"We're getting off," he insisted. "I want you to meet my girl."
Chapter 2 · Tom Buchanan
Context
When the train stops in the valley of ashes, Tom abruptly forces Nick off the car, announcing his intention to introduce Nick to his mistress.
Analysis
The possessive phrase 'my girl' reduces Myrtle to a possession and reveals Tom's view of relationships as ownership. His insistence—physically forcing Nick from the train—demonstrates how Tom imposes his will on others without considering their consent. The brazenness of openly parading his mistress while married to Daisy reveals both his sense of invulnerability and his need for an audience to validate his conquests. The verb 'insisted' echoes the earlier statement that the affair 'was insisted upon' publicly.
How to Use in Essay
Use in essays on Tom's entitlement and dominance, the objectification of women, or the way wealth enables moral transgression without consequence.