Question

Tom is obviously a terrible person ( racist, cheats on his wife, violet towards women)- why doesn’t anyone try to stop him in this behavior? Gatsby

Answer 1

It is important to understand that fictional characters, such as Tom and Gatsby, are creations of the author's imagination and serve a particular purpose in the story. The characters in a novel are not real people, and their actions and behaviors do not necessarily reflect the views or actions of the author or society as a whole.

In the case of Tom, it is possible that other characters in the novel are either complicit or indifferent to his behavior due to the social norms and values of the time period. For example, in the 1920s, when "The Great Gatsby" is set, racism and sexism were prevalent, and it was not uncommon for men to have affairs or engage in violent behavior towards women without facing significant consequences.

It is also possible that some characters may not be aware of the extent of Tom's behavior, or they may feel powerless to do anything about it. Additionally, the author may have deliberately portrayed Tom in a negative light to highlight the flaws and moral decay of the society in which the novel is set.

Ultimately, it is up to the reader to interpret and make sense of the characters and their actions in the context of the story and the world in which it is set.

Answer 2

Tom not only has a visible affair with a woman in town, but he is abusive to both his wife and his mistress. Always needing to feel in control, Tom is often judgmental in conversation, especially toward Nick and Gatsby, two men that seem to know his wife apart from him. No one tries to stop him because he is his own person/character.