Examples Of Nick's Judgement In The Great Gatsby

“You can’t judge a book by its cover” is something that is taught to us throughout our lives, and this is because it can relate to many different things such as judging a person wrongly just by their first impression. The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald shows that one cannot properly judge a person based on a first impression. Nick makes this evident, when he perceives Gatsby differently throughout the novel, as more of Jay Gatsby’s character is unveiled to Nick.

Firstly, Nick perceives the man living in the mansion beside him, Jay Gatsby, as a man of great wealth. At the beginning of the novel, when Nick has not yet been personally introduced to Gatsby, he is led to perceive the man “Gatsby” solely based on his actions. One

In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald chapter 3 pg.41) What nick says about the parties makes evident to the reader that he thinks Gatsby is wealthy because he puts emphasis on describing his gardens in his house, the champagne, and the stars that are attending the party. As well, from this quote it is evident that nick puts an emphasis on the awe of the house and party. He puts emphasis on the size and how beautiful the gardens are, and how grand the party at his house was from the various stars to hard working men and women. From when Nick hasn’t even seen Gatsby, he has the impression that he is a great man. This is shown to us when Nick is describing the party and admiring the house beside him at the

Gatsby has this mysteriousness about his character and in the novel when Gatsby first introduces himself to Nick; something is drawn to finding out more about the man called “Gatsby”. Gatsby only reveals little about himself throughout his relationship with Nick, and the first time that he reveals his character to Nick, he is very interested “ My incredulity was submerged in fascination now; it was like skimming hastily through a dozen magazines.” (F. Scott Fitzgerald pg.72) Nick’s perception of Gatsby is show through this quote by him showing fascination and interest towards Gatsby’s character. When Gatsby shows him tokens from his past, nick is like a kid in a candy store, looking through all of the tokens, wanting more and more, but Gatsby only tells him a little about himself. Nick thinks that Gatsby is interesting because of what he tells and shows him, but a major part of why he is so interesting to Nick is because he only has revealed little of his character, where Nick wants to see all of it. Gatsby is called a great man in this novel, and what makes him so great is the way that he reveals himself to others. Gatsby does not make interactions with too many people, and that is part of why he is so “great” when you meet him. At his parties there is a mysterious mood that settles once his name is said because of al the contradicting rumors of who he is. When Nick is