Tom's Manipulation Quotes In The Great Gatsby Essay

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While George was the man that ended Gatsby's life and the man who ended up pulling the trigger, Tom plays a huge role in planning the events leading up to Gatsby's death. Tom’s manipulation, recklessness and actions created a chain of events that led to the death of Gatsby. It is 100% a fact that he holds the responsibility for the death of Jay Gatsby. In chapter 7 of The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan manipulates Daisy and Gatsby by bringing up Gatsby's background and true character. Tom says to Daisy “he and Wolfsheim brought up a lot of side street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him up as a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn’t far wrong”(Fitzgerald,141). This changed everything that Daisy knew about Gatsby. At that point in time, her view of him completely changed, causing problems and tension in their relationship. Tom also called him “Mr. Nobody from Nowhere”(Fitzgerald 137) further downgrading Gatsby character and status. Multiple instances like these demonstrate Tom’s true character, his manipulative behavior and his role in influence …show more content…

Tom’s affair with Myrtle Wilson is a prime example of his disregard for the impact of his actions on others. Despite being married to Daisy, Tom had a huge affair with Myrtle, visiting her multiple times a month, showing no concern for the emotion it would cause his wife Daisy. This affair led directly to the event that happened in New York leading to the death of Myrtle. “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy, they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money on their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made”(Fitzgerald, 187). Tom’s recklessness and refusal to consider what his actions do to those around him set the stage for the climax of the