Perry Gratsias Mr Sarracini ENG4U1 June 2, 2023 Unveiling the Flaws of the American Dream through Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a powerful indictment of the American Dream, showing the corruption and emptiness that may emerge from its pursuit. In order to examine how Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby's perspectives towards the American Dream differ and how they play a part in highlighting Fitzgerald's critique, this essay will compare and contrast the two main characters. Gatsby stands for the optimism and hope that inspire people to chase the American Dream, whereas Tom represents the upper class's disenchantment and materialistic tendencies. The opposition of Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby reveals Fitzgerald's …show more content…
Tom, who belongs to the ruling class, takes great pleasure in his inherited money and displays an attitude of entitlement. He exhibits a lack of empathy and an unethical disposition by using his money to exercise dominance over others. He says, "I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife," as he debates Daisy. You may rule me out if that's the plan, then" (Fitzgerald 130). This passage emphasizes Tom's sense of superiority and his dismissal of Gatsby's newly acquired money and social standing. The self-made Gatsby, on the other hand, amasses his money by illegal methods because he wants to win back Daisy, his ex-girlfriend. Although Gatsby seems to have a great goal, his obsession with material things ultimately leads to his corruption. "There was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights," Nick recalls of his lavish gatherings. Men and women came and departed in his blue grounds "like moths amid whisperings and champagne and stars" (Fitzgerald 39). This quotation sums up Gatsby's extravagant and showy parties, where his money and extravagance hide his underlying desperation and lack of meaningful …show more content…
Tom prides himself on his riches as a sign of his superiority and is confident in his place in society. He adheres to social norms and cherishes relationships, never challenging the status quo. Tom says, "I've got a nice place here... It belonged to Demaine the oil man" as he exerts his authority during a confrontation with Gatsby (Fitzgerald 109). This passage emphasizes Tom's attitude of entitlement and his desire to outrank Gatsby in society. In contrast, Gatsby's constant quest of money and fame is motivated by his ambition to rise above his lowly background and win the respect of society. He creates an ostentatious image and organizes expensive parties in an effort to blend in with a society that will never truly embrace him. Gatsby had traveled far to reach this bluegrass, and Nick muses on his dreams, "He had come a long way to this blue lawn and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it" (Fitzgerald 180). This quotation captures Gatsby's intense desire for social approval and his conviction that material success and social standing will help him bridge the gap between his present and the future he dreams
Distance from emotions creates a sense of safety that allows careless behavior. Tom Buchanan portrays a distance of emotional detachment spanning from West Egg to the Valley of Ashes in “The Great Gatsby.” Through infidelity and lavish spending, carelessness extends past mere feelings to encompass worldly objects, and vice versa. The first indication of Tom Buchanan’s shallowness comes from the early dinner with Nick, Daisy and Jordan. Upon Nick’s questioning of who calls during the meal, Jordan replies with “Tom’s got some woman in New York.”
In F. Scott Fitzgeralds novel, The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald efficiently utilizes characterization of Tom to illustrate that possessing wealth comes at a cost such as violence and arrogance, thus destorying the general idea of the American Dream. Within this novel, it is clearly shown that Tom wants to keep his two lives with both his wife and mistress separate. When either of them discuss eachother, Tom becomes visibly irritated and upset. When Tom and Myrtle held a small party, Myrtle began to shout,” Daisy! Daisy!
In the novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald narrates about power, deception, and wealth. In this story, it parades how the rich pillages on others who they believe are below them and the unending inquiry of wealth. Tom Buchanan is a character who is introduced as a man of wealth; he is a very cold man, who never smiles, never laughs, and is never content with what he has in life. His character contributes to the theme of the novel by displaying his personality as one whose social demeanor is interweaved with sexism and has no moral apprehension.
The Great Gatsby is one tragic novel to read, The novel takes place in 1920’s New York in America with its cast of Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan’s, Daisy Buchanan. Each character in the novel has some flaws to them that we learn to see while reading throughout the book, we’re going to see how each character has to deal with their flaws and either keep going on to see how much worse it can become. Starting with Mr. Gatsby, When introduced to Gatsby, was told that he has this dream which is to get the attention of Daisy also with her love as well. The author ( Fitzgerald) took a turn and started to poetry Gatsby as this man that would chase Daisy, always pursuing her and praising her as well.
Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy, a member of this privileged class, is a reflection of his desire to advance socially and obtain acceptance from the privileged classes. Tom Buchanan, a member of the Old Money, serves as a vehicle for Fitzgerald to stress the sense of entitlement that comes with being born into a well-off family. Tom embodies the arrogance and cruelty of the upper class, using his wealth and power to control and manipulate those around him. Fitzgerald also critiques the American Dream through the character of Gatsby, who’s despite all his effort he is unable to escape his lower-class trappings, suggesting that the pursuit of wealth and status can lead to moral decay and disillusionment. Gatsby's obsession with his past and his longing for the unattainable Daisy ultimately leads to his tragic demise.
Gatsby’s desire to relive the past has caused him to obsess over the idea of being with Daisy and he now will sacrifice anything to be with her. Gatsby also comes from a poor background where he had to work to attain his status and influence. He lives in West Egg which is full of people with “new money” and is chasing the American Dream. He embodies the idea that hard work and dedication can wealth and success. On the other hand, Tom only wants to appear to have high social status because he believes it gives him more respect in society.
Although Gatsby attains an immense amount of wealth through dedicated work, he still faces class separation when he invites the Sloane’s and Buchanan’s over for dinner. Mrs. Sloane sarcastically ask him out for dinner, and he accepts but it is not a genuine invitation, "My God, I believe the man's coming, said Tom. Doesn't he know she doesn't want him?" (Fitzgerald 66). Gatsby cannot detect the social cues among the old money company, which alludes to the fact that he is not accepted.
Tom has a steady job and income to support his family. They have a beautiful home in East Egg and own many expensive possessions. However, Gatsby struggles with wanting to obtain old money so that he can live up to Daisy’s expectations. Tom’s “old money” has power beyond anything that Gatsby can offer Daisy. Gatsby thinks that he loves Daisy for who she really is when he is truly blindsided by his wealth (Bunce).
In The Great Gatsby Tom's character is used to show the moral decay and corruption of the upper class and the way he gets away with what he wants in the end. Tom shows the hypocritical nature of those who boast their wealth and privilege while committing non-moral behavior. He beats his wife and cheats with no consequence or confrontation about what he does, simply because he is in the class position he is, Tom seems to do whatever he wants. From a Marxist perspective due to Tom's social class he presumes to continue these unethical acts that simply have no consequences for him. "I've got my hands full," he said.
He lives in a huge mansion of great enormity that sits on forty acres of land. Moreover, He owns a Rolls Royce, dresses well, and hosts weekly luxurious parties at his home. ‘Anything can happen now that we’ve slid over this bridge,’ I thought; ‘anything at all….’(p.69). This quote shows how Gatsby’s ability to achieve seems unlimited to Nick, and the idea that has become related to America and New York as the land of Dreams and opportunity. They felt that they can achieve all their Dreams of success and wealth in
Throughout The Great Gatsby social prejudices and entitlement are made apparent through the dialogue and actions of characters. After spending most of the day outside, Tom, Nick, Daisy, Jordan, and Gatsby decide to rest and have some drinks in a hotel room. While they are resting an argument occurs between Tom and Gatbsy, in which Tom reveals how he feels he is entitled to Daisy’s love and focus, and comments negatively on intermarriage. Whilst in the middle of the argument, Tom states, “I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr.Nobody from Nowhere make love your wife.” (Fitzgerald 130), and, “Well if that’s the idea you can count me out . . .”
His greed for money and power is always present. Interestingly, Gatsby describes her voice as “full of money” displaying his desire for Daisy as really just a further desire for wealth and money. He is objectifying Daisy by equating her to more money and power. Fitzgerald exposes Gatsby for solely thinking about the benefits to his wealth. Furthermore, Nick realizes how Gatsby fails Daisy, saying he had “taken her under false pretenses [...] he let her believe that he was a person from much the same strata as herself—that he was fully able to take care of her” (149).
Despite Tom’s wife being one of the most sought over women of the East Egg, he still disregards her feelings and has an affair that he doesn’t even bother to keep secret. Because he eulogizes himself that much. Tom refuses to acknowledge any faults he has throughout the book; including cheating on Daisy, breaking Myrtle’s nose, and assisting in the Death of Gatsby. His privilege is used as a shield from the violent nature of his character. Fitzgerald represented Tom as a motif for everything that is wrong with the class and status system; how privilege can get into your
The audience is frequently introduced to Tom Buchanan during the film, a character that plays the part in numerous different roles, none greater than being Gatsby’s biggest threat and rival. Tom has everything that Gatsby has, with one major exception; his wealth was inherited from family at birth. Society accepts this, mainly out of its jealousy and eagerness to have similar success. Thus Tom enjoys numerous friends, a wife (whom Gatsby particularly desires as his own), and even a mistress as a result. In a scene portrayed where Tom and Gatsby are fighting over Daisy, Gatsby’s questionable source of wealth comes up, which Tom takes advantage of to win back
Physically, he is a “body capable of enormous leverage.” One gets the sense that this is an able bodied man who is fascinated with his wealth and sexual feelings. More telling, however, are Tom’s own words that describe his anger towards Gatsby, “I won’t let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife.” Such a line reveals a sort of arrogance, perhaps ingrained in him through years of opulent living and hanging out in high social circles. His disdain for Gatsby only grows, and such anger begins to bleed into Tom’s perception of society itself: “Throw everything out the door and have intermarriage black and white” The racist undertones reveal Tom’s frustration that has reached the point of bigotry.