What sort of prejudices do you learn tom holds?

Answer 1

In the first chapter, Tom talks to Nick and Daisy about a novel The Rise of the Coloured Empires he was reading. He told them that "'Civilization's going to pieces'" and that "the white race... will be utterly submerged" (Fitzgerald 17). This reveals that Tom is a white supremacist.

One can imply that he is racist towards the immigrants that were previously entering the country. The novel took place during the Roaring Twenties, 1920-1929. It was around that time when the Immigration Restriction Act (1924) was passed by the US Government, greatly reducing the amount of immigrants entering the country.

Tom also mentions that "'It's up to us who are the dominant race to watch out or these other races will have control of things'" (Fitzgerald 17), which further backs up the idea that he is a white supremacist and that he holds prejudices against the other races in the world.

Answer 2

Tom learns to hold prejudices against people of color and assumes they are inferior. He also harbors prejudices against people who are wealthy and well-educated, thinking they are snobbish and arrogant. Additionally, Tom shows prejudice towards people who are less powerful or socially prominent than him, believing he is superior to them.