Being born into a wealthy family has made Tom a spoiled man. He hasn’t really worked his entire life and instead spends his days in indulgence and ease. He only searches self-gratification. He has a shameless affair with Myrtle because it satisfies his needs. He flaunts their relationship in public because he does not concern himself with the consequences of his actions. This is also why he and Daisy escape at the end of the book. There was a situation they would have to face and they didn’t want to. So they ran to their money and fled the situation, leaving it to be dealt with by others. He is a careless man who won’t be bothered by the suffering he causes to others. He represents an upper-class manner and morality. He thinks that his race is responsible for all the civilized, decent things in life while he is involved in an adulterous relationship.

His physical appearance:
He is a sturdy, straw haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious (proudly) manner He has a huge and cruel body. He wears conservative clothes and patent leather shoes.

His vision of women | His wish to show Myrtle Wilson to Nick | His breaking the nose of Myrtle Wilson:
Tom’s most fatal weakness is his vision of women. He views women only as the possessions of man. He sees women as an inanimate doll that has a value marked by money. His relationship with Daisy is superficial, lacking mutual love and understanding. He is a selfish, self-centered, and hypocritical character. His only means of entertaining his guests is to show them his belongings. Daisy is only a piece of property for him. He wants Nick to meet Myrtle only to show him that he possesses not only a beautiful wife but also an energetic mistress. When Tom and Myrtle are enjoying the party, Myrtle insists that she has the right to call Daisy’s name whenever she desires. But all of sudden, Tom breaks her nose. He breaks Myrtle’s nose in the same way he had earlier bruised Daisy’s finger simply from a sense of brutal power

His attitude to the fame of Gatsby:
Tom and Gatsby belong to different social order. Tom represents Old Money while Gatsby presents New Money. Tom remarks Gatsby as ‘devil’ and in one of Gatsby’s parties, he says “who is this Gatsby anyhow? Some big bootlegger?” He did not like Daisy being near to Gatsby. During the drive, Tom spoke all the time in disgust, “An Oxford man! Like hell he is !”

Important Questions:

• Sketch the character of Tom Buchanan.
• Why does Tom wish Nick to meet his mistress?
• Why did Tom break Myrtle Wilson’s nose?
• Discuss Tom’s attitude towards Gatsby.
• Write what type of character is Tom Buchanan.
• Tom Buchanan’s attitude to the fame of Gatsby.