The Dark Side of Wealth: Examining the Cruel Character of Tom Buchanan [2024]

Tom Buchanan is a character from the novel The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. He is portrayed as a wealthy and powerful man who comes from an established family. Tom is a powerful figure in the novel, both physically and financially; however, his character is also defined by his cruelty and arrogance.

Tom is described as powerfully built and handsome, but beneath his handsome exterior lies a cruel and arrogant personality. Tom has no regard for the feelings of those around him, treating them with disdain and disrespect. He speaks of racism and sexism openly with no concern for those he may be offending or hurting. Furthermore, he believes that his wealth and power givs him the ability to bully those around him into submission.

Tom’s marriage to Daisy Buchanan is also marred by cruelty and abuse. He constantly belittles her in front of others, showing no respect for her or her opinions. This mistreatment of Daisy sets up one of the major conflicts in the novel: Gatsby’s pursuit of Daisy despite her already being married to Tom.

Tom also plays a major role in George Wilson’s downfall in the novel when he sets up Wilson to take the blame for Myrtle Wilson’s death. His manipulation of Wilson shows how little regard he has for other people’s feelings or lives – all that matters to him is protecting himself from any repercussions his actions might bring about.

Overall, Tom Buchanan is an unpleasant character who uses his power and position in society to get whatever he wants without considering anyone else’s feelings or wellbeing. His selfishness ultimately leads to tragedy in The Great Gatsby; demonstrating how unchecked greed can have devastating consequences on those around us.

Characteristics of Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan is a wealthy, privileged individual who uses his status to oppress those around him. He is arrogant, hypocritical, and regularly displays racist and sexist beliefs. Furthermore, he has no regard for the moral standards he expects of others and instead chooses to act as he pleases. He is also powerful physically, coming from a well-established family. All in all, Tom Buchanan is an inwardly corrupt person who puts on a facade of respectability while simultaneously perpetuating oppressive systems of power.

The Dark Side of Wealth: Examining the Cruel Character of Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan’s Flaw

Tom Buchanan’s most notable flaw is his cruelness. He has a deep-seated belief that his wealth and power gives him the right to bully and manipulate the people around him. This leads to him being overly aggressive and mean to his wife Daisy, as well as other characters such as George Wilson. He has no regard for other people’s feelings or their rights, often pushing them aside in order to get what he wants. His thoughtless behavior often results in hurtful words and actions, making it difficult for the people around him to trust or respect him.

Description of Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan is depicted as a wealthy, physically attractive man with a commanding presence. He is described as having a “cruel body,” muscular shoulders and a ruthless face. Additionally, he is often seen wearing expensive clothing and driving an extravagant car. Despite his wealth and good looks, Tom has an aggressive and violent streak. He has been known to become angry when people disagree with him or don’t do what he wants, leading to outbursts of violence. His wealth gives him the power to intimidate anyone around him, which he often does wthout hesitation. Though Tom’s wealth and physical appearance can command attention, his actions make it clear that he should not be underestimated or taken lightly.

Symbolic Representation of Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan symbolizes the excesses and selfishness of the wealthiest members of society. He is portrayed as an arrogant, entitled man who cares only about his own needs and desires, with no regard for anyone else. Tom uses his wealth to acquire whatever he wants and to avoid any consequences for his actions. Furthermore, he is dismissive of those who don’t share his financial status, showing a complete disregard for their feelings or opinions. Ultimately, Tom personifies the idea that money can buy someone power and privilege that goes unchecked by societal norms or laws.

The Abusive Nature of Tom in The Great Gatsby

Tom is abusive in The Great Gatsby mainly through physical violence. In the novel, Tom is shown punching Myrtle Wilson, Daisy’s lover. He also threatens her with a knife and breaks her nose. Additionally, Tom often manipulates Daisy emotionally and uses his power over her to control her actions. He does this by making threats or using intimidation tactics. Finally, he has a habit of belittling Daisy and not taking her seriously, further demonstrating his abusive behavior towards her.

The Selfish Nature of Tom in The Great Gatsby

Tom is a prime example of selfishness in The Great Gatsby. Throughout the novel, Tom demonstrates his selfishness by boasting about his wealth and bragging about his mistress just to make Nick feel inferior. He is also unwilling to recognize the validity of anyone else’s opinion, often lashing out in violent fits of rage when things do not go his way. Additionally, he shows no remorse for the consequences that his actions have on other people, including Daisy’s husband and Nick’s cousin, making him apear even more selfish and uncompassionate. Tom’s selfishness is further demonstrated when he tries to force Daisy to choose between him and Gatsby; he does not care who she chooses as long as it is not Gatsby. Ultimately, Tom’s arrogance and self-centered behavior are what lead to the tragic ending of The Great Gatsby.

The Real Villain in ‘The Great Gatsby’

The real villain in The Great Gatsby is Tom Buchanan. He is portrayed as a wealthy, arrogant, and violent man who stands between Jay Gatsby and the woman he loves, Daisy Buchanan. Tom uses his power to manipulate and control those around him, espcially Daisy. He embodies the worst aspects of unchecked wealth and entitlement, going so far as to have an affair with another woman while Daisy remains devoted to him. His blasé attitude about his infidelity and lack of respect for his wife’s feelings reinforces his status as the novel’s primary antagonist. In addition to Tom’s destructive behavior, he also serves as a symbol of the moral decay of the upper class in 1920s America.

Daisy’s Choice of Tom Over Gatsby

Daisy chose Tom over Gatsby because she felt a sense of security and stability in her life with him. Tom was wealthy, had a good reputation, and could provide Daisy with the material comforts she desired. He also offered her marriage and social status whereas Gatsby could not. Moreover, Daisy’s feelings towards Gatsby had become more complex and conflicted as time had passed, making it difficult for her to make a decision. Ultimately, Daisy decided that the traditional lifestyle with Tom would be the safer option for her, even if it meant sacrificing her love for Gatsby.

The Impact of Tom’s Bullying in The Great Gatsby

Tom is a bully in The Great Gatsby because he uses his physical strength and social status to intimidate and manipulate those around him. He frequently manipulates Daisy’s feelings by flaunting his affairs with other women, and he often speaks down to her in an arrogant manner. He also uses his wealth and power to bully Gatsby, going so far as to challenge him to a fight when Gatsby refuses to back down from Daisy. Tom also speaks down to George Wilson, calling him “stupid” for not understanding the truth about Tom’s affair with Myrtle. He even goes so far as to threaten George if he tres to do anything about it. In addition, Tom bullies Myrtle by refusing to take responsibility for his part in her death, leaving her husband George distraught with grief. Ultimately, Tom’s bullying behavior creates a tense atmosphere throughout the novel that leaves many of the characters feeling powerless against his influence.

Displaying Racism at Dinner: Tom’s Actions

Tom displays his racism at dinner by making comments that are derogatory and offensive towards minorities. He expresses his views on the “dominant white race” being in danger of being overwhelmed by people of other races and backgrounds. He talks about how certain cultures are not as “civilized” as others, and he makes it clear that he believes that one race is superior to all others. His words seem to cause an uncomfortable atmosphere at the dinner table, which is why Daisy leaves the room when Tom goes to answer the phone.

The Cruelty of Tom’s Body According to Nick

Nick said that Tom has a “cruel body” because of his immense physical strength. Tom had developed this strength through years of rigorous physical training as a college athlete, and it gives him an intimidating presence. His size and muscle mass make him seem almost invincible and his intimidating presence can be seen as a form of cruelty, as he is capable of dominating almost any situation with his sheer force.

Tom’s Lack of Responsibility for Gatsby’s Death

Tom is not responsible for Gatsby’s death as he was only indirectly involved. Tom did not physically kill Gatsby, but rather manipulated Wilson into believing that Gatsby was the one responsible for his wife’s death. Despite Tom’s lie and deceit, Wilson still made the ultimate decision to take Gatsby’s life. Therefore, Tom cannot be held responsible for the death of Gatsby.

Tom’s Reaction to Gatsby’s Death

Tom is deeply affected by Gatsby’s death, feeling that it was an unfortunate but inevitable result of the events that had transpired. He recognizes that Gatsby was ultimately responsible for his own demise, but wishes that he himself had been the one to die instead. Ultimately, Tom feels a great deal of sorrow and regret over Gatsby’s death.

The Immorality of Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan is immoral in many ways. To begin with, he is selfish and careless towards his wife Daisy, as evidenced by his leaving her alone only one hour ater the birth of their child without any financial or emotional support. Furthermore, he cheats on Daisy with a young woman named Myrtle Wilson, which shows a complete lack of respect for the sanctity of marriage. He is also physically abusive towards Myrtle, hitting her in the face when she mentions Daisy’s name. Lastly, Tom displays a blatant disregard for social conventions, as he makes racist remarks about African Americans and has an elitist attitude towards people from lower classes than his own. All these examples demonstrate how Tom’s immoral behavior stems from his overconfidence and ignorance due to his wealth and power.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tom Buchanan is a prime example of the entitled and privileged few in society. He represents the worst aspects of American wealth, power, and privilege. His arrogant and hypocritical attitudes are laced with racism and sexism, and he has an abusive nature that allows him to bully and dominate those around him. He has no redeeming qualities, showing no concern for morality or humanity. Ultimately, Tom Buchanan is a cautionary tale about how money can insulate people from consequences and allow them to act without any regard for others.