Why Is Tom Important In The Great Gatsby

However, to be part of the American dream, and the right social class it was almost impossible to create a perfect 'glittering surface ' that would make you a part of this materialistic society. Gatsby, constantly working on his 'glittering surface ' to become a part of this society, tries to perfect the elements of his American dream, which included financial success, material acquisitions, proper self-image, and social status. The most fashionable financial situation is "old money", meaning that you have been born into a large wealth and therefore do not need to work to support yourself. Tom and Daisy are in this classification, along with the rest of fashionable East Egg. Daisy was born into a life of wealth and privilege in Louisville and has no reason to trouble herself in anything involving the slightest bit of work. This almost makes it seem as her life is void of meaning, "What 'll we do with ourselves this afternoon?" cried Daisy, "and the day after that, and the next thirty years?" Gatsby, on the other hand is the complete contrast of this. He is in the less fashionable, but certainly tolerable "new money" situation of West Egg. He has worked to acquire his wealth , even if he has done it through illegal means, "A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers, you know." He has built up a great wealth from nothing, as he was born into a common life, with nothing but a dream, or an

Most think that Gatsby and Tom are very different characters but they are the same in more ways than one would think. Both Gatsby and Tom use a lot of people in this novel. For example, Gatsby is only using Nick to get to Daisy. Gatsby uses other people as well; he only throws the parties to see if Daisy would come. Tom, like Gatsby, uses people. Tom used Daisy when he married her just so he could have someone to settle down with. When he meets Myrtle he realizes he truly does not love Daisy and he keeps Myrtle for sexual fulfilment. After Myrtle dies Tom runs off with Daisy because she is the only one that he has left. Both men live in luxury and both men think they should have Daisy. Both Gatsby and Tom will do almost anything and everything to get what

Being wealthy is one of the things that Tom and Gatsby have in common. For both of them, maintaining a high social status is a priority. They strive to be financially successful. Tom went to a wealthy school and he flaunts his money with expensive sports cars. Gatsby, on the other hand, shows his need for wealth when he quits

Tom believes that wealth is everything and that would be true in his case and anyone else who lived in that world at that time. Tom is nothing without his vast wealth. He would not have a beautiful wife like Daisy, he would not have the high socio-status that he enjoys now, he would never be able to afford that big villa and he could never have started an affair with anyone. Tom never worked for his wealth, he never did. Instead he was born into a very old but wealthy family and inherited all the money once his parents died. Nick says, “His Family were enormously wealthy…” This was the common way for all the wealthy, elite class people to get their money in the 1920s. After the Great War there was a new group of wealthy socialites that came flooding in all around America. Gatsby and Jordan Baker are

Both Gatsby and Tom live a very flashy life. They’re both able to flaunt and spend money anytime they want. They can both be spotted at a party, Gatsby, more laid back and elegant than most, while Tom on the other hand lives every moment to the fullest as soon as it presents itself. Both Tom and Gatsby’s dreams have been unjust in the manner in which they tried to achieve them. This resulted from the crazy desire for money and

The difference in the interactions Nick and Gatsby have with Tom Buchanan show the difference in their perspectives on wealth. Nick is a friend of Tom. He visits Tom and Daisy at their home, and Tom trusts him enough to invite him to the small, intimate, gathering with only his mistress and the McKees. Nick doesn’t like to spend time with Tom; he says as they drive through the city “Hold on… I have to leave you here” (28). He didn’t have any particular reason to go, but he simply could not stand being with Tom in that car for any longer. His reaction to the party in Tom’s apartment is similar. He “wanted to get out” (35), but something restrained him. He wants to leave, but he is “within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled” (35) but Tom’s party. Gatsby’s reaction however, is different. He doesn’t entertain Tom or even try to engage with him. Nick speaks briefly to Tom then looks over to Gatsby and he’s simply “no longer there” (74). Gatsby and Tom are superficially similar. They both

First, love is a major element expressed through both Tom and Gatsby. They both share a love for Daisy, however, their love is portrayed differently. Tom loves Daisy, but she does not love him back the same amount.

In the movie it shows how Gatsby became rich by showing newspapers with Gatsby’s name on the front cover saying that he was gaining a lot of money. Besides this reason of Tom and Gatsby being different, there is still a reason why they are

Gatsby is more caring and giving . While Tom is more selfish , arrogant. For example, tom wanted to investigate on gatsby when he found out they knew each other. Gatsby is very obsessed with daisy so much that he bought a house just so that daisy would one day come over. ”Gatsby bought that house so that daisy would be just across the bay.

The west eggers on the other hand would do anything to be looked at as equal as their foes. The whole idea that inherited money meant more then earned money was more important then if you even had money at all. Tom, when realizing the lust that Gatsby and daisy were hiding for each other, was angrier at the fact that she would associate let along long to be with someone from the "west egg". This whole notion of the expectations that the East eggers had for the wealthy and rich society of New York were constantly strived toward by the west eggers driving some, such as Gatsby mad with greed and corrupting both societies from the inside out. Gatsby constantly strived to lead a rich and glamorous life to impress people like the long time wealthy such as daisy, corrupting him form a young age which he carried throughout his whole life.

At first glance Gatsby and Tom are very different. Gatsby is the “good guy”, the guy who wanted to be something, who wanted to be someone. The guy who like most guys fell in love with a girl but something was holding him back. He wanted to make something of himself before he went back to her but by the time he had done so it was to late. Tom on the other

All the while The Great Gatsby has three different settings. East Egg is where all the old money people live with their big and fancy houses and their snobby characteristics who think they are better than everyone else. The second place is the West Egg. This is where all the new found glory, rich people live. The people who get bullied by the East Egg people because they have not had their money for a long time.

Like East Egg and West Egg, they are both modern and uprising communities of New York. East Egg is where Daisy and Tom live. A place where people that are well educated, have a high status stay. Their origins have also come from the lavish and rich inheritance of American society. This is what is known as ‘Old Money’ people, the kind that defiance the poor. West Egg, is where Nick caraway and Gatsby lives. They are also wealthy people, but with a different background. Jay Gatsby is uneducated, but a rising newcomer in the fireball of wealth. As a comparison to the East Eggers, the west side lacks the polish standards of choice. Although Gatsby is kind hearted in the inside, he will always be an outsider to the high class. Because it wasn’t meant to be, it was a miracle from the roots of where he is from. One of the many themes from this book is presented in the movie from the angles of East Egg and West

Tom only cares for himself and does not care about who he manipulates as long as he is happy. Gatsby on the other hand does care for himself and his one and only goal is to win back the heart of Daisy, the only women whom he ever loved. Both men take pride in their wealth and take every opportunity to boast about it or show it off. At the end of the story, when Tom and Gatsby meet. You could feel the tension between the two of them and both of them were very eager to show off what they bought or elaborate on what they bought.

The obvious of course is that they are both in love with a beautiful woman named Daisy. Even though they have similar interests i think that they are still very different from each other for instance their money. Gatsby is rich but Tom is wealthy, this was symbolised