Question

What did Tom mean by his apparently pointless remark, “you can buy anything at a drugstore nowadays”? in the great gatsby

Answer 1

Tom's remark in The Great Gatsby reflects the materialistic and consumerist culture of the 1920s, symbolizing the ease of acquiring material possessions.

Step-by-step explanation:

In The Great Gatsby, Tom's remark, 'you can buy anything at a drugstore nowadays', suggests a sense of materialism and consumerism prevailing in the 1920s. The statement reflects the societal changes and the emergence of a commercialized culture during that time period. The availability of a wide range of products at drugstores symbolizes the ease with which people could acquire material possessions, reinforcing the theme of wealth and excess in the novel.

Answer 2

When Tom Buchanan said: “you can buy anything at a drugstore nowadays” He meant that he knew for a fact that drugstores sold illegal products.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reasons behind this answer are that in the first place Tom wanted to make a joke bragging about his life and what he knew. He wanted the people in the car to know he was a bad guy. To impress them and win their respect by knowing he had experienced in the dark world of illegal products. That is why he said that when Gatsby said that he doubted they could find gas in a drugstore.