Struggles In The Great Gatsby

Power Struggles

Papa Eugene and Tom Buchanan, two men living in very different environments, are both in pursuit of the same desire: power. Power is extremely sought after, especially by men fighting for influence over their loved ones and others in their communities. Tom Buchanan is from a prominent family and is constantly looking to maintain, if not expand, his influence over Daisy and others. Papa desires power and superiority over others due to his extreme religious beliefs, which are twisted by his strong sense of self-righteousness. Throughout the novels Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Tom and Papa exhibit similar behaviors surrounding the ideas of power. Whether it is a sense

The two men exemplify the oppressive nature of a patriarchal society and the effects of assertive dominance on influence and support.

Tom Buchanan, a man of old money, expresses a sense of superiority rooted in familial success, racial status, and gender because of his traditional ideas. Throughout the entire novel, Tom presents himself as an arrogant, powerful white man who is entitled to wealth and prosperity. While meeting Nick, Daisy’s cousin, for the first time, Tom immediately began sharing his extremely controversial ideas. He warns the guests, “It’s up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out. This idea is that we’re Nordics. I am, and you are, and we’ve produced all the things that go to make civilization” (13). Tom is a white supremacist who believes white people, especially men, are the key to civilization's success. He believes in the white dominant race and how he must now take charge of leading society by spreading information. Not only does Tom see himself as the superior race, but he also presents himself as superior due to his old money stature. He observes Gatsby’s massive party and begins to question, “Who

Throughout Papa’s childhood, extremist religious beliefs were forced upon him during his time enrolled in an abusive missionary school. Papa Nnukwu recalls his observation of a lesson at school, “They said he was the son, but that the son and the father are equal. It was then that I knew the white man was mad. The father and the son are equal? That is why Eugene can disregard me, because he thinks we are equal” (84). The missionary school forcefully pushed ideas upon many children, Papa Eugene being one of them, and influenced their behaviors. Papa Eugene now treats his father with barely any respect, he does not greet him or allow Kambili and Jaja to spend a sufficient amount of time with him. Papa Eugene also views whiteness as superior, presumably because God is portrayed as a white man. Papa would purposely change his Igbo accent to a British accent while speaking in public or specifically to Father Benedict, the white priest. As Kambili recalls, “He was gracious, in the eager-to-please way that he always assumed with the religious, especially with the white religious” (46). Papa was “eager” to appeal to Father Benedict because he hoped to be viewed as “whiter” and above the other Igbo people in their community. Papa would also express to his children that the Igbo “priorities were wrong; we cared too much about huge church buildings and mighty statues. You would never