Analysis Of Nick Carraway In The Great Gatsby

Ever since its first publication, The Great Gatsby, by Scott Fitzgerald, and its characters have been thoroughly analyzed and debated. While some scholars view Gatsby as a selfish crook who takes advantage of those around him in order to achieve his goals, his inspiring nature and hopeful charm redeem him. Though his actions throughout the novel may sometimes be viewed as distasteful, the underlining theme of what he stands for makes him an admirable man.

Like Nick Carraway, many people feel an automatic dislike towards extremely wealthy individuals; for Nick, Gatsby is the exception. In comparison to those such as Daisy and Tom, who Nick describes as “careless people”, who “smashed things and creature and then retreated back into their money…and

let other people clean up the mess they had made.” Gatsby is put on a pedestal by Nick. One of the traits that separates Gatsby from others in his monetary status is his romantic nature. While some people were born into their fortunes, and some built themselves up out of greed and a desire for luxury, Gatsby reinvented himself into a wealthy and successful man in order to regain Daisy’s love. As stated in the article, “Gatsby and The Pursuit of Happiness” by William Voegeli, “…he got rich quick out of a sense of urgency and desperation and crazy hopefulness, out of refusing to get over a broken heart and give up on the love of his life.” By devoting himself to recapturing Daisy’s interest, Gatsby was able to accomplish many great things. Gatsby’s romantic, idealistic, and hopeful personality makes him into a character that readers are easily able to grow attached to and root for. Even though Gatsby’s is unbelievably rich, he can still be considered an underdog, as Daisy is already married, and the Buchanan’s came from old money while he came from new money. Robert Ornstein makes the point in his article, “Scott Fitzgerald’s Fable of East and West”, that, “Gatsby is great, because his dream, however naïve, gaudy, and unattainable is one of the grand illusions of the race which keep men from becoming too old or too wise or too cynical of their human limitations.” Gatsby’s drive and pursuit to accomplish his goals, no matter how impossible they seem, help define him as a commendable individual.
When the reader first meets Gatsby, it is hard to deny the he is not infatuated with Daisy, but after analyzing his character further, it can be argued that Gatsby was not as in love with Daisy he told himself; He was in love with the idea of her.

Yet, this notion does not diminish the value of Gatsby’s character. Nick observes Gatsby reaching out towards the green light at Daisy’s dock, saying that, “Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter –tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther… And one fine morning –” Daisy has been and will always be the unobtainable green light at the end of the dock for Gatsby. Ornstein writes that, “Gatsby, less wise than Nick, destroys himself in an attempt to seize the green light in his own fingers.” Gatsby’s persistence to achieve his dream was so great that it cost him his life. Even though it was never possible for Daisy and Gatsby to be together like they were in the past, the goal of Daisy and the goal of love is the driving factor that motivates him to succeed. Voegeli points out that, “Jay Gatsby moved from the romantic love of a woman to the romance conviction that the hard realities of this world can be made to yield to a steadfast heart and a vaulting spirit, to one’s “Platonic conception of himself.”” Having this hope allowed Gatsby to strive above and beyond what was expected of him in his old life; his grandiose dream helping him to surpass the hardships life put in his way. This trait turns Gatsby into an even more likeable character, Voegeli explaining that, “What recommends Gatsby to Nick is not the quality of his judgment, but the intensity of his longing.” Even if Gatsby’s actions were sometimes irrational or scandalous, his conviction toward his romantic dream was undoubtedly

inspiring.
Additionally, many readers agree that Gatsby is the embodiment of the American dream. The tale of his life is a very moving one, in which he reinvented himself. The American dream is to gain wealth and success in America in order to live a comfortable and happy life, and Gatsby, without a doubt, is able to achieve this, as he was born to poor farmers but gradually built himself up. Nick believes that, “…he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen year old boy would be likely to invent, and to this conception he was faithful to the end.” Gatsby journey to success instills hope in others; it declares that those who are unsatisfied with where they are in life have the ability to work to change it. People have the power to become whoever they wish to be. Voegeli expresses this idea saying that, “The most American, most winning, and most disquieting thing about Jay Gatsby is his casual assurance that nothing is settled merely because it has already happened. If we don’t like the hand we’re dealt, the world we live in, we have the right and duty to call for a new one.” Gatsby’s story of rags to riches is an inspirational one, giving individuals the hope that nothing is set in stone.
While Gatsby can rightfully be accused as being a disgraceful individual because of his involvement in suspicious business, such as bootlegging, and his tendency to use others to achieve what the wants, his idealistic and somewhat naïve goals redeem him. Even though his fortune was built up on illegal activity, he did it for love and for his dream. Gatsby’s unwavering hope and determination to succeed are what make him a great man. His pursuit of the American Dream places him far above his neighbors, as shown by Nick’s last words to Gatsby, “’They’re a rotten crowd’ I shouted, across the lawn. ‘You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together’”