He has not been aware of the different social statuses between his and Tom’s. In general, Jay Gatsby is one of the best among characters in the novel. Even though he is a bootlegger and all his money is illegally made he still has more conscience than many others. Gatsby wants people to be happy, and if they are happy he will be happy, too. He holds luxury parties for people to attend and enjoy themselves.
Luke Troutman Mrs. B.L. Honors English III September 30, 2008 Wealth Overcomes Love In The Great Gatsby; Tom, Daisy, and Myrtle’s desire for wealth prohibits them from developing substantial relationships. Living a lavish lifestyle, with constant happiness keeps them from actually loving a person for who they are, not how they live. This shows a want for happiness in men, or women, and how they forget about love to obtain happiness and worldly possessions. Since he was a child Tom had always been wealthy acquiring everything he desired causing him to act childishly always wanting his way and to become wealthier.
However the one thing he desired most that money could never buy was his love and passion for Daisy. Gatsby believed that he could win the love of the woman he longed for by showering her with materialistic items. Tom also took great pride in his earnings and believed he was a better man because of them. He exclaims, “Now don’t think my opinion on this matter is final just because I’m stronger and more of a man than you are” (Fitzgerald). He, along with Gatsby feels content with the unnecessary materialistic items that he owns.
He builds up his son’s ego by telling them that all you need to be is well-liked. Theses false values shown by Willy makes Biff become overwhelmed with confidence that all he needs is to be attractive in order to be successful and makes him think of why should he have to try hard in school when his appealing personality will make up for poor grades. Willy’s flawed view of success, where being well-liked is more important than being the best at whatever job you pursue, leads to failure and unhappiness in both his life and his sons life’s in the business world. Although Happy has a job that would be more acceptable by his father than Biff’s, but Willy doesn’t admire Happy like he does Biff. Happy has lived in the shadow of Biff his whole life, he feels that to get the attention he deserves he must strive to be more successful than his brother.
The hope that the family will be successful and live a happy life once brought joy to the family. The hope that the boys would go into business for themselves brought joy to Linda and Wily. What destroyed it is the fact the Biff finally realized that he is not the person his dad wants him to be and that is not his
This jealousy causes conflicts. Phineas assumes that everyone thinks like he does, and often acts selfishly, insisting that he and Gene do whatever he wants. His carefree, self-centered attitude adds to Gene’s resentment toward Phineas. Phineas, only aware of himself and seeing only the good in others, never seems to pick up on Gene’s inner uproar. Phineas is an influential, charming figure, and a genuine good guy.
At the very moment in chapter 1, when you meet Tom, you immediately get the impression that he’s a bully. He has a big body with a menacing attitude. He is obviously used to getting what he wants, and it can be seen that he is used to getting what he wants. He doesn’t need to work because of his wealth and is very relaxed about his stature in life. “ ‘Now, don’t think my opinion on these matters is final,’ he seemed to
During The Great Gatsby, Gatsby makes a large fortune for him self; he was kind of selfish he can do what he wanted. Gatsby, he created who he is for the sole purpose of gaining daisy's love, therefore, he doesn’t have the class or stile where he from (east egg). He looks great from the outside but on the inside he is an ordinary man, not the theatrical "Great Gatsby." Tom believes himself to be higher than everyone else, which is why he fails to keep his affair with Myrtle more discreet. Tom has no goals or dreams like Gatsby, and also he is an arrogant egotistical and limited man.
Nick and Gatsby are very inconsiderate of the consequences of their quest to gain the person they love or lust over. Although, Nick isn’t an idealist, he and Gatsby both appreciate idealism, and the pursuit of the wealth of the American
Gatsby would do anything to make someone happy. As one of the twins mentioned whilst at one of Gatsby’s parties ‘There’s something funny about a fellow that’ll do a thing like that, he doesn’t want trouble with anybody’. Altogether Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are different in many ways as Tom is an arrogant, sexist bully and has no respect of others around him where as throughout the novel you get a sense that Gatsby is more of a kind and refined character. However Tom and Gatsby have their similarities as they both want Daisy but for different reasons- tom for his persona and Gatsby for true love. And both Tom and Gatsby enjoy their luxurious lifestyles and they both like to party all the time.