What Does Myrtle Being Hit With A Yellow Car

If you’re asking “what does myrtle being hit with a yellow car,” you’ve likely encountered a confusing reference online or in conversation. The phrase “myrtle being hit with a yellow car” likely refers to a specific scene from a popular work of fiction involving a character named Myrtle. This article will explain exactly where this moment comes from, its significance, and why it has become such a memorable and discussed piece of storytelling.

The iconic scene comes from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic 1925 novel, *The Great Gatsby*. The character Myrtle Wilson is, indeed, struck and killed by a yellow car. This event is not just a random accident; it is the pivotal turning point of the novel’s plot. The car is a distinctive yellow Rolls-Royce, and understanding who was driving it and the circumstances leading to the crash is central to understanding the novel’s themes of carelessness, wealth, and the corruption of the American Dream.

The Context Of Myrtle Wilson In The Great Gatsby

To grasp the full impact of the accident, you need to know who Myrtle Wilson is. She is married to George Wilson, a poor and downtrodden auto mechanic who runs a garage in the desolate “valley of ashes.” Myrtle is dissatisfied with her life and her marriage. She becomes the mistress of Tom Buchanan, a wealthy, arrogant, and physically imposing man from old money. Her affair with Tom represents her desperate attempt to escape her grim reality and grasp at the glamour and wealth she associates with Tom’s world.

Myrtle’s character is vital because she represents the lower class’s aspiration and ultimate destruction by the careless rich. Her life and death are directly controlled by the actions of Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby.

The Night Of The Accident: A Step-By-Step Breakdown

The collision occurs in Chapter 7, the longest and most dramatic chapter in the book. The sequence of events is chaotic and fueled by high emotions. Here is a clear breakdown of what happened that night.

The Tense Hotel Confrontation: Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, Nick (the narrator), and Jordan Baker are in a suite at the Plaza Hotel in New York. A heated argument erupts where Tom exposes the truth about Gatsby’s wealth and Daisy’s past. Gatsby demands Daisy tell Tom she never loved him, but she cannot do it. This confrontation shatters Gatsby’s dream.
The Decision To Drive Back: The group decides to leave. Daisy is upset and drives Gatsby’s yellow Rolls-Royce back to Long Island with Gatsby in the passenger seat. Tom drives his own car with Nick and Jordan as passengers.
Myrtle’s State Of Mind: Meanwhile, Myrtle Wilson has been locked in a room by her husband, George, who has grown suspicious of her affair. From her window, she sees the yellow car approaching. She mistakes it for Tom Buchanan’s car (Tom had previously driven Gatsby’s yellow car).
The Fatal Mistake And Impact: Believing Tom is coming to her, Myrtle bursts out of the room and runs into the road in the valley of ashes. She is trying to flag down the car. Daisy, who is at the wheel and visibly distraught from the earlier confrontation, does not stop. The yellow car strikes and kills Myrtle Wilson instantly.

Who Was Really Driving The Yellow Car?

This is the central mystery following the accident. Initially, witnesses and George Wilson believe the owner of the car is responsible. The car is famously known on Long Island as Gatsby’s flamboyant vehicle.

However, the reader and a few key characters know the truth: Daisy Buchanan was driving. Gatsby reveals this to Nick later, stating his intention to take the blame. He says, “Of course I’ll say I was driving.” He hopes to protect Daisy, clinging to the last shred of his dream that she will leave Tom for him.

Tom Buchanan, when speaking to George Wilson later, implies it was Gatsby driving, knowing Wilson seeks revenge. This deliberate misinformation directly leads to the novel’s tragic conclusion.

The Symbolism Of The Yellow Car

The color and type of car are deeply symbolic. Yellow, in the novel, often represents corruption, decay, and false gold. While Gatsby’s parties are golden, his car is a garish yellow, a symbol of his new money’s vulgarity and the moral emptiness at the heart of his pursuit. The car itself is a weapon of destruction, a physical manifestation of the carelessness of the wealthy.

The Role Of Tom Buchanan

Tom’s actions are particularly cruel. After the accident, he comforts Daisy and consolidates their relationship. Most damningly, when George Wilson comes to his house seeking the owner of the yellow car, Tom tells him it belongs to Gatsby and gives him Gatsby’s address. Tom knows George is armed and distraught. This act is essentially a death sentence for Gatsby.

The Consequences Of Myrtle Being Hit

The death of Myrtle Wilson sets off a chain reaction that resolves the novel’s primary conflicts.

George Wilson’s Grief and Vengeance: Driven mad by grief and believing the driver of the yellow car was also his wife’s secret lover, Wilson hunts down Gatsby. He finds Gatsby floating in his pool and shoots him before turning the gun on himself.
The End Of Gatsby’s Dream: Gatsby’s death is the final end of his dream. He dies waiting for a phone call from Daisy that will never come, still believing he could recapture the past.
The Escape of Tom and Daisy: In the aftermath, Tom and Daisy Buchanan simply disappear. They retreat into their wealth, leaving the destruction they caused behind. Nick observes they were “careless people… they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money.”
Nick’s Disillusionment: This sequence of events completes Nick’s disillusionment with the East Coast and the empty lives of the wealthy elite. He decides to return home to the Midwest.

Why This Scene Remains So Memorable

The image of Myrtle being hit by the yellow car is powerful for several reasons. It is the violent, sudden intersection of the novel’s two worlds: the valley of ashes and the world of extreme wealth. It is not a clean event; it’s messy, brutal, and driven by a series of misunderstandings and emotional failures. The scene encapsulates Fitzgerald’s major critique:

The rich are protected by their wealth.
The poor suffer the consequences of the rich’s actions.
The American Dream is shown to be hollow and dangerous.

In film adaptations, this moment is always a visual centerpiece, emphasizing the shock and brutality of the impact. The 2013 film by Baz Luhrmann, for example, portrays it in slow motion, highlighting Myrtle’s desperate hope and the terrible instant of realization.

Common Misconceptions About The Scene

Given the complexity, some details are often misremembered.

Misconception: Gatsby was driving the car. Reality: Daisy was driving, though Gatsby claimed responsibility.
Misconception: The car hit Myrtle on purpose. Reality: It was a tragic accident caused by Myrtle running into the road and Daisy’s panicked, careless driving.
Misconception: Tom knew Daisy was driving when he sent Wilson to Gatsby. Reality: Tom likely suspected, but his primary goal was to protect himself and Daisy by directing Wilson’s anger toward Gatsby.

Key Themes Highlighted By The Event

Myrtle’s death is a focal point for the novel’s central themes.

Carelessness: This is the dominant theme. Daisy’s careless driving, Tom’s careless affair and lies, and the overall careless attitudes of the wealthy lead directly to multiple deaths.
The Corruption of the American Dream: Myrtle, like Gatsby, is chasing a dream of upward mobility. Her affair is her version of it. Her violent death symbolizes how that dream can be fatal for those not born into privilege.
Class and Social Stratification: The accident starkly illustrates the rigid class barriers. Myrtle, from the valley of ashes, is literally destroyed by a symbol of Gatsby’s new money, operated by old money (Daisy).
Moral Decay: The aftermath shows a complete lack of accountability from Tom and Daisy, highlighting the moral emptiness behind their glamorous facade.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What Book Is The Quote “Myrtle Hit By A Yellow Car” From?

The scene is from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s *The Great Gatsby*. It is a novel required reading in many schools, which is why the reference is so widely recognized.

Who Actually Drove The Car That Hit Myrtle Wilson?

Daisy Buchanan was driving Gatsby’s yellow Rolls-Royce when it stuck and killed Myrtle. Jay Gatsby later told the narrator, Nick Carraway, that he planned to say he was driving to protect Daisy.

Why Did Myrtle Wilson Run In Front Of The Yellow Car?

Myrtle ran into the street because she saw the distinctive yellow car and mistook it for Tom Buchanan’s vehicle. She was trying to flag down Tom, who was her lover, as she had been fighting with her husband and was in a state of high emotion.

What Is The Significance Of The Car Being Yellow In The Great Gatsby?

The color yellow in the novel often symbolizes corruption, decay, and false gold. Gatsby’s yellow car represents his flashy, new money wealth, which is ultimately hollow. Its role in the accident turns it into a symbol of the destructive power of that carelessness.

How Does Myrtle’s Death Affect The Plot Of The Great Gatsby?

Myrtle’s death is the catalyst for the novel’s climax. It leads her husband, George Wilson, to murder Jay Gatsby (believing he was both the driver and Myrtle’s lover) and then commit suicide. It also solidifies the alliance between Tom and Daisy, who retreat from the tragedy, leaving Nick to handle the aftermath.