wait”

“George you know how much I hate acquainting with your friends, just go out after he leaves”

“No! I need to sell this car to him and I just need to buy a small part to make the car work he’s the only guy who will give the money straight away in full cash”

“Alright alright”

This was another change I saw in George. He seemed desperate for money as well, whenever I looked at him his face was covered in anxiety which made me want to leave this house more and more day by day. Would there be a day for me to wake up and not think about money and just have a delicious breakfast with the person I love. I know that the world doesn’t revolve around me but I wanted that small chance.

Part three (Instant)

“Hello, I’m here to meet George”

 

He was beautiful, his hair, his suit, his style, his gesture. It was Tom Buchanan. I never knew George had a friend like him. First of all I was astonished by his looks and the fiery eyes that really gave him a powerful look. His cologne was just unforgettable.  

“Come inside, George will be home soon”

I was delighted to treat him with a cup of tea when he refused a glass of whiskey and we just sat there for ten minutes without talking.

“George told me a lot about you”

“Like..?

“How beautiful you are, and certainly I agree with him”

I was dazzled by his voice, also the shiny glittering watch on his wrist and his eyes checking the time every minute. And then we would look at each other with awkwardness, but it felt like a good awkwardness. I could see how amazingly happy his wife would be looking at him every morning and night. I was trapped in his world instantly. Then George came inside with all the materials that he needed for the car. George was always covered in black charcoal, with messy hair that was hardly combed.

 

“So I guess you’ve met my wife Myrtle? When are you going to show me your wife?

“Daisy would never come around this area, she says the air is different and she doesn’t want to choke from all the smoke in this place hahahaha” 

 Because it was Tom, even George couldn’t disagree with him. I guess Tom is married to a beautiful lady named Daisy, and of course, no one would want to bring a lady to this town. I couldn’t resist my feelings for him, what would it be like living in Tom Buchanans’ world.

I wanted to get fresh air before my face was about to pop.

“Nice, meeting you Tom, I’m just gonna go out leave you two to talk”

Then suddenly, Tom insisted a hand shake, where I felt something crunchy inside my hand. He then smiled and wondered off starting a conversation with George.

I went outside the house and took a big breath and opened the crunched up paper with one eye closed. Is it really what I’m thinking?

See you near the train station; I’ll pick you up at four

When I saw his hand written note I was thrilled but scared as well. It was a weird feeling but I knew something great was going to happen.

I heard about the enormous parties that were going around in the upper state for months and months when Marsha Bing from the neighbour was working as a florist there at Gatsby’s mansion. I always wanted to hear more from her about the glorious parties and music that people were never missing out on, however, whenever I told George about it he would always tell me that it is just for people to show off their wealth. I knew Tom Buchanan was one of them, who enjoyed parties and celebrating his wealth. That evening I was waiting for Tom at the train station and I could see a shiny red car coming from a distance with Tom smiling at me looking directly into my eyes.

“What did you tell George?”

“Oh its fine, just told him that I’m going to my sisters for the night”

“You’ll be safe let’s just enjoy tonight”

I felt like I was someone else, such a new level of me. The attention from the wealthy gentleman and also the bright red car made me feel like I was never supposed to be George’s wife. It was becoming dangerous and thrilling for both of us.

Not too long after a week or two Tom was beginning to irritate me when he talked about Daisy and how she never loved him from the start. I could see the pain and anger that was beneath Tom when all he can do was spend money on Daisy to get her love and attention.

First of all I always hoped that Tom would take me to the grand parties at Gatsby’s but only told me stories and never took me there. It was one of those days where we would drink endlessly with my friends from town and they were always excited and delighted to spend the day with me and Tom.

“Tom, I would really want to go with you to one of Gatsby’s party”

Tom looked straight into my eyes and started laughing where it surprised everyone in the room.

“Woman, are you serious? You know I go to those parties with my Daisy”

Of course I knew he had to take his wife and that will never change, it wasn’t like I wanted to be his wife or anything. I just wanted to be accepted in his world. Just for once in my life.

There was always the limit where I could reach in Tom’s world and he never looked at me like I was a true woman in this world.

Part Four: My place, my world 

It was the morning when I was woken up in the hospital by George. He was looking deeply into my eyes and I just couldn’t forget that moment of relief that I was left behind with George. The doctor asked me questions like “Do you remember what happened last night?” “Do you know who you were with?” 

“Please tell me what you can remember, we are going to help you”

I was speechless and I tried my best to re-call my memory with the aching pain on my body and especially the painful headache.

 “I remember I was drinking with couple of my friends and Tom at his friend’s apartment where it was a very colorful party. The phone kept ringing and Tom was sweating while speaking on the phone which worried me so … I think I went there to ask him what happened but as soon as he hung up he started shouting at me and told everyone to leave the place. He was very angry”

“Did he hit you?”

“No.. At first he was saying that everything is my fault so I tried to calm him down when he threw something at me and I can’t remember after that”

“well.. We are presuming that it was the old painting on the wall because it was covered in blood”

“you need to think carefully and tell us every detail Myrtle. This is to save you or else you will really be in trouble. Everyone knows Tom here; he will do anything with his money. I’m sure you know that too”

I was scared and I was trembling with fear inside the doctor’s office where I couldn’t say any more about what happened. It was all going inside my head; all the threats, pushing, swearing and beating that went for months. It was just too painful to start the story with me and Tom. To be part in his world I thought I could keep everything a secret and still stay next to him but now, this moment, I was left with George, with other patients all injured, with pain and misery inside this hospital.

The worst thing is that Tom would never know how my life is. He would never be interested in my life like I was fascinated by his.

I could never be one of them, because our blood and roots were different from the start.