Daisy and Tom

• Daisy's marriage to Tom is symbolic of her commitment to material pleasures and comforts and to the social order
• Their relationship is one of convenience. Their roles within the relationship are very polarised traditional ones, with Tom dominating. 
• Tom and Daisy’s marriage solidly preserves social and class harmony.
• The Buchanan’s attempts to preserve their union makes their marriage a symbol of their exclusive membership to the world of old money. The idea that their toxic relationship defeats Gatsby's relentless affection and commitment shows the dominance and longevity of the old money class. Ultimately, class trumps love.
• The contrast and negation of the words ‘happy’ and ‘unhappy’ shows how social security is a selfish middle-way that provides sustainability and endurance to Buchanan’s marriage and successfully destroys Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship.
• Money and social status do not guarantee the Buchanans happiness, as they both search for love or pleasure in their extra-marital affairs but provides an anchor which they “retreat” to after acquiring or temporarily indulging in their desires. (Could argue that Daisy gains autonomy in her affair with Gatsby, but in a society so focused on maintaining appearances and social class, it would be impossible for her to leave Tom and is therefore forced to retreat to her marriage, as her class is the only thing that allows her some agency in society)
• Buchanan’s social position allows them a careless lifestyle, wreaking havoc without facing any serious consequences
• Marriage appears to be more of a social contract than a romantic one