Tom Buchanan In The Great Gatsby

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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.” The ready answer Jordan has, put alongside her lack of specifics, shows both Tom’s lack of attempt to hide he existence, but how little he cares on the inside who specifically he enters affairs with.

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