Characterization

Tom Buchanan is one prevalent character in the Great Gatsby. He is a wealthy man of power, who inherited this riches from his family. Tom lives in the East Egg Village, a lavish neighborhood, that inhabits people who are from 'old money' families. Tom is a flat character, who has an arrogant personality and has no regard for others. Tom is openly having an affair with Myrtle Wilson, a woman who purely desires Tom's riches, although he has no regard for her, as well as his wife Daisy whom he does not try to hide his affair from.  

It is obvious throughout the book that Nick does not care much for Tom, he describes him as; 

..a sturdy straw-haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and s supercilious manner. Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward. Not even the effeminate swank of his riding clothes could hide the enormous power of that body [...] it was a body capable of enormous leverage-- a cruel body (Fitzgerald 7.)

Nick can see that Tom's condescending personality and air about himself radiates off from his body language. Tom's outspoken and superior dialogue gets the attention of others when he speaks. All throughout the novel Tom remains the same pompous and powerful character.