To What Extent Is Nick A Reliable Narrator In The Great Gatsby

Nick is characterised as an unreliable narrator, leading the reader to have the impression that the character of Gatsby is portrayed inaccurately as the novel is greatly influenced by Nick’s personal feelings and how he represents Gatsby’s character. There are multiple moments in which Nick’s feelings towards Gatsby are portrayed as tempestuous at best, with his feelings towards Gatsby changing throughout. During Chapter Four, readers are acquainted with Gatsby’s history with Daisy whilst Nick listened to Jordan, furthering the argument regarding Nick’s lack of reliability as a narrator. Jordan’s character is portrayed as dishonest, and due to this her opinions and narration is equally unreliable. Nick, as well as being the primary narrator, is also portrayed in the novel as a character, and is therefore subject to bias and emotion. Due to his relationship with Gatsby as a neighbour and his past history and hostilities with Tom, he contrasts both of these characters and holds more sympathy for Gatsby and negative feelings towards Tom. Through this essay, readers will be presented with information that will suggest Nick’s unreliability as a narrator, and how his own personal feelings and bias has a major

effect on how the audience views Gatsby’s character and Nick’s opinion concerning him.

Chapter Four is where Nick justified himself as an irresponsible narrator as he narrates whilst hearing the story of Gatsby’s history with Daisy from Jordan, who is classified as an inaccurate source, hence cannot be relied upon.

Throughout the novel, Jordan is categorised as an inaccurate women and therefore on page thirty-eight, Nick used the following quote, “she was incurably dishonest,” to reveal Jordan’s attribute. The quote reveals Jordan’s dishonesty and the word “incurably” describes that this feature of dishonesty about her’s cannot be fixed which, therefore, consequently notifies the readers about Nick’s unreliability as a narrator as he’s intentionally using an undependable source to apprise and influence the audience about Gatsby’s

characteristics.

Due to Nick being a character in the novel, Nick holds a negative opinion towards Tom and a more sympathetic opinion about Gatsby. This may be seen as Nick being judgmental and therefore may be demonstrating his personal feelings about these characters.
The relationship Nick, as a character, has with Gatsby as a neighbour and Nick’s history and hostilities with Tom, makes it hard to believe that Nick doesn’t hold any prejudice against any of these characters. Chapter seven is a good example that resembles Nick’s opinion about Tom as being negative. “I was tempted to laugh whenever he opened his mouth.“ The quote recounts and reveals Nick’s feeling towards Tom as if he’s mocking Tom and adding a more negative approach towards him, leading the readers to have a negative effect, making Tom disparaging. In chapter two, . In contrast, Nick seems to have a different opinion towards Gatsby. Though nick’s opinion of Gatsby changed radically throughout the novel, Nick eventually appreciates and admires Gatsby as Nick’s relationship with Gatsby increased. Nick’s positive attitude towards Gatsby is well illustrated by this quote: “They’re a rotten crowd...You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.” (p.154). Here, Nick compliments Gatsby and places him over the normal crowd. The "rotten crowd" to whom Nick is referring is, the established rich, old moneyed people like the Buchanans, Tom and Daisy, who run away from their problems and hide behind their money. Nick points out that even a liar and criminal like Gatsby is better than the other liars and criminals because of his boyish romantic dreams. Nick’s contrasting views towards two main characters may have influenced the way he describes the events.