Tom Buchanan Flashcards
(11 cards)
“who reach such an acute limited excellence at twenty-one that everything afterward savours of anti-climax.”
[CH1] LEXICAL CHOICE “limited” makes his life sound pre-determined, east-egg inherited money - his life is set out for him
“I felt that Tom would drift on forever seeking, a little wistfully, for the dramatic turbulence of some irrecoverable football game.”
[CH1] LEXICAL CHOICE - ‘drift’ infers they have no fixed position, have no belonging in society. ‘Wistfully’, lost - Lost Generation. Lost to consumerism
“Supercilious manner[…] body capable of enormous leverage”
[CH1] IMAGERY, Tom physically.
“Turning me around with one arm”
“Compelled me from the room as though he were moving a checker to another square.”
[CH1] SIMILE, dominates interactions. Feeling of control as white aristocrat. Maybe seeks the physicality of his college days
“It’s a bitch”, Tom said decisively “Here’s your money. Go and buy ten more dogs with it.”
“decomposed apathetically in the saucer of milk all afternoon.”
[CH2] HYPERBOLE, DECLARATION. Highlights his extreme consumerism in order to appease to people. wealth seems like the only solution to him.
Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.
[CH2], indicates his violence and temper - gender typical roles for the 20s
“My God, […] Doesn’t he know she doesn’t want him?”
[CH5] BIBLICAL ALLUSION, using God’s name to show his annoyance - looked down upon in contemporary christian society
“Perhaps his presence gave the evening its peculiar quality of oppressiveness”
[CH5] POSSIBILITY, LEXICAL CHOICE - Nick can’t seem to place Tom’ attitude only until he assists Wilson in killing Gatsby
“I’d a little rather not be the polo player” Said Tom pleasantly.
[CH5] Around accomplished celebrities who worked for where they are (new money), he seems idiotic. Not really a Polo Player - peaked in college
“I didn’t hear it. I imagined it. A lot of these newly rich people are just big bootleggers, you know.”
[CH5] DECLARATIVE. Generalizes new money with the criminal underground - possible classism? Just because they’re not east egg - thinks east egg is superior
‘I’d be a God damned fool to live anywhere else.’
“An Oxford man!” He was incredulous “Like hell he is!”
“Oxford, New Mexico” snorted Tom contemptuously.
