Mr. Tom Buchanan In Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

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Tom Buchanan Mr. Tom Buchanan is the classic representation of American greed in the nineteen twenties '. In the novel The Great Gatsby, Toms role is of the powerful, reckless, controlling, and cheating husband to Daisy Buchanan. Tom is of the upper class, he is proud of his old money, of where he lives, and his white race. Mr. Fitzgerald described Tom as a manipulator this being the worst of his qualities. Everything around Tom is destructive. These qualities were accepted in the nineteen twenties as the standard for a man, with enormous wealth. Mr. Fitzgerald wrote Toms character with no light of hope. Tom is the bad guy and no sliver of empathy can be given to Tom, because of his reckless behavior. Mr. Fitzgerald 's description of Tom is of a big powerful man. " Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body-He seemed to fill those glistening boots until he strained the top lacing, and you could see a great pack of muscles shifting when his shoulders moved under his thin coat". (pg. 7) …show more content…

Tom wanted to have everyone under control, starting with his wife Daisy, he took care of Daisy and did not allow her to think for herself much less be financially independent. Myrtle was also dependent on Tom financially, he would pay for gifts for her and the apartment in New York that they stayed in, that was his way of controlling her. He also tried to control George, he promised to sell George his old car. George could fix it and sell it and go west. Tom knew George wanted to get his wife away from the valley of ashes and away from Tom. "That’s why I have been bothering about the car". Tom knew he was in control of George and Myrtles future. The novel also states that "Turning me around by one arm" he grabbed Nick by the arm and moved him like a piece in a chess game. Tom was physically controlling Nick. Tom enjoyed shoeing off his pwer and