The Great Gatsby Group

Question:

jesselopez760
jesselopez760
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What does Tom's discussion regarding the "Nordic Race" reveal about him in "The Great Gatsby"?

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Posted by jesselopez760 on Wednesday March 11, 2009 at 8:25 PM and tagged with chapter 1, characters, nordic race, the great gatsby, tom.

Answers:

  1. mshurn
    mshurn Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    This passage occurs in the beginning of the novel when Nick goes to dinner at Tom and Daisy's house. During the evening, Tom suddenly starts talking about a book he has read, The Rise of the Coloured Empires:

    Well, it's a fine book and everybody ought to read it. The idea is if we don't look out the white race will be--will be utterly submerged. It's all scientific stuff; it's been proved . . . It's up to us who are the dominant race [Nordic] to watch out or these other races will have control of things.

    Tom's remarks show two things: He is an ignorant racist, and he is very proud of having read a book. Nick, for one, is quite surprised that Tom has read a book; in college Tom was never known for his intellect--only for his football skills.

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/great-gatsby/chapter-1-summary-anal...
    http://www.enotes.com/great-gatsby/character-analysis

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    Posted by mshurn on Wednesday March 11, 2009 at 8:42 PM