Michael BarbosaMr. Farkavec ITA 3U130 May 2015Are Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan similar or different? The Great Gatsby shows the reader how wealth and power were important elements during the Roaring Twenties. Jay Gatsby and Tom Buchanan are characters overshadowed by their prosperity and power. This so-called wealth and authority has not only affected the way they perceive the world around them, but has also changed them as people. Jay Gatsby is a man who obtained his fortune illegally and his only motivation was his love for Daisy. Jay Gatsby believed that if he became rich he would be truly happy as he could win Daisy's heart with his fortune. Tom Buchanan's wealth was obtained through inheritance. Gatsby's only goal is to win Daisy and for Tom his goal is to prevent Daisy from leaving him. Tom believes that he does not have to make much effort to support Daisy because she is of a better class than Gatsby. Furthermore, he didn't have to compete at all because everything was given to him. There is no need for Tom to make any effort at all; he has everything he wants. Gatsby remembers his past relationship with Daisy and wants her to love him like she did before. He is a hopeless romantic because throughout the novel he never stops believing that he will get Daisy back and that he is the only man Daisy has ever loved. What Gatsby fails to see is that it is not possible to go back in time and rewrite the past. Gatsby eventually realizes that, even though he loves Daisy, and she loved him once she also loves Tom. Gatsby feels uncomfortable when Daisy expresses her love for both men. “Oh, you want too much!” shouted Gatsby. “I love you now, isn't that enough?” I can't help what's past." She began to sob helplessly. 'I loved him once, but I love you too.'" (Fitzgerald, 132) What Gatsby fails to see is that Daisy is not in love with anyone of the two men, but above all of what they can give her. Daisy is forced to decide between him or Tom, and this ultimately leads to Gatsby's death the others. Gatsby grew up poor, and once he Scott Fitzgerald makes a point of showing similarities between Gatsby and Tom. One of the first similarities the reader may notice is that both men use people to get what they want to meet Daisy “'I don't want you to get the wrong idea about me from all these stories you hear.'” (Fitzgerald, 65) He befriends Nick to find out information about Daisy Gatsby also uses all the people he invites to his party as his only goal was to find someone who might know Daisy. Gatsby didn't want all these people, he only did it for selfish reasons. Gatsby uses Nick to make sure Daisy comes to tea so he can see her again. While Daisy and Nick are at Gatsby's house, Gatsby completely forgets about Nick and focuses only on Daisy. Once he got what he wanted, Gatsby forgot about Nick. Tom also uses people to get his desires. The first person Tom uses is Daisy when he marries her. He doesn't love her; he just wants someone who fits into his mundane life. Even on their honeymoon, Tom cheats on Daisy, which shows how much he cares and respects her. «The girl who was with him also ended up in the newspapers because she had a broken arm: she was one of the waitresses at the Hotel Santa Barbara.» (Fitzgerald, 77) Tom also uses Myrtle because he doesn't treat her well because he has no intention of leaving Daisy to be with Myrtle. Tom would not jeopardize his status as he loves himself more than anyone else. This is seen when Myrtle dies; Tom