The Great Gatsby: Chapter Two

Question: Select a passage that develops a character. Discuss how this passage contributes to your interpretation of the work as a whole, including literary strategies that affect your reaction to the character.

Answer:

            Nick opens up the second chapter by telling how he met Myrtle Wilson, Tom Buchanan’s mistress, and says, “The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and, when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the dismal scene for as long as half an hour. There is always a halt there of at least a minute, and it was because of this that I first met Tom Buchanan's mistress.

            The fact that he had one was insisted upon wherever he was known. His acquaintances resented the fact that he turned up in popular restaurants with her and, leaving her at a table, sauntered about, chatting with whomsoever he knew. Though I was curious to see her, I had no desire to meet her-but I did. I went up to New York with Tom on the train one afternoon, and when we stopped by the ashheaps he jumped to his feet and, taking hold of my elbow, literally forced me from the car.

"We're getting off," he insisted. "I want you to meet my girl."

             I think he'd tanked up a good deal at luncheon, and his determination to have my company bordered on violence. The supercilious assumption was that on Sunday afternoon I had nothing better to do.” (Fitzgerald, 24).

            I believe that this passage tells us a lot about Tom Buchanan. One thing is that he is extremely open about his affair with Myrtle. About this matter, Nick says, “The fact that he had one was insisted upon wherever he was known” (Fitzgerald, 24), which backs up what Jordan Baker said in chapter one about Tom having a woman in New York, “”You mean to say that you don’t know?” said Miss Baker, honesty surprised. “I thought everybody knew.”” (Fitzgerald, 15). He also mentions that Tom brings her out in public fairly often. This says that not only does Tom not seem to care about Daisy enough to not cheat on her, but he also can’t care to keep it private so that Daisy can be spared the embarrassment of everybody knowing about it.

            Tom also appears to be a rather violent man. It was mentioned in chapter one that he was very strong and had an impressive history in physical activities, especially football. This being said, he shoves and pulls at people to get them to do what he wants, which can easily be harmful with a man his size. For example, Nick states that Tom “literally forced me from the car” (Fitzgerald, 24) and, in chapter one, “turning me around by one arm… He turned me around again, politely and abruptly” (Fitzgerald, 7). Nick admits that Tom’s actions and behaviors “bordered on violence” (Fitzgerald, 24). Later on in the chapter, his violence is on display when “Tom Buchanan broke her (Myrtle’s) nose with his open hand” (Fitzgerald, 37) without hesitation over an argument regarding Myrtle saying Daisy’s name.

            Tom keeping the day’s true plans from Nick is also very inconsiderate and thoughtless. Nick, being Daisy’s cousin, could have been uncomfortable with meeting Tom’s mistress and witnessing the affair, but Tom didn’t bother to ask him and gave him no choice in the matter. He also made these plans without consenting with Nick and seeing if Nick was available or not, which Nick comments on by saying, “The supercilious assumption was that on Sunday afternoon I had nothing better to do” (Fitzgerald, 24). Tom’s actions were both rude and selfish.