A Search for What’s Missing – The Great Gatsby
In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald several characters are searching for something throughout the novel, at times being reckless through their actions to achieve what they are looking for. Their searches are generally for something that is absent or infrequent in their lives, usually taking extreme measures to achieve what they’re searching for and at times losing something along the way. Fitzgerald suggests that society at this time was very selfish and was only searching for what they needed, not thinking about how it would affect the people around them. Myrtle Wilson was brought up in a below-average economic level, with the people surrounding her also having lived that way. …show more content…
He was taught that he was better than others for his whole life, making him thrive for power in every way possible. “It’s up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things.” (Fitzgerald 15). Although Tom is an adult now, the belief of wealthy, white males being more powerful and important than others is still implanted in his mind. If Tom were to have his power taken away or minimized at any point in time, he would resort to aggression. Tom surrounds himself with individuals that he views as less powerful than himself, making him feel more powerful over them. Tom is married to Daisy, a white woman. He believes to have power over her, up until she begins to fight back. Tom is known to hit Daisy when he feels his power is being compromised, making him feel like the power is back in his hands. “Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” (Fitzgerald 44). Although Myrtle Wilson is the woman that Tom is having an affair with, he has no hesitation to be aggressive with her and hit her when he feels like she is compromising his power either by mentioning Daisy’s name when he tells her not to. Tom’s search is to find more power in any situation even though he already has it, he feels as if he still doesn’t have enough. Tom does find the power that he is searching for, but at the same time he may still yearn for
In the novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald several characters are searching for something throughout the novel, at times being reckless through their actions to achieve what they are looking for. Their searches are generally for something that is absent or infrequent in their lives, usually taking extreme measures to achieve what they’re searching for and at times losing something along the way. Fitzgerald suggests that society at this time was very selfish and was only searching for what they needed, not thinking about how it would affect the people around them. Myrtle Wilson was brought up in a below-average economic level, with the people surrounding her also having lived that way. …show more content…
He was taught that he was better than others for his whole life, making him thrive for power in every way possible. “It’s up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things.” (Fitzgerald 15). Although Tom is an adult now, the belief of wealthy, white males being more powerful and important than others is still implanted in his mind. If Tom were to have his power taken away or minimized at any point in time, he would resort to aggression. Tom surrounds himself with individuals that he views as less powerful than himself, making him feel more powerful over them. Tom is married to Daisy, a white woman. He believes to have power over her, up until she begins to fight back. Tom is known to hit Daisy when he feels his power is being compromised, making him feel like the power is back in his hands. “Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” (Fitzgerald 44). Although Myrtle Wilson is the woman that Tom is having an affair with, he has no hesitation to be aggressive with her and hit her when he feels like she is compromising his power either by mentioning Daisy’s name when he tells her not to. Tom’s search is to find more power in any situation even though he already has it, he feels as if he still doesn’t have enough. Tom does find the power that he is searching for, but at the same time he may still yearn for