Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby

Throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby", the two main male characters, Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby, are presented as starkly contrasting figures. While Tom comes from old money and embodies the traditional American elite, Gatsby is a self-made man who aspires to acquire wealth and status to win back his lost love, Daisy. This essay will compare and contrast the two characters in terms of their s, motivations, relationships, and eventual fates.

Tom Buchanan, hailing from a wealthy and established family in East Egg, represents the old aristocracy that has inherited its wealth and position. He is described as having a "cruel body" and possessing a sense of entitlement that comes from generations of privilege. In contrast, Jay Gatsby, originally born James Gatz, comes from a humble in the Midwest and reinvents himself as a wealthy socialite through illegal means. Despite his lavish parties and extravagant lifestyle, Gatsby is never fully accepted by the old-money society due to his questionable past.

Tom Buchanan is driven by a desire to maintain his status and power, which he achieves through his connections and wealth. He takes pride in his stable marriage with Daisy, despite his numerous affairs and mistreatment of her. In contrast, Jay Gatsby's sole motivation is to win back his lost love, Daisy Buchanan, whom he met before going to war. Gatsby builds his fortune and throws extravagant parties in the hopes of impressing Daisy and persuading her to leave Tom for him.

Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby both have complicated relationships with Daisy Buchanan, which serve as a central conflict in the novel. Tom views Daisy as a possession and is possessive of her, which leads to conflicts and tensions in their marriage. Gatsby, on the other hand, idealizes Daisy and puts her on a pedestal, believing that she represents everything he desires in life. Despite their efforts to win her over, both men ultimately fail to have a lasting and genuine connection with Daisy.

The fates of Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby reflect the consequences of their actions and decisions throughout the novel. Tom, despite his wealth and status, loses Daisy to Gatsby and is unable to control her decisions. However, he ultimately remains in his privileged position and continues his life without facing any significant consequences. Gatsby, on the other hand, sacrifices everything for his pursuit of Daisy and ends up dead, betrayed by those around him and by the materialistic and shallow society that he so desperately wanted to be a part of.

In conclusion, Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby represent two contrasting visions of the American Dream and the pursuit of wealth, status, and love. While Tom embodies the traditional values of the old money elite, Gatsby represents the ambition and drive of the self-made man. Their interactions with Daisy and their ultimate fates highlight the complexities and consequences of their choices. By comparing and contrasting these characters, Fitzgerald presents a nuanced exploration of the themes of love, power, and identity in a society obsessed with materialism and appearances.