Tom's Drinking and Violence By Finnegan
Storyboard Text
- Slide: 2
- This scene demonstrates the motif of drinking and alcoholism and Tom's self pride. This moment is when Tom punched Myrtle and broke her nose. The characters involved were, Tom, Myrtle, Nick, Mr. and Mrs. McKee, and Catherine. Tom is drunk and therefore cannot control himself causing others in the room to get injured. This demonstrates not only Tom's personality and characteristics of drinking and treating others poorly, but how he feels entitled to drink and does not have respect for others. Myrtle says ""I'll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai--" making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose" (Fitzgerald 37). Tom's impulsivity from alcohol can be shown within this quote because Tom had been drinking all night and became extremely aggravated. Tom did not have consideration for Myrtle's feelings, shown in the m dash. Myrtle was expressing her feelings and trying to make a joke in a nonviolent way and interrupting her, Tom made "a short deft movement" of punching her in the face. This also demonstrates that Tom does not have any self awareness. The "short deft movement" was most likely intentional, however, Tom may have not even recognized what he was doing and the impact that could have on others because he was so caught up in his own mind.
- Slide: 3
- Why would Tom drink for his own entertainment when it results in hurting those he loves? What makes Tom feel privileged and good enough to be able to do this to someone else? His wealth, status, etc? Will this be a wakeup call allowing for Tom to recognize his impact on people? This moment is a very important scene within the beginning of the book. We are given more hints to who Tom is as a person and how he feels privileged enough to just party, become drunk, and injure others. Furthermore, this is a moment where the motif and the impacts of drinking and alcoholism are portrayed to a different extent. While it is known characters tend to drink a lot in the story, the disruption and chaos Tom caused was out of control and awful. The fact that he insured someone he supposedly loved is not ok, which could potentially even foreshadow that Tom is will do other irrational things in the book.
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