Gatsby is a very determined character. He has such a strong love for Daisy. When he finds out she is married to someone else, his efforts to win her back become very strong. This is what gives him the motivation to get all this money. He finds the quickest and easiest way even if it is illegal. Gatsby's whole effort in the book was to get his relationship with Daisy back to the way it was before the war.
Tom is definitely the antagonist in the story. While Gatsby is at war, he uses his money to win Daisy over and marry, knowing very well of her relationship with Gatsby. He then proceeds to have an affair with Myrtle, George Wilson’s wife, and makes no effort to hide it from Daisy. He treats Myrtle even worse then he treats Daisy. Even though he is having an affair, he stands in the way between Gatsby and Daisy.
Tom is a very immoral character. He is very unlikeable because of his uncivilised attitude. He doesn't worry about anyone but himself. In his spitefulness he is ruining people's lives. He cares only about getting what he wants, not caring whom he takes down in the process. Not only this, but he is also racist. “It’s up to us who are the dominant race to watch out or these other races will have control.”
Gatsby is totally dedicated to Daisy, unlike Tom. Although Gatsby may be self-centred, he worked tirelessly to build up his wealth and although we know he gained his money by bootlegging, he is doing it for Daisy, and I respect him for that alone. Gatsby is also very generous as he used to throw wild weekend parties throughout the summer for people whom he hardly knew, until they stopped after Daisy expressed her distaste of them. On the other hand, Tom is the opposite of generous, is totally self-involved and is completely unfaithful to Daisy. Even on their honeymoon he was with another woman. He is used to getting everything he wants and even though he was having an affair with Myrtle he refused to give up Daisy. To make matters even worse he bullies woman; he hurt Daisy’s finger and broke Daisy’s nose.
The final events in the novel highlight the differences between the two characters. Daisy accidentally kills Myrtle by knocking her over with Gatsby’s car. At this point Gatsby becomes a martyr for Daisy as he takes the blame for the death of Myrtle. Gatsby didn’t think about himself once through all of this, all he was worried about was Daisy. This results in the death of Gatsby. Tom sets George, Myrtle’s husband, on him, who ends up shooting him in Gatsby’s own pool. Tom does not think twice about Gatsby after this, he totally forgets about both him and Myrtle. Tom is tough, wealthy and has no moral scruples.
I find the end of the book very satisfactory, as emphasizes how entirely self-centred and insensitive Tom Buchanan really is. We also see how unselfish Jay Gatsby is, and how strong the love he had for Daisy was, that he was willing to give up his own life. The book also makes a strong point by showing us the effects of what can happen if we have too much money.
