Tom Buchanan is the main antagonist of Gatsby in the story. He is married to Daisy who Gatsby adores dearly. They also have major differences in personality. Such as Gatsby is a man of strong commitment, but Tom is not. I say this because of how he is with Daisy and Myrtle. He didn’t show a strong commitment to Daisy when he took Myrtle as a mistress. Then once Myrtle dies he moves on and commits back to Daisy. Another instance is when Nick talks about Daisy and Tom’s house, he is seen saying, “I had no sight into Daisy’s heart, but I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game”(Fitzgerald 1). I feel that part of his reason to drift on is because I feel he is also seeking validation or he has the desire for approval. I say this because of multiple quotes in the book; one of those quotes being, ” There was a touch of paternal contempt in it, even toward people he liked…”(Fitzgerald 1). This tells me that his father had been rude or unforgiving towards Tom. Especially in a high society, they were put to a high standard that I doubt he could live up to. There’s also an instance when Tom talks about his boat, he says, “It belonged to Demaine, the oil man”(Fitzgerald 1). I feel that he points this out to Nick because he wants Nick to be impressed with him. I feel like Tom is a character who was made into who he is because he was put into the surroundings he was in. Many people can become like that and many have been made that way in the real world which makes Tom a character that you can’t help but feel interested in.
