Okay, so I’ve been digging into “The Great Gatsby” again, specifically about Tom Buchanan. The question I’m tackling today is whether Tom is a round character or not. You know, is he just a one-dimensional bad guy, or is there more to him?
First off, I started by rereading the book, paying extra attention to scenes involving Tom. I jotted down notes about his actions, his words, and how other characters react to him. What I noticed right away is that Tom is not someone you’d want to hang out with. He’s arrogant, racist, and a total bully. There’s this one scene where he goes off about the “dominant race” – it’s pretty cringeworthy.
Then, I hit up some online resources and literary analyses. It seems like most people agree that Tom is the embodiment of toxic masculinity. He’s all about physical strength and showing off his wealth. He’s also super classist, looking down on anyone who wasn’t born into old money like he was. One analysis described him as having “few redeeming qualities,” and honestly, I can’t argue with that.
After gathering all this info, I started organizing my thoughts. I made a list of Tom’s traits:
- Arrogant
- Racist
- Sexist
- Classist
- Bully
- Unfaithful (he’s not even trying to hide his affair with Myrtle)
Next, I compared Tom to Jay Gatsby, who is often considered a round character. Gatsby has dreams, vulnerabilities, and a complex past. He’s not perfect, but you can understand where he’s coming from. Tom, on the other hand, seems to exist just to be disliked. He represents the worst of the wealthy elite – careless people who use their money to shield themselves from consequences.
My conclusion?
Tom Buchanan is not a round character. He’s a flat, static character who serves as a symbol of the moral decay of the wealthy during the Jazz Age. He doesn’t grow or change throughout the story, and he lacks the depth and complexity that would make him a round character. He’s basically a caricature of everything that’s wrong with the old-money elite.
So, that’s my take on Tom Buchanan. What do you guys think? Am I missing something, or is Tom just a one-dimensional jerk?