The Other Man

Tom is scared. In chapter 7 his eyes are opened to the reality of Daisy having an affair with Gatsby. "You think I'm pretty dumb, don't you?' (121) He can no longer ignore the constant shy stare and the "accidental" brush of the arm. Tom, the hulking man, is being replaced in his wifes eyes and heart by a man he greatly dislkes. Tom has a mistress who he is satisfied with but he still finds it completely unacceptable for his wife to have the same. Tom confronts Gatsby with blatant questions that lead to Gatsby saying," You're wife doesn't love you. She's never loved you. She loves me." Tom refuses to believe what Gatsby says is true. Tom becomes angry and starts to feel the loss of control that he used to have over Daisy. For Tom having a mistress was satisfying because he knew that no matter what Daisy was still his wife, whom he controlled. Now that Daisy has another man, Tom can see his whole life with Daisy slipping away. Tom questions Daisy by saying, "You never loved me?" Daisy can't deny that she never did and Tom begins to regain his control. " I'm going to take better care of you from now on." Tom says this to Daisy in hopes that she will just say, "Yes Tom, I believe you, lets forget about Gatsby and your mistress and start over." Unfortunatly, for Tom, Daisy is stuck in the middle of two loves. One man she secretly never stopped loving and the other, a man whom she loves despite his treatment of her. Daisy is forced to decide who she wants to be with. Neither Tom nor Gatsby are in control of Daisy any loger. Finally her decision and her life are in her control.