Question

What’s the name of the book that Tom wants to discuss at dinner? What does this books content show us about Tom?

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

Tom Buchanan is a character in the novel "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. At the beginning of the story, the narrator Nick is invited to have dinner at his cousin Daisy's, who is married to Tom. During dinner, Tom asks Nick the following question:

Have you  read ‘The Rise of the Coloured Empires’ by this man Goddard?’

‘Why, no,’ I answered, rather surprised by his tone.

The book Tom mentions, "The Rise of the Coloured Empires", talks of how African-Americans will eventually rise to power if white people do nothing to prevent that from happening. Tom apparently takes the book very seriously, and shows genuine concern that his own race will be subjugated.

That reveals a lot about Tom. Not only is he a racist, but also a supremacist. Tom is "old money"; he comes from a wealthy family and is used to having everything in life. The idea of having his wealth and lifestyle taken away from him is already unbearable, but it would be even worse - to his mind - if it is carried out by black people.