What Does Tom's First Words Mean In The Great Gatsby

The first words are important because they build first impressions, and first impressions stick with you. When you’re reading literature, the analysis of a character’s first words can reveal a lot about the author's intent and can foreshadow the overall story. When F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby, he intentionally wrote the first words of his characters to reveal more about the character and who they really are.

When Tom Buchanan speaks, his first words indeed contribute to the first impression we make about him. Tom says his first words while he is greeting his wife's cousin, Nick Carraway, outside of Tom's home. Tom’s first words are actually about his home. Tom’s first words are “‘ I’ve got a nice place here’”(7). Not only is Tom pointing out his castle of a home but is also complimenting himself with pride. Tom’s first words are a proud statement reflecting his

life and demonstrating his wealthiness. His braggy comment about his home builds the first impression that Tom is an arrogantly selfish man. F. Scott Fitzgerald intentionally wrote the first words of to reveal how arrogant and selfish Tom really is and to foreshadow how his cockiness may be an issue further on in the book. When F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby, he carefully selected his characters first words for a reason.

Fitzgerald also wrote his other main characters’ first words with intent to provide a first impression of that character.

This character would be Daisy Buchanan. After Tom greets Nick, he invites him into his extravagant place where Nick is to visit his cousin Daisy. After they are in Tom’s house, he shows Nick the way to daisy. Once Daisy sees her cousin she says, “‘ I’m p-paralyzed with happiness”’(8). When Daisy speaks her first words she stutters as she says she is paralyzed. The first thing we hear from daisy is saying that she feels paralyzed within her life with Tom. Her stutter contributes to her paralyzed and helplessness she feels within her marriage. Overall Daisy's first words are very building the first impression that she is nervous and scared to the point where she had to stutter. So, F. Scott Fitzgerald intentionally made daisy stutter when she first spoke in order to invent the first impression that daisy feels helplessly stuck in her marriage with Tom. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby, he intentionally decided the first words of his characters for a

purpose.

In conclusion, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s choice of his main characters first words are meant to reveal more about the characters themselves and to foreshadow the overall plot of the novel, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald demonstrates excellent use of author's intent as he deliberately wrote his characters first words. First words are important because they build first impressions and first impressions are the first thing we remember about someone we've only recently meant.