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How Is Tom Buchanan Selfish

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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. Buchanan is a deceiving man who uses his power and wealth to give himself permission to do whatever immoral injustice. Its not enough for him to own a mistress, but he brandishes her “wherever he was known” (28), making sure that everyone sees her with him and couldn’t care whatsoever with Daisy finding out. He couldn’t have been more eager but to introduce Nick, his cousin-in-law, to Myrtle. “We’re getting off! He insisted, I want you to meet my girl” (28). Overall, he uses his social status to monopolize those around him. …show more content…

He is very inconsiderate, who lacks compassion and morality. Even though he knows that cheating is wrong, “Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (41). This led from Myrtle enragedly yelling “Daisy” repeatedly, giving Buchanan a constant reminder of what he is doing is wrong; nonetheless, he continues to do it anyway. Clearly, this pageants his very immature personality who always stubbornly has one thing set to his mind, that he is always right and everyone else is simply wrong. Therefore, Buchanan could care less about what other people

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If his mind is not occupied by his mistress Myrtle, he is drowning in thoughts of Gatsby’s suspected crime-filled life. “Indeed, Tom Buchanan's sources appear most reliable in his characterization of Gatsby's drug store chain as ‘just small change’ compared to his stolen bonds” (Pauly 116). Buchanan is a hypocrite towards Gatsby. He denounces Gatsby’s life actions as being morally evil but Tom’s actions are no different than Gatsby’s in the sense that both men are unfaithful to themselves and their nearest relationships. Tom is competing with Gatsby through deception and treachery, and their dangerous habits wound them

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