She was in the middle thirties, and faintly stout, but she carried her flesh sensuously as some women can. Her face, above a spotted dress of dark blue crêpe-de-chine, contained no facet or gleam of beauty, but there was an immediately perceptible vitality about her as if the nerves of her body were continually smouldering.
Chapter 2 · Narrator
Context
Myrtle Wilson appears for the first time, descending the stairs into the garage where Tom and Nick are speaking with George Wilson.
Analysis
Myrtle's introduction emphasizes raw physical energy ('vitality,' 'smouldering') rather than conventional beauty, distinguishing her sharply from the ethereal Daisy. The word 'smouldering' connects her to fire and desire but also suggests something suppressed and potentially destructive. Nick's narration acknowledges her sexual presence while noting the absence of beauty, establishing the class-based distinction between Myrtle and the women of East Egg. The verb 'carried' implies conscious performance of her physicality.
How to Use in Essay
Ideal for essays comparing Myrtle and Daisy, discussing gender performance, or analyzing how Fitzgerald uses physical description to encode class differences.