The Great Gatsby Judgemental Analysis Essay

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, Nick believes himself to be an honest and nonjudgmental narrator. As a child he was told by his father, “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” (1) I find, after only reading the first chapter, that even the way Nick characterizes the others seems to be judgmental descriptions.
Notice the judgment in the way Nick describes Tom, his cousin’s husband, “His family were enormously wealthy—even in college his freedom with money was a matter for reproach.” Even Nick noticing that Tom has “arrogant eyes” seems to be swaying the reader to believe that Nick is judging Tom to be spoiled from old money. (3) While reading the story you not only have Nick’s point of view but Fitzgerald does allow the characters to describe themselves through their own words and actions. For example, Nick’s judgmental description is backed up by Tom’s own bragging, “I’ve got a nice place here,’ he said, his eyes flashing about restlessly. Turning me around by one arm he moved a broad flat hand along the front vista, including in its sweep a sunken Italian garden, a half acre of deep pungent roses and a snub- nosed motor boat that bumped the

tide off shore.” (4)
On the contrary, the way Nick describes himself is snobbish but the way he acts and his thoughts seem to be different.

To think so highly of himself when a stranger on the street simply asked him for directions. He thought to himself, “I was a guide, a pathfinder, an original settler. He had casually conferred on me the freedom of the neighborhood.” (2) Then to be so timid in front of others. He basically let Tom drag him around the whole night and when regarding Mrs. Baker he states, “If she saw me out of the corner of her eyes she gave no hint of it—indeed, I was almost surprised into murmuring an apology for having disturbed her by coming in.” (4) He spoke little and seemed to just listen and agree with the

others.
I do think Nick does a great job explaining the other characters and the way they carry themselves, even though it is only in his high society point of view. Nick reveals, “My family have been prominent, well-to-do people in this middle-western city for three generations.” (1) With this type of background it reminds me that Nick was born into money and does have the social connections that others may have to work for. Even though he doesn’t believe himself to be judgmental, at this point, it appears he has no other choice. He only knows one way of looking at the other characters and that is a person’s inherited and individual financial achievements.