Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan

In this novel Tom Buchanan is the “bad boy”. Mr. Buchanan, Daisy Fay's husband, comes from an old social and immensely wealthy family. He is a Yale graduate showing also his high social standing and profanity.

Because of his college reputation, he still has the nick-names “The Athlete” and “The Polo-Player”. He is oftentimes seen as an idol. Tom is a good-looking, sporty and though guy who has verifiable “physical accomplishments”. He is a sturdy, muscular man with “arrogant eyes” and a husky voice.

Nevertheless, he has a racial attitude. He, for example, disapproves intermarriage between the black and white race. He is very egoistic and has a high opinion of himself. Therefore Tom has no moral problems about his affair with Myrtle Wilson. He says of himself that he “has almost a second sight […] that tells [him] what to do”.This shows his careless behavior and his supercilious manner.

Moreover he is a rude and violent person, who sometimes acts boisterously and maliciously.

Never being confronted with the consequences of his faults, because of always running away when he is in trouble, he is described as a restless person. Joel Edgerton as Tom Buchanan