An Unreliable Narrator In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Great Gatsby Literary Analysis: An Intentional Unreliable Narrator

In all types of literature and cinema, authors, directors and producers strive to portray their characters in such a way that makes them vivid, authentic and realistic. This simple yet intricate process of characterization is an essential component to making a story transform from good to great. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald has chosen to tell the story in the first-person point of view of Nick Carraway, whose experiences and perceptions shape the story as a whole and influence the reader’s thoughts on the characters. As the plot of the story progresses, however, Nick’s role as a narrator and his reliability begin to be questioned by characters like Jordan Baker. The use of an unreliable narrator in a story can have its advantages and its disadvantages, however, if it is used correctly, it is often times necessary for “[emphasizing] the motives behind the transmission of a given story” (Narratology). For this reason, before one can discredit the novel for possessing an “unreliable narrator”, it is essential to look at reasons the author may have chosen to intentionally make the narrator a certain way. In simple terms, Nick’s ability to come off as being an

In fact, although Nick Carraway may be an unreliable narrator by definition, his observant personality, judgmental ways, and dishonesty perfectly