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The great gatsby the greatness of gatsby
The story of the great gatsby
The story of the great gatsby
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Nick Carraway is the only character worth knowing in The Great Gatsby. He is living in East Egg with the rich and powerful people. He is on the guest lists to all of their parties and yet he is the person most worthy of attending such parties because he is well bread and his family is certainly not poor. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” (Ch1, P1). These words were taught to Nick by his father showing the qualities that a man with goals and values would have in a place where goals and values was no existent. His Judgmental eye for character and guts of using them when desired makes him more interesting. He has a greatest fear that he will be all alone by himself. Nick is our narrator and the voice of reason in a time and place where parties are the goals and having a good time is all that matters. Parties at Gatsby’s mansion are the rule not the exception and all who attend pay homage to their false prophet Gatsby. He is their leader the charming man living in a mansion and driving and awesome care. Too bad he has no sense of real worth. Yet nick seems to be loyal to him the whole time “They're a rotten crowd, “I shouted across the lawn. “You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.”I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end. First he nodded politely, and then his face broke into that radiant and understanding smile, as if we’d been in ecstatic cahoots on that fact all the time” (Pg 162). Nick appears on the sidelines more than in the mix with all the drinkers and boasters and unfaithful spouses. “I forgot to ask you something,... ... middle of paper ... ...eep my refuse away” (Pg. 177). This shows Nick’s sense of decency and friendship. He realizes that fast carousing life of the East Egg is a terrifying cover for moral emptiness from inside just like the valley of ashes. Before leaving to go back home he took care of all unfinished business. He ended his relationship with Jordan and walked away from Tom Buchanan who he only shared college experiences with. Nick needed to go back to a cleaner simpler time in life away from East Egg and the Great Gatsby. At last his greatest fear came true; he became all alone by himself. At the end he realized that he has been changed and won’t be able to go back to how he used to be. Even though his personality remains the same he is stronger from inside; not afraid of anything. Works Cited 1. Fitzgerald, F. Scott . The Great Gatsby. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925.
As much as generous and honest Nick Carraway is, he still needs a few important improvements in himself. Nick went to Yale, fought in world war one and moved to East of New York to work in finance. After moving to New York, Nick faces tough dilemmas throughout the story such as revealing secrets, and witnessing betrayal. His innocence and malevolence toward others was beyond his control. He did not have the ability or knowledge to know what he should have done in the spots he was set in. He seemed lost and having no control of what went on- almost trapped- but indeed, he had more control than he could have ever known. Because of the situations he has experienced and the people he has met, such as Gatsby, Tom, Jordan and Daisy, his point of view on the world changed dramatically which is very depressing. Trusting the others and caring for them greatly has put him in a disheartening gloomy position.
One of the traits of Gatsby that makes him truly great is his remarkable capacity for hope. He has faith that what he desires will come to him if he works hard enough. He does not comprehend the cruelty and danger that is the rest of the world. Gatsby, while a man of questionable morals, is as wide-eyed and innocent as a small child in his views of the world. These ideals are evident in Nick’s narration and in the words spoken by the other characters, including Gatsby himself.
Why would he help Daisy have an affair if he was such an honorable gentleman? One reason he might’ve helped Gatsby and Daisy was because he knew Tom was an awful husband and person and Tom and Daisy’s marriage was unhealthy. He thought that Daisy deserved better and Gatsby could give her better than Tom. Another reason was because of the advice his father gave him. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” Nick is a pretty tolerant person and tries not to judge people. Because of this he doesn’t say anything to Tom about his promiscuity or to Gatsby about his infatuation with Daisy. It’s also the reason he sees Jordan. She’s obviously dishonest but he overlooks it as a way of being tolerant. This is another reason why everyone likes him, he doesn’t say anything about their bad deeds. This is not one of his best traits. Its good to be tolerant in some cases, but Nick can sometimes act as an enabler. His tolerance can also lead him to awkward situations. For example, he could’ve pushed harder to leave when Tom invited him to spend the day with him, Myrtle, and the others, but he doesn’t want to judge Tom so he stays. This happens again when he spends the afternoon with Gatsby and Daisy after they first reunited. Although, at the end of the book Nick becomes tired of being tolerant of things he doesn’t agree
In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald’s language gives the impression that Gatsby’s party is not as bewitching as expected and through the excess of things, types of expressions, types of actions, and types of words spoken by the rich guests their false happiness and displeasure with their own lives is revealed. In the beginning Nick Carraway-Gatsby’s neighbor- gets an actual invitation to Gatsby’s extravagant party. Although, Nick starts by noticing the glamour and wealth of the 1920’s and telling how the party is enchanting, glamorous, and magical, the further Nick scrutinizes he becomes aware of how the guest “have no other interests other than money and the illusion of happiness than happiness itself.” Nick also describes things to indicate that Gatsby is only trying to show off his wealth.
As F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby develops, so does the character of Nick Carraway. He begins his life in a well to do family living a comfortable life in the middle-western United States. Bored with his monotonous life, Nick leaves to take part in World War I. After returning, he moves east and becomes captivated by the opulent lifestyle of those around him. Over the course of the novel, Nick becomes aware of the corruption and immorality that arises with the glamour of this society. These experiences changed Nick's psyche, transforming him from a naïve, kind boy into a cynical, broken-down man, saddened by human greed.
I believe from what I have read till now that Nick has what many of the other characters lack of, personal integrity and his sense of right and wrong helps elevate him above the others characters . He is more of the guy who knows when to do, or when not to do something. He alone is repulsed by the fake nature of the socialites. Nick represents the quiet, reflective Midwesterner.Nick moved to New York in 1922 to learn the bond business. He lives in the West Egg district of Long Island, next door to Gatsby. Nick is also Daisy’s cousin, and Gatsby uses that as an advantage to make Nick helps him to resurge the love affair between them two.
Often times, debates in the topic of nature verses nurture will reach a stalemate. The same cannot be said to the character of Nick Carraway. In Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the main protagonist Nick Carraway narrates the entirely of the plot through his point of view. His sense of identity, which the reader perceives through his actions, his choices, and his outlook toward society at that given point of his life, is an indication of the class differences within society and the social and economic privileges of those in the East Egg. The people whom Nick associates with during his time in the East as well Nick’s pursuit of success and happiness and its consequences gives insight into the manipulation of the seemingly achievable
To begin, Nick was Gatsby's closest friend, even though they had not known each other for that long. The parties were not the reason that Nick enjoyed Gatsby's company. "Gatsby was unable to parlay his hospitality into any genuine connection with anyone besides Nick, who seems to have liked him despite the parties rather than because of them" ("Best Summary"). Nick really did not enjoy the parties that much. Outside of the parties, Nick and Gatsby spent time with each other. Nick even told Gatsby that he was "worth the whole damn bunch put together" (Fitzgerald 154). This shows how Nick valued Gatsby and respected him
Gatsby’s first impression on Nick depicted the kind of remarkable and unique effect that he holds: “He smiled understandingly...it was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life...it assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey” (Fitzgerald 52-53). Gatsby has that special “aura” that just gives people a good feeling and uplifts everybody around him. He does not look down on anyone simply due to their hierarchical position in society like Tom and so many of the wealthy do. Instead, he is willing to distribute his wealth, evident by Gatsby's taking in of Klipspringer, his servant, and throwing of massive parties open to everyone. He recognizes and acknowledges his humble beginnings as his father states that, “He come out to see me two years ago and brought me the house I live in now. Of course we broke up when he run off from home…” (Fitzgerald 181). The fact that Gatsby even acknowledges his father is astonishing, to even go back to visit him in person shows his character, as most people in that time period would have cut off contact with their failures and blemishes in the past without a blink of an eye. Another example of Gatsby’s character is displayed by his devotion to
At the beginning of the book Nick sees Gatsby as a mysterious shady man. In the beginning of the chapter Nick somewhat resents Gatsby. In Nick’s opinion Gatsby was the representation of “…everything for which I have unaffected scorn.” (Fitzgerald 2). Nick sees Gatsby as what he hates the most in life, rich folk. Since the start of the novel it was obvious that had “Disapproved of him from beginning to end.” (Fitzgerald 154). As time passes, Nick realizes his neighbor has quite a mysterious past. Some think he’s a bootlegger, and a different person wa...
“Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known”‖ said Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald, 59). Nick Carraway is a savvy, intelligent man; who unlike others is able to perceive a person’s hidden desires and ambitions. He is surrounded by people like; Tom Buchanan, Daisy, Buchanan, Jay Gatsby, and others who seek the highest pleasures and luxuries in life in order to quench their unsatisfied desires and pain. Nick has a taste of their luxurious and lavish habits; however as enticing as it may be he pulls away and separates himself from those of the pleasure seekers and their lifestyle which left a bitter aftertaste. The Great Gatsby is
If Nick hadn't been so gullible, and Gatsby so sneaky, the story wouldn't have progressed. The personalities of the characters impacts the novel so much that if it were to change ever so slightly, the whole story would have a different outcome. Moreover, after Gatsby and Daisy are reunited, Nick is invited along just to break awkwardness between the two lovers. In chapter seven of The Great Gatsby Nick becomes dismissed from Gatsby's picture. Now that Gatsby has achieved what he had longed for, Nick's presence is no longer required. When Nick went to Gatsby's house to see how his friend was doing, the response he got was a sign that Gatsby does not want Nick to be involved in his life anymore. '"I hadn't seen him around, and I was rather worried. Tell him Mr. Carraway came over."' [said Nick]. '"Who?" [ the servant demanded rudely] ( Fitzgerald, 113). This is proof that Nick was disconnected from Gatsby's life for a while now. He had not known that Gatsby stopped having parties because of his affair with Daisy, and that he had hired new servants in place of the old ones because he didn't want gossip to spread. Nick was confused at the fact that Gatsby had not notified him about the changes in his
Nick is humble with a heightened sense of what is right and what is wrong. He also can see through the phony nature of some of the other characters in the book. I believe I also share these traits as well as Gatsby’s determination and polite mannerism. Gatsby’s friend Meyer Wolfsheim said “But I knew I had discovered a man of fine breeding after I talked with him an hour. I said to myself: ‘There’s the kind of man you’d like to take home and introduce to your mother and sister.’” Meyer also says that Gatsby is a “perfect gentleman” which indicates he is very polite and also well put together.
The Great Gatsby holds characters in their setting of the 1920s’ of living the American Dream or attempting to live it. Nick Carraway, a man in between coming from a wealthy and successful family, that supports him and pays for all his expenses in the east coast, while he lived there to “make it on his own” in the bonds business. When we first meet Nick he
As a young child, Nick’s father always told him, ‘“Whenever you feel like criticizing any one...just remember that all of the people in this world haven’t the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald 1). This quote shows that although Nick has had a privileged life, he was raised to not flaunt his advantages and what others did not have. Nick had always saw the good in people; however, that was before he began spending time with the Buchanans and Gatsby. Witnessing their greed, superiority, and ruthless actions, Nick discovered that those people of wealth were not as deserving as they appeared to be. Some might say that Nick had been too kind his entire life; Nick began to agree with them. Towards the end of the novel, after Gatsby dies and Nick discovers that Gatsby had no close friends other than himself, Nick formulates a conclusion about Tom and Daisy: “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made…” (Fitzgerald 179). This quote exhibits Nick’s perspective of the wealthy and sophisticated social class. Nick believed people like Tom and Daisy did not care about what they did, how they acted, or what they said. They could act however they please, for their money would always be there to fix anything in the end. While Tom and Daisy were successful people, they did not deserve or earn one cent of what they had inherited. Yet, they were praised upon and glorified for their worldliness. On the other hand, Gatsby was assiduous and diligent, and earned his money. Nevertheless, he was seen as a gangster and a bootlegger by Tom and those of a high social class, for Gatsby earned his money from illegally selling alcohol. Ever since Gatsby