Tom and Gatsby - Foil Characters

"Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face.. His speaking voice, a gruff husky tenor, added to the impression of fractiousness he conveyed." (pg 7) AND "His acqauintances resented the fact that he turned up in popular restaurants with her and, leaving her at a table, sauntered about, chatting with whomsoever he knew." (pg 24)

Both of these passages describe Tom's mannerisms. In the first, he is being compared to most wealthy men who arrogantly believe they dominate everyone. The second, Tom out and about with his mistress, shows his disloyalness to his wife. It also suggests that he does nothing at all to hide his "cheating" and shows his mistress off for everyone to see as if he can get away with anything he wants due to his high social status.

"He smiled understandingly - much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life." (pg 48)

This passage, as well as the one on my first blog post about Gatsby's genuine loyalness to his friends, show Gatsby's character as complete opposite of Tom's. Although just as wealthy as Tom, Gatsby does not flaunt his money as a means for social acceptance or gratitude. Also unlike Tom, he is down to earth and has his head on straight. Gatsby's genuine attitude toward everyone makes him so well loved and prominent, not his money or parties.