Nick Carraway in "The Great Gatsby"

Paper Summary:

In "The Great Gatsby", Nick Carraway describes himself as moral and honest. This paper considers how far this opinion of himself is borne out by his view of the events in the novel and the part he plays in them. It looks at how, as the narrator of the story, it is through Nick's eyes that that readers are able to form opinions of the other characters and of Nick himself. It further examines how, as the novel progresses, we learn that Nick's opinion of himself may prove untrue and how his judgment does not remain static, but in fact develops as he interacts with the other characters in the novel.

From the Paper:

"Henry Claridge observes how 'Fitzgerald employs [Nick] to tell Gatsby's story and to provide a context for the events he witnesses.' Having Nick tell the story enables Fitzgerald to disclose information in the order which he so desires, principally inhibiting the reader from forming any possibly negative judgements about Gatsby's character having initially learned of any of his illicit dealings before knowing the person behind the facade. Nick's philanthropic inclinations his 'combination of receptiveness and detachment' means that he is the only character who qualifies as a reliable narrator.' The fact that human erring is inevitable requires that 'Like Nick, we have a responsibility- not to give unquestioning acceptance to Gatsby's fiction, but to accord it in the dignity of serious consideration.' It must also remain in our minds that the language employed by Nick to describe characters and events manipulates the way in which we as readers react to such things. Gatsby is first beheld as being enigmatic: Without having spoken to Gatsby, Nick receives an invitation to one of his parties. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• www.theage.com.au RE: Linda Daley
• Department of English, University of Pretoria Betty Hugo
• 'The Great Gatsby': Nick Carraway's story? Henry Claridge
• Right and Wrong in The Great Gatsby Mrs. M J Marwick
• The Novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald John B. Chambers

More papers on Nick Carraway in "The Great Gatsby":

• Analytical Essay # 146587 : "Gatsby and Carraway in "The Great Gatsby"
• Analytical Essay # 54072 : "Characters and Symbolism in "The Great Gatsby"
• Analytical Essay # 124300 : "Morality in "The Great Gatsby"

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