On Tom Buchanan Is Responsible For Jay Gatsby's Death

706 Words2 Pages

Who really murdered Jay Gatsby? Jay Gatsby has a prideful, flamboyant personality, often throwing freakishly lavish parties with hundreds of guests who are all unaware of his origins. Gatsby’s death proves to be just as mysterious as his life, as the true culprit responsible for his demise is not very apparent. Both Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby himself are responsible for Gatsby’s death, as both played a role in the dramatic tensions that sprouted due to their differences. Tom Buchanan is in many ways similar to Jay Gatsby, as they both have very strong personalities and both cannot control their emotions; this leads to the tensions later present in the book between the two characters. Tom is disloyal to his wife, Daisy, as he partakes in a “not so secret” affair with another woman, …show more content…

Tom Buchanan clearly shows no self control or hesitation in his actions, showing his impulsive and violent personality. Similar to Tom, Jay Gatsby also has an explosive personality, as he too cannot control his impulsive actions. Driving Daisy home from the Buchanan’s, Gatsby runs over Myrtle Wilson, killing her, “[running] over Myrtle like you'd run over a dog” (Fitzgerald 136). Gatsby, overwhelmed by emotions, could not control himself, causing the unnecessary death of Myrtle Wilson. Both Gatsby’s and Tom’s impulsive decisions ultimately lead to Jay’s death at the end of the book, as both men experience strong emotional desires. Responsibility for Jay Gatsby’s death is also seen through the clash between Buchanan’s arrogance and Gatsby’s relentless pursuit of his American Dream. Tom’s affair with Daisy and his attempts to discredit Gatsby set the stage for conflict, while Gatsby’s fixation on Daisy and refusal to accept reality make him vulnerable. Nick Carraway observes, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the future that year by year recedes before us” (Fitzgerald 180), capturing Gatsby’s idealism and inability to let

Open Document