Tom Buchanan

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Background to Tom Buchanan's Character

Tom Buchanan is rich because of inherited wealth and has the appearance of an assertive and dominant character.

Love life

He is married to Daisy but is having an affair with Myrtle Wilson.

Relationship with Tom

Nick vaguely knows Tom from Yale University, where Tom was an accomplished sportsman.

Tom Buchanan - Physically Imposing

Fitzgerald presents Tom as an aggressive hulk, who used to be a professional football player.

Descriptions of his appearance

He was a ‘national figure in a way’ and has ‘various physical accomplishments'.
He has ‘arrogant eyes’ and ‘enormous power’ to his body (Chapter One).
He is also presented as having a ‘cruel body’.

Nick's impression of Tom

Nick vaguely knows Tom because they both went to Yale University. When Nick arrives at the Buchanan’s house, he is greeted by Tom.
Tom is ‘in riding clothes’ and ‘standing with his legs apart on the front porch’ (Chapter One).
Nick recalls how there were many people at university who ‘hated his guts’, and it seems that Tom has changed little since his university days: he still comes across as arrogant and condescending.

Contrast to Gatsby

Gatsby seems slight in comparison to Tom.
- The awkwardness of the encounters between Tom and Gatsby foreshadows a future conflict between the two men, while also highlighting the contrasts between ‘old money’ (Tom) and ‘new money’ (Gatsby).
- Despite his high social status and physical prowess, Tom is presented as an unlikeable character.

1Specification Overview

1.1Specification Overview

1.1.1Specification A

2Context

2.1Context

2.1.1F. Scott Fitzgerald

2.1.21920s America

2.1.3Tragedy

2.2Criticism & Approaches

2.2.1Early & Modern Criticism

2.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Context

3Plot Summary

3.1Chapter One

3.1.1Chapter One

3.1.2Analysis of Chapter One

3.1.3Chapter One: Love & Historical Context

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Chapter One

3.2Chapter Two

3.2.1Chapter Two

3.2.2Chapter Two: Love & Historical Context

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Chapter Two

3.3Chapter Three

3.3.1Chapter Three

3.3.2Analysis of Chapter Three

3.3.3Chapter Three: Love & Historical Context

3.3.4End of Topic Test - Chapter Three

3.4Chapter Four

3.4.1Chapter Four

3.4.2Chapter Four: Love & Historical Context

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Chapter Four

3.5Chapter Five

3.5.1Chapter Five

3.5.2Chapter Five: Love & Historical Context

3.6Chapter Six

3.6.1Chapter Six

3.6.2Chapter Six: Love & Historical Context

3.6.3End of Topic Test - Chapters Five & Six

3.7Chapter Seven

3.7.1Chapter Seven

3.7.2Analysis of Chapter Seven

3.7.3Chapter Seven: Love & Historical Context

3.7.4End of Topic Test - Chapter Seven

3.8Chapter Eight

3.8.1Chapter Eight

3.8.2Chapter Eight: Love & Historical Context

3.9Chapter Nine

3.9.1Chapter Nine

3.9.2Chapter Nine: Love & Historical Context

3.9.3End of Topic Test - Chapters Eight & Nine

4Character Profiles

4.1Nick Carraway

4.1.1Nick Carraway

4.1.2Nick Carraway 2

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Nick

4.2Jay Gatsby

4.2.1Jay Gatsby

4.2.2Jay Gatsby 2

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Gatsby

4.3Daisy Buchanan

4.3.1Daisy Buchanan

4.3.2Daisy Buchanan 2

4.4Tom Buchanan

4.4.1Tom Buchanan

4.4.2Tom Buchanan 2

4.4.3End of Topic Test - Daisy & Tom

4.5Minor Characters

4.5.1Minor Characters

4.5.2End of Topic Test - Minor Characters

5Key Ideas

5.1Key Ideas

5.1.1Love

5.1.2Class

5.1.3Idealism

5.1.4Patriarchy & Presentation of Women

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Ideas

6Writing Techniques

6.1Structure, Genre & Narrative Voice

6.1.1Structure & Narrative Voice

6.1.2Genre

6.2Form & Language

6.2.1Form & Language

6.2.2Symbolism

6.2.3End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

7Love Through the Ages - Thematic Analysis

7.1Love Through the Ages

7.1.1The Examination

7.1.2Love Through the Ages Reading

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