Character: Tom Buchanan (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes

Character: Tom Buchanan

Introduction to Tom as the antagonist

Tom Buchanan emerges as one of literature's most compelling antagonists, representing the worst aspects of America's privileged elite. Born into extraordinary wealth, Tom embodies what Fitzgerald terms "old money" - inherited wealth that comes with established social position and deeply ingrained sense of superiority. Unlike the nouveau riche characters who have earned their fortunes, Tom's wealth is generational, shaping his worldview from birth.

His character serves as a direct contrast to Jay Gatsby's hopeful idealism. Where Gatsby believes in the possibility of reinvention and the American Dream, Tom represents the forces that resist change and maintain existing power structures. Tom's presence in the novel creates tension and conflict, driving much of the plot's central drama while exposing the harsh realities behind America's glittering surface.

Tom attended Yale University alongside Nick Carraway, establishing their connection and providing Nick with access to this world of privilege. However, Tom's university experience appears to have been his peak - everything since then has felt like decline, contributing to his restless and often destructive behaviour.

Historical and social context

The Lost Generation

Tom Buchanan belongs to what Gertrude Stein famously called "The Lost Generation" - those who came of age during World War I. This generation experienced profound disillusionment after witnessing unprecedented destruction and death. The war shattered many traditional beliefs about progress, honour, and meaning, leaving survivors feeling directionless and spiritually empty.

For someone like Tom, who achieved his greatest successes in his youth as a star athlete, the post-war world offers no equivalent excitement or purpose. This explains his restlessness and his constant search for something to fill the void where meaning should be. Nick observes Tom's eyes "flashing about restlessly" and notes how he "hovers restless", suggesting this internal emptiness drives his external behaviour.

Immigration and racial anxiety

The 1924 Immigration Act provides crucial context for understanding Tom's racist worldview. This legislation severely restricted immigration from Asia and established quotas designed to preserve what lawmakers called "ideal U.S. homogeneity." The law reflected and reinforced widespread anxiety about changing racial demographics in America.

Tom's fears about racial mixing and his advocacy for white supremacy directly reflect these broader social tensions. His discussion of books like "The Rise of the Coloured Empire" reveals how pseudoscientific racism was used to justify maintaining existing power structures. When Tom speaks about the "dominant race" needing to "watch out" for other races gaining "control," he's expressing the deepest fears of his social class about losing their privileged position.

Key character traits

Toxic masculinity and physical dominance

Tom's masculinity is defined almost entirely through physical strength and dominance over others. Fitzgerald consistently emphasises Tom's imposing physical presence - he's described as having "enormous power" and a "cruel body". This physicality becomes a tool for intimidation and control, particularly over women.

The novel presents Tom's masculinity as fundamentally toxic because it's built on suppressing others rather than genuine strength or virtue. His "hard malice" and capacity for violence lurk beneath a veneer of civilised behaviour. When he breaks Myrtle's nose "with his open hand," the casual brutality reveals his true nature - he uses physical force when his authority is challenged.

This hypermasculinity also compensates for deep insecurities. Tom feels threatened by changing social dynamics that might challenge traditional male authority. His aggressive behaviour often masks anxiety about losing control or status.

Classist attitudes and social superiority

Tom's classism permeates every aspect of his character. He genuinely believes that wealth and social position make him inherently superior to others. This isn't mere snobbery - it's a fundamental worldview that organises how he sees and treats people.

His contempt for Gatsby stems largely from class prejudice rather than personal dislike. Tom dismisses Gatsby as "Mr. Nobody from Nowhere", revealing his belief that social origins determine worth. Even when he suspects Gatsby might be wealthy, Tom focuses on the source of that wealth, suggesting new money can never equal old money's legitimacy.

This classism extends to his treatment of working-class characters like Myrtle Wilson. While he enjoys the affair for its physical pleasures, he never considers Myrtle his social equal. His casual command to "Go and buy ten more dogs" when purchasing Myrtle's puppy demonstrates how he uses wealth to assert dominance even in minor interactions.

Nostalgic melancholy and lost purpose

Beneath Tom's aggressive exterior lies profound melancholy about his lost youth and faded glory. His greatest achievements occurred at Yale, where he was "one of the most powerful ends that ever played football". Since then, his life has lacked direction or meaningful accomplishment.

This nostalgia creates a cycle where Tom constantly seeks to recapture past excitement but finds present reality disappointing. His affairs, his travels, his restless movement from place to place all represent attempts to find something that matches the intensity of his youth. However, because he's searching for something that exists only in memory, he's doomed to disappointment.

The tragic irony is that Tom's privileged position should provide opportunities for meaningful engagement with life, but his character flaws prevent him from finding genuine purpose or satisfaction.

Tom's relationships

The affair with Myrtle Wilson

Tom's relationship with Myrtle Wilson reveals the calculating and exploitative aspects of his character. For Myrtle, the affair represents an escape from poverty and an unhappy marriage - she's genuinely seeking to improve her circumstances. For Tom, however, Myrtle is merely entertainment, someone he can control and discard without consequences.

The power dynamic is established immediately through their meeting on the subway. Myrtle describes being captivated by Tom's expensive clothes and confident demeanour, while Tom recognises her vulnerability and attraction to wealth. He uses his financial resources to maintain control - providing her with an apartment, clothes, and a dog while keeping her dependent on his generosity.

Tom's violence towards Myrtle when she mentions Daisy's name reveals the strict boundaries he maintains. Myrtle is acceptable as a mistress but must never challenge his marriage or social position. The broken nose scene demonstrates how quickly Tom resorts to physical violence when his authority is questioned.

When Myrtle dies, Tom's reaction is telling. While he shows some emotional response, he quickly redirects blame towards Gatsby and uses her death to justify his revenge. This reveals how even his grief serves his own interests rather than genuinely mourning Myrtle as a person.

Marriage to Daisy

Tom's marriage to Daisy functions more as a social arrangement than a romantic partnership. Both come from similar backgrounds and understand the unspoken rules of their class. Their relationship is characterised by mutual infidelity, emotional distance, and shared commitment to maintaining their privileged position.

Tom's attitude towards marriage reflects the double standards of his era and class. He expects complete freedom to pursue affairs while demanding Daisy's loyalty. When she becomes involved with Gatsby, Tom's outrage stems not from betrayed love but from challenged ownership. He views Daisy as his possession rather than his partner.

The couple's ability to retreat into their "vast carelessness" after causing destruction shows how their marriage functions as mutual protection. They shield each other from consequences while remaining emotionally disconnected. Their reunion after Myrtle's death suggests they find security in familiar patterns rather than genuine reconciliation.

Key quotes and analysis

"Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face" - This early description immediately establishes Tom's character through his expression. Even his eyes dominate his own face, suggesting how his need for control extends to every aspect of his being.

"Self-control! I suppose the latest thing is to sit back and let Mr. Nobody from Nowhere make love to your wife" - This quote reveals Tom's hypocrisy and class prejudice simultaneously. He demands self-control from others while showing none himself, and his dismissal of Gatsby as "Mr. Nobody from Nowhere" exposes his belief that social origin determines worth.

"He threw dust into your eyes just like he did in Daisy's but he was a tough one. He ran over Myrtle like you'd run over a dog" - Tom's manipulation of George Wilson demonstrates his calculating nature. By comparing Myrtle to a dog, he dehumanises her while positioning himself as the righteous victim rather than the man who actually caused her unhappiness.

These quotes illustrate how Fitzgerald uses Tom's own words to reveal his character flaws, making him condemn himself through his expressions of apparent virtue or righteousness.