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All good stories have at least one thing that helps the story move along in a more unified and intriguing manner. In F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" the element that assists in the progression of the story, is based more on the characters of the story than anything. The fact that Nick and Gatsby have completely contrasting personalities, beliefs, and lifestyles, really helps the advancement of the novel. The divergence in the personalities of the characters helps the plot proceed in a consolidated way. Nick Carraway is an honest man, but he is very gullible. He doesn't realize that Gatsby is a sneaky man with a kind mask over his face. When Gatsby finds out that Nick is his love's cousin, he makes a plan to use Nick as a …show more content…
pawn to achieve his happy ending. In chapter four of the novel, when Nick and Gatsby meet for the first time, Gatsby is elated to find out that Nick is in fact Daisy's cousin. He asks Jordan Baker, a friend of Daisy, to ask Nick to arrange a Reunion for him and Daisy. '"[Gatsby] wants to know," continued Jordan ", if you'll invite Daisy to your house some afternoon and then let him come over."'(Fitzgerald, 78) Jordan had proposed this to Nick only days after Gatsby and he met. Obviously Nick agreed to it not knowing the fact that Gatsby is not his friend, but his puppet master. He is using Nick as a puppet to lure Daisy back into his life. Looking at the quotation, you see that it wasn't even Gatsby who requested the Reunion, but Jordan Baker. He was afraid that Nick would say 'no' to him so he decides to ask someone else to do the work for him.
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 …show more content…
life when he practically shared his entire past with Nick before he was reunited with Daisy. Nick's gullible personality leads him to believe that Gatsby is his friend, but in reality he is only being used by Gatsby. Gatsby doesn't care about Nick, he only cares about his own desires. This moves the plot along making you feel a bit sorry for Nick when he becomes more of an observer in the story than a character in the story. The beliefs of Gatsby and Nick are conflicting and this creates some tension that makes the novel more appealing.
Nick is a man who is certain of his actions, he is aware of what's going on around him even though it might not make sense all the time. He doesn’t care much about the past, he believes that is pointless to think about something that is history and that we should focus on what to make of the present and the future. On the other hand Gatsby is the type of person who has been living in the past for almost his entire life. He believes that he can get anything he desires if he commits to it. He may be right about that at first, but because of his foolish ways, he ends up losing all he has in the end. When Daisy, Gatsby's love, shows up to his elaborate party with her husband, Tom, Gatsby gets overexcited. He tries so hard to make things perfect but it doesn’t turn out that great. Daisy is not impressed and Gatsby takes that to heart. Nick sees this and he attempts to cheer his friend up. '" I wouldn’t ask too much of her," [Nick] ventured. "You can't repeat the past." (Fitzgerald, 110) Almost immediately Gatsby responds sounding offended. '" Can't repeat the past?" [Gatsby] cried incredulously. " Why of course you can!"' This proves that Gatsby believes in reviving the past and Nick believes that the past can never be rewritten. Gatsby is also a stubborn man who doesn’t really care what other people say to him. His strong belief of something as foolish as the past,
motivates him to continue to live. He will not rest until he achieves what he wants, that is Daisy. Even though Nick is no less stubborn than Gatsby, this conflict helps the story progress with an intriguing perspective. Nick Carraway is an man who believes that honesty is the best policy. On the contrary, Gatsby will lie to get out of trouble. An example of this is that when Daisy ran over Myrtle Wilson, Tom's mistress, with a car, Gatsby took the blame because he didn’t want Daisy to get hurt. In this case Gatsby takes the blame because he thinks that Daisy will think that he is a gentleman. He wants her to love him again. '"She'll be alright to-morrow," [Gatsby] said presently. " I'm just going to wait here and see if [Tom] tries to bother her about that unpleasantness this afternoon. She's locked herself into her room, and if he tries any brutality she's going to turn the light out and on again."' (Fitzgerald, 144) This proves that Gatsby believes in the love so much that he would lie to protect it. All of his beliefs are there for this sole reason. Love has engulfed Gatsby's life and all of his beliefs surround it. Nick is different, his beliefs are based on his experiences not on some dream. He believes only what he sees. The beliefs of the two men benefits the continuation of the novel because now we understand what the characters want to accomplish. The way that Nick and Gatsby live has an affect on the way they think and act.
Nick Carroway is not a very judgmental person, in fact, he himself states that he withholds judgment so that he can get the entire story out of the person to whom he is listening. To say that Nick is both approving and disapproving is not suspiring, for Nick rarely looks at things from only one perspective. Nick finds Gatsby to be ignorantly honest, in that Gatsby could not fathom the idea of saying something without really meaning it. He respects Gatsby for his determination to fit in with the East Egg crowd, though Gatsby does not realize that he does not really fit in with them. On the other hand, Nick sees Gatsby to be excessively flashy and, in the words of Holden Caulfield, 'phony.' Gatsby's whole life is a lie from the moment he left behind the name James Gatz and became Jay Gatsby. Gatsby lies about his past to try to have people perceive him as an 'old money' guy when that really is not necessary. Gatsby's valiant efforts to lure Daisy are respectable, yet they show Gatsby's failure to accept reality and give up on his long lost dream.
Though the story is told from Nick’s point of view, the reader gets many perspectives of Gatsby from different characters. One can see from characters like Jordan Baker -Nick’s girlfriend through the majority of the novel, or Tom- the husband of Nick’s cousin Daisy; that Gatsby is not as good as everyone where to think. Based on how these characters act and feel about Mr. Gatsby it is evident that they dislike him to some extent, showing a bit more of a flawed human side of him. Tom is quoted saying “I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong.” about Gatsby depicting Tom’s harsh feelings towards him and showing the reader Tom’s negative feelings about Gatsby. Because the story is told from Nick’s point of view, Gatsby is still painted as this mysterious man because Nick is a bit curious of him and does not know Gatsby in the beginning. ‘"They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together."’ Nick says to Gatsby, showing that he thinks he is worth more than Daisy, Tom, or the other characters. With this quote one can infer that Nick holds Gatsby on a bit of a high platform than the other characters, giving the reader Nick’s indirect characterization of
to rekindle the love between Gatsby and Daisy. After this period in the novel, Gatsby and Nick became even closer friends. & nbsp; Getting closer to the end of the novel is when the reader sees the true friendship between Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway. Whenever Gatsby would ask Nick to do something Nick would always have or make the time to do it. The strongest example of the genuineness of Nick is when Jay Gatsby was murdered by Mr. Wilson, Nick took care of all the arrangements for the funeral and all Gatsby's assets. Nick said "I found myself on Gatsby's side, and alone." (Gatsby, p.165) Nick said this because everyone who knew him wouldn't even take the time or effort to attend the funeral service. He even had people say that Gatsby deserved it, and these were people who. attended his parties. Nick was the only true friend of Gatsby. & nbsp;
Nick then decides that this is his time to leave. Never before have I seen or have other characters tell stories of Gatsby showing such feelings, towards anyone or anything. He had always seemed to me like a man who thought nothing personal for the people around him. He had money and he wanted to show it off, or at least that is what was portrayed to me. It was surprising to me to see him feel nervous and worried about what Daisy thought about him.
Even though he had some thought that the meeting would provoke harmful tensions between Tom, Daisy, and Gatsby, he went along with it anyways, further demonstrating his own innate lack of reservation. Ultimately, Nick is an unreliable narrator who overlooks Gatsby’s lies because of his biased judgment of him. Nick portrays Gatsby as a generous and charismatic figure while in reality, he is a duplicative and obsessed man entangled in illegal business who is determined on an unattainable goal. It is highly ironic that Nick judges others for their lack of morality and honesty; his own character is plagued by lies as he abets Gatsby in many of his schemes.
The story of The Great Gatsby is told through the narration of Nick Carraway. It is apparent from the first chapter of the book, that the events Nick writes about had a profound impact on him and caused a tremendous shift in his views of the world. Nick Carraway is as much a symbol as the green light or blue eyes. Nick Carraway is unreliable because Fitzgerald intended him to be, he is heavily biased, extremely dishonest and a hypocrite.
Similar to Nick, Fitzgerald found that his different lifestyle was exciting. And similar to Gatsby Fitzgerald idolized the rich and extravagant life style. In conclusion The Great Gatsby seems as if it it reflects personal experiences in Fitzgerald’s life but not his full life. Fitzgerald envisioned Gatsby as what he dreamed to be and always tried to be like. And Nick was whom Fitzgerald really embodies. Both these characters in The Great Gatsby can help us understand more about Fitzgerald and what he was trying to say through the characters of the book regarding his own
Based on the consequences of the past, Gatsby’s priority is to earn a place in high ranks in order to win Daisy. Remaining faithful through the years he endures apart from her, Gatsby builds a reputation of being affluent, for her. He expresses his loyalty towards Daisy through the wealth he establishes, for her. In the hopes that she will return to him after seeing his newly gained assets, Gatsby flaunts his mansion and possessions to Daisy. Everything he earns plays an important role in displaying his wealth to Daisy, as well as his dedication to her. Gatsby devotes several years to earning a fortune for Daisy, never deviating from his original motive of living the past, except with Daisy. However, Gatsby becomes “dazed” because her physical existence erases the importance of his belongings. Even though Gatsby’s valuables once signified the path to Daisy, because Daisy is now with him, the items mean nothing. Gatsby proves consistency in his love for Daisy as she is the motivating force that occupies his life. Gatsby’s persistent hope gives him the belief that he can and will live his happy ending with Daisy. When Gatsby’s imagination of Daisy does not align with the existing Daisy, he tells Nick, “Can’t repeat the past?...Why of course you can!” (110).
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,...
Indeed one of the unique features of this novel is the mystery surrounding it’s main character ‘Gatsby-the man who gives his name to this book’ This sense of inscrutability which is omnipresent with Gatsby is cleverly achieved through the narrative techniques which Fitzgerald employs. The most obvious, and also most effective of which is the narration from Nick’s perspective. Throughout this novel it is Nick’s views of Gatsby which we read, not Fitzgerald’s and not anyone else’s. Only Nick’s. And even Nick seems to be some what in the dark as to Gatsby’s character, he often switches tact throughout the novel on his impression of Gatsby. This seems to insinuate that he has been ponderous over Gatsby for some time. The reader gains the impression that Nick has made calculating decisions throughout the novel, in terms of what he allows us to know about Gatsby. He is after all writing in retrospect. The very fact that Nick still has an ambiguous attitude towards Gatsby even after his death, endorses the readers opinion of Gatsby as a character who can not be categorised. He is uniqu...
At first, the only function of Nick in the novel seems to be to act as a reporter, telling us the truth by telling us his shrewd, objective perceptions. Then, as the novel progresses, it turns out that the opposite is the case, and he is siding with Gatsby to make this character stand above all others and shine. Nick Carraway could be one of the finest examples of reader manipulation in literature. But his sympathy towards Gatsby is exaggerated, not so much in actions, but in the much praised language of the novel.
From the beginning of The Great Gatsby by Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Nick Carraway is developed as a reliable narrator. His honesty and sense of duty are established as he remarks on his own objectivity and willingness to withhold judgment. However, as the book progresses and Nick’s relationship with Jay Gatsby grows more intimate, it is revealed that Nick is not as reliable as previously thought when it comes to Gatsby. Nick perceives Gatsby as pure and blameless, although much of Gatsby's persona is false. Because of his friendship and love for Gatsby, his view of the events is fogged and he is unable to look at the situation objectively.
Within the debate on who is to be crowned the “Great American Novel,” a valid factor that may be taken into consideration is how ideals in culture become altered with an evolving environment, and therefore, the argument can be made on the behalf of The Great Gatsby to be considered for the title. Due to its more recent ideological concepts, the novel addresses American ideals that are not fully developed or addressed at all within The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. These ideals can be boiled down to primarily two concepts: the fully-developed American dream of richness and upper-class goals, and consumerism in the industrialization of America. While Mark Twain’s piece touches on the “American dream” with Huck beginning the book off with $6,000
Gatsby has many issues of repeating his past instead of living in the present. A common example of this would be his ultimate goal to win Daisy back. He keeps thinking about her and how she seems perfect for him, but he remembers her as she was before she was married to Tom. He has not thought about the fact that she has a daughter, and has been married to Tom for four years, and the history there is between them. The reader cannot be sure of Gatsby trying to recreate the past until the reunion between him and Daisy. This becomes evident when Nick talks to Gatsby about how he is living in the past, specifically when Nick discusses Daisy with him. “‘I wouldn’t ask too much of her,’ Gatsby ventured. ‘you can’t repeat the past.’ I said. ‘Can’t repeat the past?’ he cried incredulously. ‘Why of course you can!’” (110). This excerpt shows how Gatsby still has not learned that eventually he will have to just accept the past and move forward with his life. If he keeps obsessing about Daisy, and trying to fix the past, more of his life will be wasted on this impossible goal. Througho...
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...