In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan first realizes that Daisy loves Gatsby during a pivotal scene in Chapter 7. This moment unfolds in the Plaza Hotel, where an intense confrontation occurs among Tom, Daisy, Gatsby, and Jordan Baker.
As the tension escalates, Gatsby insists that Daisy never loved Tom and that she has always been in love with him. Tom’s reaction is one of disbelief and anger, but it is clear that he is beginning to grasp the depth of Daisy’s feelings for Gatsby. When Tom presses Daisy to admit that she loves Gatsby, she struggles to respond directly, showcasing her conflict. Her eventual admission that she had loved Gatsby in the past, coupled with her emotional distress, serves as a turning point for Tom’s understanding.
From this moment on, Tom realizes that Daisy’s true affection lies with Gatsby, a realization that complicates their already strained relationship. This scene marks not only Tom’s acknowledgment of Daisy’s feelings but also the unraveling of the facade of superiority that he maintains throughout much of the novel.