Analyze a character in your story. How are they characterized by the author? What is their role in the story? What do you think of them? Why?
Tom Buchanan
Nick Carraway's cousin-in-law, Tom Buchanan, is extremely wealthy. By American standards, he technically 'has it all'. Tom comes from an old, wealthy Chicago family. When Tom was in college, he enjoyed flaunting his money. He was one of the best football players when he played at Yale. Tom is married to Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan, who he is currently cheating on with Myrtle Wilson. He leads a luxurious life in East Egg by engaging himself in polo, riding horses, and driving fast cars. The author characterizes Tom as an arrogant, dominant, racist, and unfaithful person. Tom's role in The Great Gatsby is that of an antagonist in my opinion. I honestly cannot stand Tom because of his actions. He comes off as extremely snobby and rude. Not to mention that he is currently cheating on Nick's cousin, Daisy, and talks about his other lover, Myrtle, with Nick. Why would he talk about it to Nick when it's Nick's family that its happening to?! Tom is the kind of person who flaunts what he has and what he can get to Nick because he knows Nick cannot have it, therefore, making Tom feel superior and feeding his ego. I believe that Tom is a vulgar being who just needs to go away.
I feel the same way about Tom. He claims he has everything a man could want, but he goes behind Daisy's back with a girl that cannot even compare with the beautiful Daisy. He is a rude guy that does whatever he can to make sure everyone knows that he has everything, especially people that are of a lower class than him like Nick. Nick does not seem to judge Tom on his actions, but it does surprise me that Tom would even tell Nick about Myrtle, but he goes farther than that and brings Nick with them. I feel like Tom does not care for Daisy, and he is only with her because she fits the standards that he is supposed to have. Also, he is not trying to keep his affair a secret, and him telling Nick makes it seem like he wants Daisy to know. - Olivia Palotay
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your feelings for Tom. I think the only perpose he serves in the book is to be a constant antagonist, and to stir up trouble for Nick. I see him only as someone who snobbishly rubs his money in the face of others, is arrogant, and only wants to cause drama. I feel as though the only reason he keeps Daisy around, as opposed to dating many other women, is to save face since they have a daughter together. -Shayla McFarland
ReplyDeleteI think Tom needs to be brought down to Earth a little bit. He did graduate from Yale and was a stud football player and has it all now, but that doesn't mean he's a good person. Some of the most successful people of our time are arrogant. I think Tom is the antagonist of the story and I hope something bad happens to him by the end of the book.
ReplyDeleteJared Jorden ^^^^^
DeleteI agree with Jared. I feel that with age, Tom will eventually calm down. During this time, people with wealth were showing dominance over the less fortunate and making sure they knew about it. With this said, I think in later years, tom will come to the realization of the world and his actions when the Great Depression hits.
ReplyDelete--Luke Knollinger