A key theme in ‘The Great Gatsby’ is the tension between the nouveau riche, represented by
Jay Gatsby, and old money society, represented vigorously by Tom Buchanan. Tom
Buchanan appears to resist all societal progression, including the erosion of class divides, as
he resists immigration (“the rise of the coloured empires”) and female liberty (“by God, I may
be old fashioned in my ways, but women run around too much to suit me” “they oughtn’t to
let her run around the country in this way”). Like Jay Gatsby, another character in the novel
rejects the restrictions of societal expectations, but with much more success, on account of
her wealth - Jordan Baker, the classic 1920s flapper girl.
Jordan Baker vs Tom Buchanan
Throughout the novel, Jordan Baker exercises uncommon freedom for a woman of her age
in the 1920s. She moves about society at will, attending Gatsby’s parties unaccompanied -
an unthinkable move for a high class woman before the war. Through this, Fitzgerald
highlights the changing nature of society during the 1920s. Furthermore, Fitzgerald
highlights the patriarchal resistance to this societal progression through the character of Tom
Buchanan, a “hulking” husband who perpetuates old fashioned ideals, zealously attempting
to defend the status quo. On multiple occasions, he criticises Jordan’s activities, decreeing
that her family “oughtn’t to let her run around the country in this way”, to which Daisy justifies
“her family is one old aunt”. This reflects Tom’s inability to accept progression towards
equality, as, despite his belief that he should be able to gallivant about the country “on a
spree”, he cannot accept the possibility of women being allowed to do the same.
The difference between Jordan Baker’s resistance to the gender status quo and Jay
Gatsby’s resistance to the class status quo is that Jordan has the status and wealth to
support her lifestyle, allowing her to make decisions without societal approval. Her status
allows her a degree of impunity which Gatsby never earns, entrenching the class divides in
all areas of society.
Jay Gatsby vs Tom Buchanan
Gatsby’s attempts to social climb were less dictated by a desire to dismantle the class
institution, but more blinding love for Daisy, allowing him to ignore class expectations, and
rise to relevance with his extravagant parties. Using his “drug-stores” and by working with
“Meyer Wolfshiem”, the “man who fixed the 1919 world series”, Gatsby earns enough money
to buy a “factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy”, where he can see the “green
light” of Daisy’s dock across the expanse of water between the two eggs. Even his house,
compared to Daisy’s “Georgian mansion”, appears phoney.
Gatsby’s very existence horrifies Tom, the defender of the old ways. Tom fundamentally
dismisses anybody who has earned their money instead of inheriting it, dismissing the
inhabitants of West Egg as “just big bootleggers” - which, though true for Gatsby, is likely not
true for everyone. His oversimplification reflects the attitudes of the old money class to the
rising affluence of the 1920s, where capitalism and the ‘golden age’ allowed anyone, not just
those born into money, to lead a lavish lifestyle.
Immigration vs Tom Buchanan
Though more of a quiet, undercurrent tension in ‘The Great Gatsby’, the rejection of
immigration and racial mixing is another key tension in the novel. Tom Buchanan’s backward
views are once again displayed in his reading of “The Rise of the Coloured Empires”, a book
by “that man Goddard”. Ironically, he misquotes the book title - Fitzgerald actually referred to
“The Rising Tide of Colour against the White World Supremacy” by Stoddard. This, perhaps,
Jay Gatsby, and old money society, represented vigorously by Tom Buchanan. Tom
Buchanan appears to resist all societal progression, including the erosion of class divides, as
he resists immigration (“the rise of the coloured empires”) and female liberty (“by God, I may
be old fashioned in my ways, but women run around too much to suit me” “they oughtn’t to
let her run around the country in this way”). Like Jay Gatsby, another character in the novel
rejects the restrictions of societal expectations, but with much more success, on account of
her wealth - Jordan Baker, the classic 1920s flapper girl.
Jordan Baker vs Tom Buchanan
Throughout the novel, Jordan Baker exercises uncommon freedom for a woman of her age
in the 1920s. She moves about society at will, attending Gatsby’s parties unaccompanied -
an unthinkable move for a high class woman before the war. Through this, Fitzgerald
highlights the changing nature of society during the 1920s. Furthermore, Fitzgerald
highlights the patriarchal resistance to this societal progression through the character of Tom
Buchanan, a “hulking” husband who perpetuates old fashioned ideals, zealously attempting
to defend the status quo. On multiple occasions, he criticises Jordan’s activities, decreeing
that her family “oughtn’t to let her run around the country in this way”, to which Daisy justifies
“her family is one old aunt”. This reflects Tom’s inability to accept progression towards
equality, as, despite his belief that he should be able to gallivant about the country “on a
spree”, he cannot accept the possibility of women being allowed to do the same.
The difference between Jordan Baker’s resistance to the gender status quo and Jay
Gatsby’s resistance to the class status quo is that Jordan has the status and wealth to
support her lifestyle, allowing her to make decisions without societal approval. Her status
allows her a degree of impunity which Gatsby never earns, entrenching the class divides in
all areas of society.
Jay Gatsby vs Tom Buchanan
Gatsby’s attempts to social climb were less dictated by a desire to dismantle the class
institution, but more blinding love for Daisy, allowing him to ignore class expectations, and
rise to relevance with his extravagant parties. Using his “drug-stores” and by working with
“Meyer Wolfshiem”, the “man who fixed the 1919 world series”, Gatsby earns enough money
to buy a “factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy”, where he can see the “green
light” of Daisy’s dock across the expanse of water between the two eggs. Even his house,
compared to Daisy’s “Georgian mansion”, appears phoney.
Gatsby’s very existence horrifies Tom, the defender of the old ways. Tom fundamentally
dismisses anybody who has earned their money instead of inheriting it, dismissing the
inhabitants of West Egg as “just big bootleggers” - which, though true for Gatsby, is likely not
true for everyone. His oversimplification reflects the attitudes of the old money class to the
rising affluence of the 1920s, where capitalism and the ‘golden age’ allowed anyone, not just
those born into money, to lead a lavish lifestyle.
Immigration vs Tom Buchanan
Though more of a quiet, undercurrent tension in ‘The Great Gatsby’, the rejection of
immigration and racial mixing is another key tension in the novel. Tom Buchanan’s backward
views are once again displayed in his reading of “The Rise of the Coloured Empires”, a book
by “that man Goddard”. Ironically, he misquotes the book title - Fitzgerald actually referred to
“The Rising Tide of Colour against the White World Supremacy” by Stoddard. This, perhaps,
