Great Gatsby Analysis

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2 What does it mean to be a villain? Typically, in novels and movies, villains seem to be involved in some sort of difficulty within the plot. Several distinct characteristic traits come to mind when describing a villain, such as being violent, deceiving, and hypocritical. Several characters in The Great Gatsby embody these characteristic qualities, and they are represented throughout the book. Although many characters in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald display villainous behavior and actions, Tom Buchanan can be seen as the one true villain in the novel. Despite displaying a few respectable comments and gestures, Tom Buchanan has a remarkably abusive and violent nature of personality that is shown in the first five chapters of the novel. Upon Nick’s reuniting with Tom, Nick notices a self-conceited and arrogant attitude about Tom. Tom’s impulsive way of thinking often leads him into troublesome situations, and unfortunately, someone always gets hurt in the end. The very first example of this is when Tom leaves town without a word while Daisy is suffering immense pain and loneliness due to the birth of their first daughter. He is “God knows where” when Daisy needs him the most, and she feels “abandoned” in the hospital without him (Fitzgerald 16-17). This is one of the many disappointments during Tom and Daisy’s marriage, yet Daisy does not leave him. It is in this way that Tom Buchanan is abusive to his wife, and in this particular situation, Daisy suffers emotional abuse. Physical abuse, as well as emotional abuse, is evident in many scenes of the novel. At times, Tom exhibits physical abuse towards other characters and disrespects elders and authority without a second thought. Upon a small skirmish between him and Mrs. Wilson, Tom “[makes] a short deft movement…and [breaks] [Mrs. Wilson’s] nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald 37). Aside

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