Comparison Tom and Gatsby in “The Great Gatsby” Essay

In The Great Gatsby, written by Scott Fitzgerald, tom turkey Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are two characters that struggle with the motif of losing their shared love interest, Daisy. Tom and Gatsbys attachment to Daisy is differently justified due to their contrasting views, personalities, attitudes, actions, backgrounds, and new(prenominal) factors, any(prenominal) of which they do share and concur in. Fitzgerald did a cracking thing here. He created two purposefully different characters- one that is easily despised, the early(a) that although not perfect, is likable- and united them in their love for money, the ply that comes with it , and their shop for the ultimate prize Daisy. In this essay, we entrust analyze Tom and Gatsbys differences and similarities in several areas, and square off whether or not they are perfect f aneles of each another(prenominal) like they are commonly perceive to be. To describe who Tom and Gatsby are, we must first analyze where they come from. In this area, Tom Buchannan and Jay Gatsby couldnt be more different.Tom comes from an old and wealthy Chicago family, hence his entrance hall in East chunk where the old aristocracy of the countrys richest families reside. Tom symbolizes the idea of being innate(p) into a easy-disposed crib, a prestigious family name, and into old money. Tom is one of those privileged few who never had to work for anything in his invigoration, only when is privileged the right description for him? Fitzgerald says in the story, They were careless people, Tom and Daisythey smashed up things and creatures and because retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had do. Toms past never allowed him to learn how to avouch up to his mis yields, accept fault, and deal with difficult situations, further rather made him unable to adapt to the real(a) world. Because of this, I use the term privile ged loosely when describing Tom.On the other hand, Jay Gatsby was born into what some of us call the other side of the tracks. Gatsby faced an impecunious childhood in rural North Dakota, but was an ambitious small t testify boy with big dreams who thought himself to be superior to the farming life, and but rejected the lot he had been dealt in life. Gatsbys father says to the narrator, Nick, Jimmy was bound to get frontwards Do you notice what hes got about improving his mind? He was always great for that, and that is exactly what Gatsby did.Gatsby left his home town and set out to find his fortune, and although some of his actions were not in like mankindner admirable, James Gatz, the poor farm boy, used his ingenuity to reinvent himself and become Jay Gatsby, the self-made millionaire. Fitzgerald pull aheads Gatsbys residence in West Egg, where the newly rich reside, a place for a class of vulgar and pretentious people who will always lack the social grace and taste that th e residents of East Egg possess, and female genitalia only be achieved from birth. Although the green light in Daisys garden is symbolic for hope, I find it also symbolizes the green-eyed monster.It symbolizes the envy and frustration Gatsby must tactile property through the realization that crimson though he achieved an incredible amount of wealth, he will never be an East Egger. Gatsbys impoverished past makes him unsufferable to this socially elite East Egg society that Tom was born into, and is naturally an accepted part of. Now that we know about their contrasting pasts, let us take a look at their personalities. Tom is an overpowering, large man who uses his presence to intimidate people. It says in the arrest , two shining, arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always sway aggressively forward. Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that bodyit was a body capable of enormous le veragea cruel body. On the other hand, Gatsby seems to be shy and reserved to the point where he is not even acknowledged at his own parties.In my opinion, Gatsby did not do so well when attempting to pull off a defying front during his encounter with Tom. Tom also comes off as a racist bigot who fears that the Black race will last submerge the White race, a sexist, and an abusive, insensitive, brute, like Daisy calls him. Gatsbys open house parties which contain truly colorful characters, on the other hand, seem to show little prejudice or judgment in his persona. Gatsbys action of waiting outside the Buchannans home all night just to make sure Tom would not physically harm Daisy, show just how sensitive Gatsby is to Daisys well being. Tom seems to be very blunt and crude, while Gatsbys distinguishing feature is the enigma that is his life. Jay Gatsby holds himself to high expectations and lived his life chasing a single dream, while Tom Buchanan seems to nourish no direction, goals, or dreams, other than to waste off his wealth, and please his selfish needs.In my opinion, the fundamental difference between Tom and Gatsby is how Fitzgeralddecided that justice would be served to each concerning part. Tom is the definition of selfishness, arrogance, cruelty, and ultimately, the ugly side of inherited wealth. Despite all his faults, Gatsby is more levelheaded than he is bad, and is a clear rags-to-riches success story. However, Tom ends up getting away scot free, never veneering any consequences for his actions or immorality, while Gatsby ends up killed for a crime he did not commit, to save a women who did not love him back. As always, the poor man gets the short end of the stick. Now that we stated some clear differences between Tom and Gatsby, lets look at some of their similarities. Tom and Gatsby are both shoddy and deeply flawed men who commit consistent shows of indiscretions.For example, Tom condemns Daisys affair, but does not defecate the dece ncy to be discreet about his own. Gatsbys shady business dealings with Wolfsheim and illicit ways of acquiring wealth can, without a doubt, compare to Toms unscrupulous character. Both Tom and Gatsby lie and cheat, but Tom does it for the sole purpose of self-indulgence, while Gatsby does what he does in pursuance of his dream. Tom and Gatsby both have controlling personalities, and will do what they can to get what they want, regardless of the consequences. Another similarity between Tom and Gatsby is that both men seem to be playing a role when every theyre in public, by putting on a facade for others to see. With his good looks, education, horses, polo shirts, riding pants, and boots, Tom tries to impress and clothe others, while hiding the monster he really is. On the same token, the ostentatious parties, mysterious past, and made up stories are all used by Gatsby to hide his humble beginnings, and corrupt ways of attaining his wealth.Without a doubt, Gatsby and Toms most obvio us connection is their link to Daisy. Beautiful, educated, and well groomed, Daisy is the personification of feminism in the 1920s, and women of an elite social class. Although Daisy is the object of their affection, or better yet, desire, I do not think that either Tom or Gatsby are in love with her. Tom is so pompous, that he married Daisy not because he loved her, but because everyone else wanted her. Tom wants to keep Daisy now because he knows how socially unacceptable divorce would have been, and she looks good under his arm. Gatsby is not so much in love with her, as much as he is with the idea of her. Gatsby places Daisy on this pedestal, and wants her to live up to expectations that she neither can, wants, or deserves. In a way, both Tom and Gatsby see Daisy asa highly desirable prize that will attest to their own self-worth.In conclusion, because Tom and Gatsby do share some characteristics with each other they may not be perfect foils, but looking at the big picture, th ey are like oil and water. Tom is a despicable character who embodies everything that is wrong with society, and flies through life unpunished. Gatsby is a man who came from humble beginnings, and made something out of himself for the sole purpose of recuperating the one thing that ever made him feel alive Daisy. Gatsby lied, cheated, and took part in organized crime, so what can possibly him great, you may ask.Well, in my opinion, Gatsbys never-ending optimism, simplicity of heart, and power to make his dreams into reality is what makes him Great. In reality, Gatsby never cared for the glamorous parties, the straight-laced clothes, or the fast cars. Acquiring these luxuries were only important to him because he felt like they were necessary for him to touch his ultimate goal- winning Daisys heart back. Daisy embodied Gatsbys American dream, and unfortunately for him, his search for her was approximately more of a fatally romantic idealism that seemed to be best suited in a worl d of fairy tails and happy endings. I agree with Nick when he tells Gatsby, Theyre a rotten crowd youre worth the whole damn bunch put together.