Is Tom Buchanan A Round Or Flat Character

Tom Buchanan, the wealthy and arrogant antagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, is a character whose complexity has been debated for decades. While seemingly straightforward in his brutishness and infidelity, a closer examination reveals nuances that complicate his classification as either a round (complex and multifaceted) or flat (simple and one-dimensional) character. Ultimately, while Tom possesses certain traits that suggest depth, his overall static nature and adherence to destructive patterns firmly establish him as a primarily flat character serving a crucial thematic purpose within the narrative.

Unpacking the Definition: Round vs. Flat Characters

Before delving into Tom's specific characteristics, it's essential to define the terms "round" and "flat" character.

• Round Characters: These characters are complex and possess multiple traits, often contradictory ones. They are psychologically realistic, capable of growth, change, and surprising actions. Their motivations are often multifaceted, and the reader can understand their internal conflicts. Round characters tend to drive the plot and embody the central themes of the story.
• Flat Characters: In contrast, flat characters are defined by one or two dominant traits. They are predictable, lack depth, and often serve a specific function within the narrative, such as representing a particular idea or stereotype. Flat characters rarely undergo significant change and their actions are typically driven by their defining characteristics.

Arguments for Tom Buchanan as a Round Character

Several aspects of Tom's character invite a more nuanced interpretation, suggesting potential for roundness:

1. Displays of Intelligence (Though Misguided): Tom isn't simply a hulking brute. He possesses a certain intellectual capacity, demonstrated by his interest in social issues and his ability to articulate his prejudiced views. His reading of The Rise of the Colored Empires suggests an attempt to engage with intellectual ideas, however flawed and offensive his conclusions may be. This hint of intellectual curiosity, however misguided, adds a layer beyond simple ignorance.
2. Moments of Vulnerability (However Fleeting): While rare, Tom exhibits glimpses of vulnerability that hint at a more complex emotional landscape. For example, his distress at Daisy's affair with Gatsby, despite his own infidelity, suggests a possessiveness rooted in something more than mere control. These fleeting moments of emotional exposure complicate the perception of Tom as a purely heartless character.
3. A History and Backstory: Fitzgerald provides glimpses into Tom's past, including his athletic prowess at Yale and his privileged upbringing. This backstory implies a formative history that has shaped his personality and worldview. While the details are sparse, the suggestion of a past adds a layer of potential depth beyond his present behavior.
4. His Own Form of Insecurity: Underneath his arrogance, Tom seems deeply insecure. He needs to constantly assert his dominance, whether through physical displays of power, flaunting his wealth, or controlling his wife. This insecurity could stem from a fear of being inadequate, hinting at a more vulnerable inner self.

The Case for Tom Buchanan as a Flat Character

Despite these potential nuances, the evidence strongly supports the categorization of Tom Buchanan as a primarily flat character:

1. Dominant Trait: Arrogance and Entitlement: Tom's defining characteristic is his overwhelming arrogance and sense of entitlement. He believes he is superior to others due to his wealth, social standing, and physical strength. This arrogance permeates his actions and interactions, driving his infidelity, his condescending attitude, and his blatant disregard for the feelings of others.
2. Lack of Change or Growth: Throughout the novel, Tom undergoes virtually no significant change. He begins as an arrogant, philandering husband and ends as an arrogant, philandering husband. He learns nothing from the tragic events surrounding him and shows no remorse for his role in Gatsby's death. This lack of growth is a hallmark of a flat character.
3. Predictable Behavior: Tom's actions are highly predictable. He is motivated by his desire for control, his ingrained prejudices, and his need to maintain his social status. His responses to situations are almost always dictated by these factors, making him a relatively one-dimensional character.
4. Represents a Broader Social Commentary: Tom functions as a symbol of the corrupting influence of wealth and privilege in the Jazz Age. He embodies the careless disregard for human life and the moral decay that Fitzgerald saw as pervasive in the upper class. His flatness allows him to effectively represent these broader societal issues.
5. His "Vulnerability" is Self-Serving: While Tom may experience moments of distress, these are usually rooted in self-pity or a sense of injured pride rather than genuine empathy or remorse. His anger at Daisy's affair is primarily driven by his possessiveness and his inability to control her, not by any deep love or concern for her well-being.
6. Limited Emotional Range: Tom's emotional range is limited to anger, possessiveness, and a superficial charm that he uses to manipulate others. He lacks the capacity for genuine empathy, compassion, or self-reflection. This emotional shallowness further supports his classification as a flat character.
7. Static Role in the Narrative: Tom's primary role in the narrative is to serve as an obstacle to Gatsby's dream and to expose the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of the wealthy elite. He does not drive the plot forward through his own internal conflicts or growth, but rather acts as a catalyst for the tragic events that unfold.

The Thematic Significance of Tom's Flatness

Tom's flatness is not a flaw in Fitzgerald's writing but rather a deliberate artistic choice that serves a crucial thematic purpose. By portraying Tom as a largely unchanging and unsympathetic character, Fitzgerald highlights the entrenched nature of social inequality and the destructive consequences of unchecked privilege.

• Critique of the American Dream: Tom represents the corrupted version of the American Dream, where wealth and status are pursued at the expense of morality and human connection. His imperviousness to change underscores the difficulty of reforming a system built on inequality and exploitation.
• Exposure of Hypocrisy: Tom's blatant hypocrisy – his condemnation of Daisy's infidelity while engaging in his own affairs – exposes the moral vacuum at the heart of the wealthy elite. His flatness reinforces the idea that these characters are incapable of genuine introspection or self-awareness.
• Symbol of Entrenched Power: Tom's unwavering belief in his own superiority and his disregard for the feelings of others symbolize the entrenched power structures that perpetuate inequality. His flatness suggests that these power structures are resistant to change and that those who benefit from them are often unwilling to acknowledge their own complicity.

Deeper Analysis of Tom's Motivations and Actions

To further understand Tom's character, it's crucial to analyze his motivations and actions in specific scenes:

1. The Opening Scene in East Egg: In the opening scene at the Buchanan's mansion, Tom immediately establishes his dominance through his imposing physical presence and his pronouncements on social issues. His reading of The Rise of the Colored Empires reveals his prejudiced views and his fear of social change. This scene sets the stage for his role as an antagonist and establishes his defining characteristics.
2. The Revelation of Myrtle Wilson: Tom's affair with Myrtle Wilson exposes his hypocrisy and his disregard for the feelings of both Daisy and Myrtle. He treats Myrtle as a possession, using her for his own pleasure and dismissing her concerns. His violence towards Myrtle, breaking her nose when she mentions Daisy's name, demonstrates his brutality and his inability to control his impulses.
3. The Confrontation in the Plaza Hotel: The confrontation in the Plaza Hotel is a pivotal scene in which Tom's true nature is revealed. He exposes Gatsby's illegal activities and manipulates Daisy into staying with him. His arguments are fueled by his desire to maintain control and his fear of losing Daisy to Gatsby.
4. The Aftermath of Myrtle's Death: After Myrtle's death, Tom manipulates George Wilson into believing that Gatsby was responsible. He protects himself and Daisy by shifting the blame onto Gatsby, demonstrating his self-preservation instincts and his lack of remorse.
5. The Final Scene: In the final scene, Nick learns that Tom revealed Gatsby's involvement to George. This act solidifies Tom's role as the destroyer of Gatsby's dream and the embodiment of the corrupting influence of wealth. His lack of accountability and his return to his privileged life underscore his flatness and his immunity to change.

Comparing Tom to Other Characters

Comparing Tom to other characters in The Great Gatsby further illuminates his relative flatness:

• Gatsby: Gatsby is a quintessential round character, driven by a complex mix of hope, ambition, and delusion. He undergoes significant transformation throughout the novel and his motivations are deeply rooted in his past. His tragic flaw is his unwavering belief in the possibility of recreating the past.
• Daisy: Daisy is a more ambiguous character, but she possesses a greater degree of complexity than Tom. She is torn between her desire for security and her longing for excitement. Her ultimate choice to stay with Tom reveals her moral weakness, but it also reflects the limitations imposed on women in her social class.
• Nick Carraway: Nick is the narrator of the novel and serves as a moral compass. He undergoes a significant journey of self-discovery and ultimately rejects the values of the wealthy elite. His growth and self-awareness contrast sharply with Tom's static nature.

Conclusion: Tom Buchanan as a Primarily Flat Character

While Tom Buchanan possesses certain traits that suggest potential for roundness, his overwhelming arrogance, his lack of change, and his function as a symbol of social corruption firmly establish him as a primarily flat character. His flatness is not a weakness in Fitzgerald's writing but rather a deliberate artistic choice that serves a crucial thematic purpose. Tom's unyielding nature allows him to effectively represent the destructive consequences of unchecked privilege and the entrenched nature of social inequality. He stands as a stark reminder of the moral decay that Fitzgerald saw as pervasive in the Jazz Age and the enduring power of wealth to corrupt and destroy. While hints of complexity might flicker beneath the surface, they ultimately serve to highlight the profound shallowness at his core, solidifying his role as a crucial, if ultimately flat, element in the tragic tapestry of The Great Gatsby.