Daisy describes Tom Buchanan as a brute. To what extent does your reading of the novel lead you to agree with this view?

Tom bullies people both verbally and physically throughout the novel. Tom frequently interrupts and talks over other people, showing again that he is supercilious. In his first appearance, he interrupts both Daisy and Jordan so he can make his point, “Well, these books are all scientific”. Also, when Nick meets Tom for the first time, Tom orders him around by “turning [Nick] around by one arm” and telling him “We’ll go inside”. Tom also has a violent streak which really comes across when we see him break Myrtle’s nose with the “short, deft movement” of his hand. The adjective, “deft”, meaning skilful and quick, shows that this display of violence has no effect on Tom.

Tom is very racist and worries that immigrants will challenge his privileged existence. He fears that “the white race will be utterly submerged” and he is scared that the traditional class system where he’s on top might collapse and the ‘new rich’ will take over. Tom is also fiercely sexist and not only abuse Daisy but does not like her having freedom, saying “women run around too much these days”. Tom isn’t very intelligent and doesn’t seem to understand the books that he reads on science. When Tom tries to justify his prejudices he speaks in rambling, uncompleted sentences, “We’re Nordics. I am, and you are, and…”.

However, Tom does have a few positive character traits. Despite his abusive relationships, Tom does seem to be in love with both Myrtle and Daisy. When he discovers Myrtle’s dead his “tears were overflowing”, and when Daisy tells him she doesn’t love him he speaks with a “husky tenderness”. Also you could arguably say that, unlike many characters in the novel, including Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby, that Tom doesn’t try to hide is true opinions and therefore is arguably one of the more honest characters.

Tom Buchanan, through both his actions and what he says, shows clearly that he, in the most part, fits the description of a “brute” as described by Daisy. He is unfaithful to Daisy and selfishly pursues his desires with no regard for the consequences. As Nick states, “they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money and let other people clean up the mess”

Daisy describes Tom Buchanan as a “brute”. To what extent does your reading of the novel lead you to agree with this view?