F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby is a novel that explores the decadence and excess of the Roaring Twenties through the lives of its characters, including the wealthy and enigmatic Jay Gatsby and his neighbor, Tom Buchanan.
Tom Buchanan is a wealthy, arrogant, and selfish character who represents the corrupt and decadent values of the wealthy elite during this time period. He is a product of the "old money" aristocracy, and he uses his wealth and social status to manipulate and control those around him. He is openly contemptuous of those who are not in his social class, and he has a deep sense of entitlement that allows him to act with impunity.
Despite his privilege and wealth, Tom is a deeply unhappy and unfulfilled character. He is unhappy in his marriage to the beautiful and shallow Daisy Buchanan, and he engages in extramarital affairs in an attempt to find some kind of satisfaction. He is also heavily involved in illegal activities, including bootlegging and participating in a cover-up of a hit-and-run accident that ultimately leads to the deaths of several characters in the novel.
In contrast, Jay Gatsby is a self-made man who has risen from humble beginnings to become one of the wealthiest and most influential figures in New York society. He is mysterious and enigmatic, and his past is shrouded in secrecy. Gatsby is deeply in love with Daisy Buchanan, and he spends the entire novel trying to win her back and reclaim the happiness they once shared.
Despite their differences in background and temperament, Tom and Gatsby both represent the excess and decadence of the Roaring Twenties. Tom represents the corrupt and selfish values of the old money aristocracy, while Gatsby represents the hopeful and ambitious spirit of the self-made man. Ultimately, both characters suffer tragic consequences as a result of their pursuit of wealth and status.
In conclusion, Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby are complex and multifaceted characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. They represent the excess and decadence of the Roaring Twenties, and their actions and choices have far-reaching consequences for themselves and those around them.