Catherine is a minor character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. She is the sister of Myrtle Wilson, who is Tom Buchanan’s mistress. Catherine plays a small but significant role in the story, particularly in the scenes that take place in the apartment that Tom rents for Myrtle in New York City.
In the novel, Catherine is described as a “slender, worldly girl” who is around thirty years old. She is often seen at the parties that Tom and Myrtle host in their apartment. Catherine is aware of her sister’s affair with Tom and seems to support it, even though Myrtle is married to George Wilson. Catherine’s presence adds to the atmosphere of moral ambiguity and decadence that pervades the novel.
One of the key moments involving Catherine occurs during a party at the apartment, where she engages in a conversation with Nick Carraway, the novel’s narrator. During this conversation, Catherine reveals that both she and Myrtle believe that Tom will eventually leave his wife, Daisy, and marry Myrtle. This belief underscores the unrealistic expectations and illusions that many characters in the novel hold, which ultimately contribute to the tragic outcomes of the story.
Overall, Catherine’s character serves to highlight the themes of infidelity, social climbing, and the pursuit of the American Dream that are central to The Great Gatsby. While she is not a major character, her actions and beliefs provide insight into the lives and motivations of the other characters in the novel.