The Great Gatsby is one of the greatest novels in American society. In a nutshell, the novel revolves around the story of lost love between the main characters. Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan show both differences and similarities throughout the novel. The story in the novel analyses that features that proves Tom’s and Gatsby’s likeness and unlikeness. The main protagonist in the novel is Jay Gatsby and the story surfaces on his efforts to again fall in love with Daisy (Fitzgerald). As a result of World War 1, Daisy and Gatsby were separated, and Daisy got married to Tom Buchanan. Tom originates from the East Coast family, considered as the wealthiest family in the community. The main aim of Scott Fitzgerald in writing the story was to give a critical criticism of the American wealth as well as its impacts on the community. Tom and Gatsby represent two distinct perspectives on social morals and wealth.
Basically, Tom and Gatsby represent two differences between the old money and the newly rich. Tom inherited his wealth from their parents and relatives. On the other hand, the old money represents elitist families and aristocratic component in American society. Gatsby engaged in several activities such as securities fraud and bootlegging to make his way out of poverty. Considering the fact that Tom Buchanan was born with privileges and money, he used to spend his inherited wealth very casually (Fitzgerald np). Notably, Gatsby used his money for a different goal but with ease. Particularly, Tom uses his money for his personal affairs, pleasure, and travel while Gatsby considers his earnings as a very important thing that can buy happiness and win Daisy. Gatsby is selflessness with is money. This is shown in the novel when he bought a dress for Lucille. The distinction element between these two characters, Gatsby and Tom, come from their rise to wealth and backgrounds.
Mostly, both characters have very divergent attitudes and behaviors. Precisely, their attitudes are reflected in the way they got their wealth. Tom Buchanan is rude, whereas Gatsby is refined than Tom. In this regard, Tom Buchanan is very crude since he was born to a wealthy family and money was passed for generations to him. Somewhat, Tom lacks a sense of appreciation for his possessions as well as other things in life that gained through wealth (Fitzgerald np). On the other hand, however, because the parents of Gatsby were unsuccessful and shiftless farm people in the society, his fortune and rose to be famous earned him a title of new money due to his sweat, work, and blood that transpired to obtain his fortune. Also, another way by which these two characters differ is that Tom Buchanan is very overpowering. Daisy referred to him as a brute, while Gatsby is shyer and reserved. He is also a bigot and racist because, from the novel, it is evident in the way he reads books and acts. On a lighter note, Gatsby judge people. This is seen in the way he invites people to party in his house. In this case, he has different people from different backgrounds at his home.
Furthermore, both the characters love Daisy though Gatsby treats her better than Buchanan and would not cheat on her. Also, both Tom and Gatsby are very hostile to one another. For instance, Tom does not like Gatsby since he feels that he has a love affair with his dear wife. On the other hand, Gatsby does not like Tom Buchanan in the sense that Tom has one and only girl he has ever loved in the entire community (Fitzgerald np). Likewise, the two characters have shady affairs. For the case of Tom, his affair is with women while Gatsby lies with business. The other thing that is very common between the two men is the fact that they both desire to be financially stable, as well as their financial, social status quo, which is very crucial to them. The novel shows that Tom flaunts his fleet of cars because he was the best footballer at Yale. Because Gatsby was very humble, he left his janitor job to maintain a low social status. Despite their different methods of how they got their wealth altered their attitudes and perceptions, ultimately, their love for Daisy links them in unity.
In a comparison of their underlying traits, Gatsby is seen as a mysterious guy who always keeps secrets of his past. Actually, he invented his identity. James Gatz was his real name. He was brought up in North Dakota in extreme poverty without education and/or prospects. His main escape was the Army (Fitzgerald np). Before World War 1, he meets and falls in love with one Daisy in Louisville, Kentucky. During the post-war, he mysteriously changed to Jay Gatsby. His wealth and new identity are influenced by his need to love Daisy again. On the other hand, Tom Buchanan is seen as a spoiled and young rich man. He is racist, sexist, and abusive, and his character is darker than Gatsby.
The contrast between Gatsby and Tom in the novel is shown by how the two characters handle their romance for love and wealth. Their lifestyles are very different. Both the two characters have a sense of maintaining their social status despite neglecting simple things in their life. In their glamour, both fail to be thankful for what they have. For instance, Gatsby values the relationship between his family and friends, while Tom spends much of his time assuming that he is worth what his attitude depicts. Both Tom and Gatsby want the enduring love of Daisy. Tom did not like Daisy because of true love but for something sort of possession-type affair. He always cheats her, and he is very proud of it (Fitzgerald np). He rarely acts romantic when he is with Daisy because he thinks that his greed and wealth will keep Daisy with him. His perception and approach to life issues were very realistic and saw things in life as they actually are. This gives Tom to be rarely disappointed and make him be always happy. As shown in the novel, Jay Gatsby has his own distinct features that are very different from Tom Buchanan. Also, Gatsby is a kind and passionate individual. He stays in West Egg which consists of people with new money. His family was poor and he struggles dead end to get enough money to school himself. He is a good-hearted and loyal man who dearly loves Daisy and fights for her love. Besides their financial and social status, both have divergent elements that show who they are as an individual. Gatsby has a very genuine relationship with his friends and family, while Tom Buchanan thinks that he does not ever need a person to be happy in his life. For instance, Jay Gatsby thinks outside the box and makes his people around him happy, and that sets him apart from Tom Buchanan.
Gatsby and Tom have some similarities in behavior. Both are spending thrift and live a life full of luxuries. They both win to fall in love with Daisy. In turn, Daisy affectionately loved them. Daisy suggests her enduring love for Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan when she says, “I did love him once-but I loved you too” (p.133). This indicates that both Tom and Gatsby managed to love her that would not have been otherwise possible considering the fact that she has a shallow character. Also, both Tom and Gatsby would not have been in a position to withstand the distress that Daisy is leaving them. In this case, Gatsby made his effort to regain Daisy because he has a dream of living with her throughout his life (Fitzgerald np). On the other hand, because of his pride, Tom had no intention of suffering from the loss of Daisy. Nonetheless, another comparison between the two characters is due to their ability to indulge themselves in indiscretions. Tom Buchanan has various love affairs while Jay Gatsby has dealings with illegal business.
In summary, Fitzgerald argued that despite the differences and similarities between the two characters, they both are flawed characters. According to his view, their faults are occasioned by their much-gained wealth (Fitzgerald np). Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are influenced by their need for greed, pleasure, and cynicism. In essence, Jay comes as a more tragic hero obsessed with his affection for Daisy. On the other hand, Tom Buchanan is seen as a brute and villain because of his upbringing and education.
