Rivalry

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald

 

In chapter six, Nick Carraway stops by Gatsby's house to visit and he finds Tom Buchanan and Mr. and Mrs. Sloane there. Just as Nick was surprised to see Tom, so was I. When I read this, the saying 'Keep your friends close and enemies closer' came to my mind. To me, Gatsby and Tom seem to be Foil characters to one another. Tom is very rude, arrogant, and just simply a bully. Gatsby on the other hand is very kind, accepting, and polite. Gatsby does things to please others, and even when he asked for Nicks help with arranging a meeting with Daisy, Gatsby told Nick to invite Daisy when it was convenient.

Because Tom and Gatsby's personalities clash, I think that conflict will arise between the two. Because Gatsby loves Tom's wife, I think that the conflict will escalate to a monumental proportion.  Tom suspicions that Gatsby's wealth is the result of bootlegging, and I think that Tom will look into Gatsby's life in an attempt to prove his theory. I am afraid that if Tom investigates Gatsby, he will find that Gatsby and Daisy love each other. " 'I'd like to know who he is and what he does,' insisted Tom 'And I think I'll make a point of finding out'"(Fitzgerald, 108). I can only hope that the results of Tom's search will benefit Gatsby.