Question

How do tom and daisy feel about race? Why does Fitzgerald include this information? What does this say about the context of society

Answer 1

This is a complex question, and one of the most interesting and critically engaging aspects of the Great Gatsby.  In the novel, Tom reads a book about white supremacy and seems to harbor some beliefs that we might consider to be racist.  He makes a number of statements throughout the novel which are decidedly racist in nature.  Daisy, at some points earlier in the novel, seems to agree with Tom's racist perspectives.  

Answer 2

Answer:

Tom believes white people are superior and should do everything in their power to prevent black people from taking over. Daisy's behavior is ambiguous, but she does not seem to completely agree with Tom.

Explanation:

In the first chapter of "The Great Gatsby", the narrator Nick has dinner at his wealthy cousin's house. His cousin, Daisy, is married to a brute and unfaithful man, Tom Buchanan. Over dinner, Tom asks Nick if he has read a book called "The Rise of the Colored Empires". He then proceeds to explain that the book has opened his eyes to the fact that black people will try to subdue them, the white people. Daisy, who often shows an ambiguous, type of passive-aggressive behavior, does not clearly disagree with her husband. However, she winks at her cousin twice and reveals through her expression that she is disappointed in what her husband reads and thinks. Study the excerpt below:

"Tom's getting very profound," said Daisy, with an expression of unthoughtful sadness. "He reads deep books with long words in them. What was that word we..."

"Well, these books are all scientific," insisted Tom, glancing at her impatiently. "This fellow has worked out the whole thing. it's up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things."

"We've got to beat them down," whispered Daisy, winking ferociously toward the fervent sun.

[...]

"This idea is that we're Nordics. I am, and you are, and you are, and..." After an infinitesimal hesitation he included Daisy with a slight nod, and she winked at me again [...]

There has been some discussion on Tom's being racist or not. Some defend the character by saying he's an elitist, not necessarily a racist. Tom believes himself to be superior to people in general, and that's all. However, Tom is a representative of the powerful portion of society, the portion that would much rather maintain the status quo that benefits them so instead of accepting other people's worth.