Introduction
Even though the characters of Tom and George in The Great Gatsby seem completely different at first glance, their behavior has certain similarities. First, this is displayed in how these two characters relate to women. It’s impossible not to notice Tom’s cruelty and rudeness, while George seems like a deceived husband cheating on his wife and seeking revenge on her killer. However, George’s relationship with Myrtle is not much different from Tom’s relationship with Daisy. At the same time, the motives of Tom and George’s behavior differ due to their backgrounds, origins, and belonging to different social classes.
Differences in the Characters’ Behavior and Motives
The apparent difference between Tom and George lies in their background and social status. As Leiwakabessy and Ermansyah (2020) note, “Bourgeoisies is drastically separated from the Proletariat” (p.86), so the class affiliation of the characters largely determines the social norms of their behavior. However, how the characters perceive their social position is much more significant.
To which Tom has become accustomed since childhood, Permissiveness leads to the fact that manifestations of aggression are a characteristic feature of the character. For example, he does not hesitate to break Myrtle’s nose as soon as she crosses the line set by Tom (Fitzgerald, 1925). Tom feels the power that money gives him in a capitalist society. Moreover, he knows that money can justify any of his actions before society. By seducing Myrtle, Tom feels like her savior, who helps “a miserable woman to get away from her dumb husband” (Jiang, 2019, p. 474). At the same time, Myrtle’s opinion and desires do not matter to the character because he seeks to satisfy his own.
On the other hand, George seems completely unambitious and submissive. He is probably resigned to his status as a proletariat and does not seek to get rich or gain power. He is not capable of the cold-blooded cruelty that characterizes him. Even when, during an argument, Myrtle yells, “Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward!” (Fitzgerald, 1925), George does not lose his temper and does not show the slightest hint of aggression. Moreover, seeking revenge for the death of his wife and killing Gatsby, George, in the end, commits suicide. He consciously accepts the rules of the capitalist world, where everything is allowed to the bourgeois, and the proletariat must be punished for disobedience. Therefore, George independently pronounces a sentence for the murder of a person as the highest degree of manifestation of cruelty and aggression. At the same time, Tom leaves everything behind and moves on without considering the importance of human life.
Similarities in the Characters’ Attitudes toward Women
Despite all the differences in the characters, the models of their behavior towards their wives have standard features. They are both attached to their wives and seek to take them away from their lovers as soon as they discover the betrayals. At the same time, despite the attachment to their wives, this is more connected not with romantic feelings but with a sense of ownership of something or someone. Moreover, having a wife is essential to both men, but neither pays attention to his wife. Tom cheats or takes up rich people’s hobbies, and George spends all his time in the garage and is more attached to the old Christian culture than Myrtle. Both are cruel to their wives, even if this cruelty is not manifested on a physical level but on an emotional level.
Conclusion
Thus, despite the significant differences between Tom and George, which seem evident at first glance, the characters have much more in common. The main thing that unites them is a rude attitude towards their wives and emotional abuse. On the other hand, the social and economic situation largely determines the behavior patterns of the characters. After World War I, US society split into the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. As depicted in the novel, members of both classes are capable of cruelty, but only one of them must be held accountable for their actions.
References
Fitzgerald, S. F. (1925). The Great Gatsby [Audiobook]. Web.
Jiang, J. (2019). The analysis of the tragic reality of The Great Gatsby. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 328, 471-475. Web.
Leiwakabessy, A. C., & Ermansyah, E. (2020). Analysis of capitalism in the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F Scott Fitzgerald (Sociology of Literature Approach). Journal of Advanced English Studies, 3(2), 78-86. Web.