In Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby,” Nick Carroway first meets Tom Buchanan in person. This encounter provides a clear impression of Tom. According to Nick, Tom is described as a “violent body,” indicating that he is a man of action who relies on his actions to speak for him. Additionally, Nick observes that Tom is often leaning aggressively forward and carries himself with a supercilious manner. These details suggest that Tom views himself as superior to Nick and indicates that he possesses aggressive qualities. When considering Tom’s “violent body” in conjunction with his demeanor, it becomes clear that he is someone I prefer to avoid.
The text highlights Tom’s arrogant behavior when he tries to assert his authority over George Wilson following Myrtle Wilson’s accident. He proudly declares, “That car belonged to Gatsby, George Gatsby.” It is worth noting that Tom previously attempted to manipulate George by offering to sell him Gatsby’s car, which demonstrates his lack of concern for others and his willingness to exert control. These actions only increase my lack of respect for Tom Buchanan and reinforce his desire to be in control of the situation, as evidenced by his words and actions.
Throughout “The Great Gatsby”, Tom exhibits a controlling nature, seeking to dictate how situations unfold and exerting his dominance over others. This is subtly conveyed in the line, “Tom opened the door forcefully, ‘Come on, I want you to meet my girl’”. The forceful manner in which Tom opened the door and his use of an imperative rather than a polite request to instruct Nick out of the car further intensify my dislike for Tom Buchanan. He quickly jumps to suspicions of Jay Gatsby being a bootlegger; upon their first encounter, Tom prejudges Gatsby, stating, “He’s a bootlegger.” This displays Tom’s snap judgment and tendency to degrade others based solely on Gatsby’s extravagant parties. Once again, my contempt for Tom Buchanan deepens. Following this assumption, Tom actively investigates Gatsby’s private life, claiming, “I know more about you than you think, I’ve got men on you.” Invading someone’s privacy is something I find absolutely terrible, solidifying my undeniable aversion to being in the company of Tom Buchanan.
Others also regard Tom Buchanan in a negative light. They describe him as “careless, supercilious, hulking”. All these points emphasize the awful man that is Tom Buchanan. The final act that leaves no doubt that Tom Buchanan is an awful man is his carelessness for others and the physical harm he deals to people. His wife Daisy held up an injured finger and said “you did this Tom… That’s what I get for marrying a brute of a man… hulking.” Tom disregards the statement and leaves to talk to the woman he is having an affair with.
Fitzgerald’s portrayal of Tom Buchanan solidifies my conviction that he is an utterly repugnant individual. The author accomplishes this by illustrating Tom’s propensity for harming others, his indifference to public opinion, and his insatiable desire for wealth and dominance. Tom Buchanan can be encapsulated by the following quote: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy. They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, leaving others to clean up the mess they had made.”
