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   charcunning Teacher
   High School - 11th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   Tom breaks Myrtle's nose because he told her to stop talking about Daisy, his wife. When Myrtle continues to say her name, Tom backhands her, breaking her nose. This shows that Tom has a short temper and also that he basically has no real love for either woman, Daisy or Myrtle. Although he never hits Daisy in the book, one can assume that he is probably verbally abusive. The fact that he is having the affair with Myrtle shows his intense dishonesty and egotism.

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   Posted by charcunning on Sunday March 1, 2009 at 12:24 PM