F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby uses Tom Buchanan to epitomize wealthy men in the 1920’s when corruption, bootlegging and adultery coexisted with the norm of society while social status and wealth continued to be the American dream, both of which Tom achieves and benefits from.
Tom Buchanan can be described as a powerful man who uses his money and social status to get what he wants, even if it affects other people. For example, when Nick eats lunch with Tom and Daisy, Tom starts saying, “ Its up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things.” 1 Abbott describes Tom as “very wealthy… [And] this double power…because he is very rich and very strong…[and] used to having his own way.” 2 This quote represents Tom’s feelings about being the dominant race, not only of color, but also of social status and wealth. This statement also starts familiarizing Tom’s arrogance and superiority to the reader. In addition to Tom’s self importance, after Gatsby dies because of Wilson, Nick runs into Tom who states, “He [Wilson] was crazy enough to kill me if I hadn’t told him…His hand was on a revolver…What if I told him? The fellow [Gatsby] had it coming to him.”3 Abbott explains that, “Fitzgerald describes Tom and Daisy as careless people who break things and then retreat into their wealth and let other people clean up their messes…” 4 Tom shows Nick how little he cares for people because the reference towards Gatsby shows Tom’s willingness to hand over someone to protect himself and his status. Tom has the incapability to care for others and finds it odd that Nick would care for Gatsby too. Tom Buchanan, like many wealthy, corrupt men in the 1920’s, uses his wealth to control others and get what he wants but hides behind his money when his corrupt ways catch up to him. As humans, we make mistakes that affect other people and