In the novel, ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the true villain is Tom. He portrays himself as the villain in the novel because of his affairs with the vulgar power, mistress, and self-centered behaviors. Tom Buchanan is the main antagonist in ‘The Great Gatsby’. A hostile and physically striking man, Tom represents the biggest barrier between Gatsby and Daisy's reunion.
First, Tom is considered the villain throughout the novel due to his vulgar power, in particular at Gatsby’s party with Myrtle. The party incited alarm as seen, “Daisy! Daisy! Daisy! Shouted Mrs. Wilson. I’ll say it whenever I want to! Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald, 37). Tom loses his temper at the party because he feels threatened when Myrtle raises her voice to him so he punched her. Tom believes that he needs to have all the power and attention possible and if that does not occur Tom starts to abuse the power that he already has and he also starts to get really irritated with people. Tom also prevents Jay Gatsby from living a joyful and easy life. Tom gets into Gatsby’s head throughout the novel and also denies him Daisy and he takes actions that lead to Gatsby’s death. He is considered rich, restless and cruel by many characters in the novel.
Next, Tom creates multiple conflicts due to his actions with his mistress. Tom believes that the world should revolve around him, that everyone should worship him and everything he does. Most characterized by his physical appearance and mental stubbornness. Tom can be characterized as a 'cruel body' with 'immense power', his strength and body was gained when he was a college athlete. Tom's strength and fullness give him an air of danger and aggression, as when he hurts Daisy's finger and she starts calling him a “man's brute, a great, big, hulking physical specimen…” (Fitzgerald, 144). Tom's physical appearance is echoed in the way he thinks about the world and his mental inflexibility. Just as Tom uncritically repeats racist things he's read in books, his troubled marriage with Daisy remains unshakable. Even after it becomes clear that both Tom and Daisy have cheated each other at the end of the book, Tom stubbornly maintains that they always have love for each other.
Lastly, Tom feels he is above everyone and others around him should praise him. His self-centered attitude is portrayed when he is competing for anything, especially Daisy’s love. Tom quotes, “I’ll be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless you brought the groceries to the back door. But all the rest of that’s a goddamn lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now” (Fitzgerald, 131). Jealousy got the best of Tom and believed that if Daisy truly loved him then he beat Gatsby. Tom feels he is above Gatsby due to his financial equities, he will not have to deal with the negative problems. He forces Daisy to love him and only him and has no respect for Gatsby.
In conclusion, Tom is considered the villain in the novel. He shows many vulgar and self-centered actions. He wanted to feel as if he was in control of the world and if he did not get his way he would latch out on others. Tom grew up being a football star, but after that spotlight ended, everything else in Tom’s life felt like ‘an anti-climax’. He did not want to be looked at as nothing, he wanted people to cherish him.
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Tom Buchanan as a Villain in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’.
(2022, December 15). Edubirdie. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/tom-buchanan-as-a-villain-in-f-scott-fitzgeralds-the-great-gatsby/
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