The Great Gatsby Vs. Tom

Ye Won Park

9 10 SENT Novel

Gary

Thursday, June 8, 2017

The Great Gatsby

ESSAY QUESTION: Compare and contrast Gatsby and Tom. How are they alike? How are they different? Given the extremely negative light in which Tom is portrayed throughout the novel, why might Daisy choose to remain with him instead of leaving him for Gatsby?

        Heard about The Great Gatsby, one of the most beloved and influential America novel. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, professionally known as F. Scott Fitzgerald had written and was published in the 1920s. This novel focuses on the morality of true love, whether it exists or not, between the characters. Jay Gatsby, Tom Buchanan, and Daisy Fay Buchanan are the essential and major characters of this teen novel. However, between these characters, climax appeals distributing the main theme and setting of the novel, what its purpose is. The main purpose of this novel is to define true love, Tom was portrayed throughout the novel, although Daisy chose to remain with him instead of leaving for Gatsby because she wanted more of a “gentleman’s” love, safety in her life, and wealth.  

        Daisy wanted to be with Gatsby however, she wanted a gentle and true love from Tom. She did not know that Tom would cheat on her since Gatsby and he were fighting so hard. Daisy couldn’t have imagined how much Gatsby missed her and how much her herself missed Gatsby, on the other hand, she didn’t realize it for herself despite maybe she didn’t want to remember him. Gatsby left off to earn money and transform into a better man for Daisy, however, he made her wait too long. His five years of hard working and pain as a soldier was longer for Daisy to wait. Five years of Gatsby gone could have felt like 50 years of loneliness to Daisy. Strongly however, she had Tom, her daughter, her family. If Daisy didn’t feel too lonely, she wouldn’t have gone through the biological reproduction “situation” with Tom. This means that she actually has ever loved and had a loving heart for Tom, her daughter, her family. Although this love might not be the “true” love. This was why and how Gatsby and Tom are differently seen in Daisy’s views.

        Safety is always primary, which was why Daisy chose to follow Tom. He had wealth built up already without hard work and some are Daisy’s since they have been married. As Daisy starts thinking about leaving Tom, he actually asked her if she has ever loved him, “…whether you say yes or no, can you still start loving me from this moment?” Daisy after all chose not to leave Tom but it was also because she was afraid, of the Tom’s built up money. He could have done anything to get Daisy back especially with all his money, he could kidnap her and torture her for her worst decision. Wealth is primary to Tom; it is his weapon at all difficult times. However, Gatsby had to work so hard painfully and durable of long time to earn money to afford for both him and his lover; Daisy. Gatsby’s money however, was limited and he had to continuously work hard to afford both of their lives in the upper class. Daisy could have worried about Gatsby in this situation because he could get hurt from working so hard for her. Wealth is not true love.