F. Scott-Fitzgerald uses the secondary character and narrator of Nick Carraway, as his own voice in the story of the Great Gatsby. Nick Carraway is someone who believes he is open minded and a good listener, but Nick is easily influenced,causing him to become more judgmental as the book goes on. Our idea of Nick personality changes from beginning to end, when finishing the book, many question; who is the real Nick Carraway?
Nick never actually tells us anything about his personality, other than he is not a judgmental person. The reader assumes most of his characteristics from the way he acts and talks, for example, Nicks quiet and reserved ways, portray him to others as someone they can trust. Gatsby takes Nick into New York one day and on the way he tells Nick of his “past,” stating “I’ll tell you God’s truth.” His right hand suddenly ordered… “have been educated there for many years. It is a family tradition.” (65) Although, we now know that this was a lie to begin with, Gatsby told this to Nick because he didn’t want him to hear anything else about him. Gatsby wants Nick to be his friend, (and to help him with Daisy), Nick is still skeptical of Gatsby, but doesn’t say anything more. Eventually, Nick explains to the reader the actual truth of Jay Gatsby, otherwise known as James Gatz. Almost immediately in the second chapter of The Great Gatsby, the reader can notice another trait of Nick Carraway. …show more content…
In this chapter he goes with Tom to New York to meet his mistress, and attend a party at her apartment. We learn that at this party Nick gets drunk for his first time, “I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second…”apartment was full of cheerful sun.”(29) Nick shows signs of someone who is easily persuaded by wealth, and example would be the people who attend Gatsby’s parties. Nick has managed to convince himself that, by hanging around people such as Gatsby or Jordan, it makes up for his bleak lifestyle and “eyesore,” of a house. Although, Nick tends to mock himself by thinking like this, his constant self awareness puts him on the outside of the wealthy social group. Which isn’t a bad thing for him, in chapter 5 there is a giant list of people Nick creates regarding all of the people that visited Gatsby’s house parties that summer. “From East Egg, then came the Chester Beckers and the...All these people came to Gatsby’s house in the summer.”(60-63) This observant quality, is actually helpful for the reader, it;s helps them produce an image of the kinds of people who Gatsby surrounds himself with. And possibly people who Nick believes can change him, without gaining more money. As the reader comes to the end of the book, Nick tells Gatsby “They're a rotten crowd,” I shouted across the lawn. “You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.”(44-45) And when he refers to the rotten crowd, he means Tom , Daisy, Jordan, and company, Nicks become a completely different person from the beginning of the book. In this sentence, Nicks actually judging them, he never liked Tom because he cheated on Daisy, Nick disapproved of Jordans lying, and he was irritated with Daisy because she couldn’t make up her mind. This quote disapproves his own self evaluation, claiming he never judged
Nick never actually tells us anything about his personality, other than he is not a judgmental person. The reader assumes most of his characteristics from the way he acts and talks, for example, Nicks quiet and reserved ways, portray him to others as someone they can trust. Gatsby takes Nick into New York one day and on the way he tells Nick of his “past,” stating “I’ll tell you God’s truth.” His right hand suddenly ordered… “have been educated there for many years. It is a family tradition.” (65) Although, we now know that this was a lie to begin with, Gatsby told this to Nick because he didn’t want him to hear anything else about him. Gatsby wants Nick to be his friend, (and to help him with Daisy), Nick is still skeptical of Gatsby, but doesn’t say anything more. Eventually, Nick explains to the reader the actual truth of Jay Gatsby, otherwise known as James Gatz. Almost immediately in the second chapter of The Great Gatsby, the reader can notice another trait of Nick Carraway. …show more content…
In this chapter he goes with Tom to New York to meet his mistress, and attend a party at her apartment. We learn that at this party Nick gets drunk for his first time, “I have been drunk just twice in my life, and the second…”apartment was full of cheerful sun.”(29) Nick shows signs of someone who is easily persuaded by wealth, and example would be the people who attend Gatsby’s parties. Nick has managed to convince himself that, by hanging around people such as Gatsby or Jordan, it makes up for his bleak lifestyle and “eyesore,” of a house. Although, Nick tends to mock himself by thinking like this, his constant self awareness puts him on the outside of the wealthy social group. Which isn’t a bad thing for him, in chapter 5 there is a giant list of people Nick creates regarding all of the people that visited Gatsby’s house parties that summer. “From East Egg, then came the Chester Beckers and the...All these people came to Gatsby’s house in the summer.”(60-63) This observant quality, is actually helpful for the reader, it;s helps them produce an image of the kinds of people who Gatsby surrounds himself with. And possibly people who Nick believes can change him, without gaining more money. As the reader comes to the end of the book, Nick tells Gatsby “They're a rotten crowd,” I shouted across the lawn. “You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.”(44-45) And when he refers to the rotten crowd, he means Tom , Daisy, Jordan, and company, Nicks become a completely different person from the beginning of the book. In this sentence, Nicks actually judging them, he never liked Tom because he cheated on Daisy, Nick disapproved of Jordans lying, and he was irritated with Daisy because she couldn’t make up her mind. This quote disapproves his own self evaluation, claiming he never judged