Wealth In The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the reader is immediately struck by Tom Buchannan’s wealth. He believes he is intrinsically superior and can afford to treat others poorly. Tom physically bullies others and discriminates against their wealth and social status. Tom represents “old money” and how his vast wealth strengthened his arrogance to look down on everyone. When Tom first meets Nick Carraway, he says, “‘Now, don’t think my opinion on these matters is final,’ he seemed to say, ‘just because I’m stronger and more of a man than you are’” (7). This shows how Tom treats everyone in a worse manner. Gender does not play a role in his reason for treating others worse. He is a misogynist who believes his wealth protects him from the

This is because Tom’s inherited money causes him to feel the need to have control over everything and causes him to become spoiled and behave negatively toward women. He has affairs with many women of the lower class, bossing them around, thinking that he is above them. During the party in New York, when Myrtle keeps shouting Daisy’s name, Tom, “making a short deft movement, [he] broke her nose with his open hand” (37), showing how he treats people of the lower class. Tom believes that since he provides for Myrtle and supports her with luxury items, he can do whatever he wants, including breaking her nose when she disobeys his commands. Tom believes he does not have to worry about any consequences of his actions because his money will always protect

During Nick’s first encounter with Tom at Tom’s house, he meets Jordon, a friend of Daisy, who tells Nick, “‘Don’t talk. I want to hear what happens’… ‘You mean to say you don’t know?’ said Miss Baker, honestly surprised. ‘I thought everyone knew’”(14-15) when Tom goes to speak with his mistress on the phone. Tom makes it very obvious about the situation with him and Myrtle because he does not believe it will bring any consequences to his marriage. Like when Daisy brings up Tom breaking her finger, Tom concentrates more on how he is described by Daisy instead of apologizing or acknowledging what has happened, showing his belief that he is not in the wrong. Lastly, when we learn that the chambermaid in Tom’s car broke her arm after Tom’s reckless driving, causing the front wheel to be ripped off, it shows how Tom doesn’t care for the safety of other people. Since they were chambermaids and not as wealthy as him, he never viewed them with respect or care. Through Tom’s interactions with female characters, he shows how his wealth has caused him to believe that he is above everyone else and that he can do whatever he