—he seemed to fill those glistening boots until he strained the top lacing, and you could see a great pack of muscle shifting when his shoulder moved under his thin coat. It was a body capable of enormous leverage—a cruel body.
Chapter 1 · Narrator
Context
Nick gives his first close description of Tom Buchanan after arriving at the Buchanans’ house in East Egg. The portrait emphasizes not beauty or charm but force, arrogance, and physical domination.
Analysis
Tom’s body is presented as an instrument of power, and the final phrase turns physical strength into a moral fact. By calling it "a cruel body," Fitzgerald fuses appearance and character, suggesting that violence is built into Tom’s presence. The image also reflects the novel’s concern with brute force beneath polished surfaces of wealth and civilization. Tom embodies a form of masculinity rooted in domination, entitlement, and latent aggression.
How to Use in Essay
This quote is excellent for essays on Tom Buchanan’s characterization, masculine power, or the connection between class privilege and violence. It is especially strong for close analysis of physical description.