Marriage and Relationships in the Great Gatsby

Marriage and Relationships in the Great Gatsby

Marriage and relationships, particularly romantic, are an interesting topic of discussion within The Great Gatsby. While typical marriage vows include dedicating yourself to be at your partner's "side in sorrow and in joy, in the good times, and in the bad, and to love and cherish", this book depicts anything but that. Throughout the novel, characters such as Tom Buchanan openly engage in affairs. It's an open secret that no one tries to hide, and no one (not even his wife), really does anything about.

Tom is particularly interesting. While he initially put in lots of effort when courting Daisy, he still feels the need to have a mistress. The purpose that this mistress (Myrtle) serves is also vague. While Tom seeks Myrtle out in the valley of ashes, and buys her things that she wants (such as a dog), their relationship is also not entirely positive. Upon the repeated mention of his wife by Myrtle, he breaks her nose without second thought, showing a blatant disregard for her. In a conversation with Catherine, Nick hears that Myrtle and Tom both can't stand the people their married to. Catherine expresses that the reason they haven't divorced their old partners and remarried is because of Daisy. "It's really been his wife that's keeping them apart. She's a Catholic, and they don't believe in divorce" (pg. 33).

While it's not explicitly stated who (Myrtle or Tom) provided this justification, it makes more sense coming from Tom. Shifting the blame to other people, Tom cites religion as a reason for the current situation, successfully again uses identities to protect his current way of life.

As a person, Tom is extremely unlikable. He's a racist, nativist, and dishonest person. He treats the people around him poorly and lacks respect for those that are "close" to him (like Daisy). Through his marriage, and the existence of this affair, Fitzgerald demonstrates the way that position and power can protect people from facing the consequences of their actions. Tom's social status allows him to get away with things that really aren't okay. In the real world we know this to be all too true. Certain people can get away with things that others can't, which puts this work of fiction more into context.