MovieChat Forums > The Great Gatsby (1974) Discussion > If you were there, would you have done s...

If you were there, would you have done something when Tom hits Myrtle?

posted 13 years ago by Ailec1987
3 replies | jump to latest

I know it's just a movie but let's pretend it's real life. You are someone who knows the people, surroundings and the couple.
You saw what Tom did after she repeats ''Daisy'' many time and draws blood on her nose.
Because from what I know, if my ex BF or his friends were there and it was real, Tom would be praying he doesn't end up with missing teeth or still has enough energy to run fast. This would obviously be overdone but that's how they feel.

If we were to analyze the characters, I don't think that's the first time Tom hit her but it was hidden back then.

[–] baidoasomalia 12 years ago

There was a really big power differential between the two. He had lots of money and a higher social status than she did. He probably felt he could take liberties with her and likely the people at the apartment thought so, too. There was also a different attitude towards violence against women then as well.

[–] Ailec1987 11 years ago

Yeah, it was a different attitude towards it back then. In this year, not sure if many would have praise him for that. There are some people that hate Chris Brown and he has money.

[–] kaskait 11 years ago

Tom abuses women. It is implied that he does the same to Daisy. She points out to everyone at the table, in the beginning, that the bruises on her hand are from him.

Women had no rights then and were considered property. Myrtle had no power in that relationship. And considering she was cheating on her husband, the culture would think she deserved to be hit.