The Great Gatsby - Nick analysis
Uploaded by Sharkman on Jun 04, 2002
The novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald tells the story of Jay Gatsby, as Nick Carraway perceives him. Nick has a special place in this story. He is not just one character among several; it is through his eyes and ears that the story takes place. In this novel, Nick goes to some length to establish his credibility in telling the story about this "great" man called Gatsby.
For example, “He had 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 faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant.” This is part of Nick's first close examination of Gatsby's character and appearance. This description of Gatsby's smile shows both the quality of Gatsby's character and his charisma. Also, it shows the appearance in which Gatsby appears to the outside world. Nick perceives Gatsby as mysterious and for this attractive reason Nick is drawn to Gatsby’s flashy parties. Initially, Fitzgerald presents Gatsby as the host of the unbelievably parties thrown every week at his mansion. He appears surrounded by luxury and wealth, courted by powerful men and beautiful women. He is the subject of gossips throughout New York and is a kind of mysterious celebrity before he is ever introduced formally to Nick.
In addition, “I am the son of some wealthy people in the middle-west – all dead know. I was brought up in America but educated in Oxford.” Though at first mysterious, Gatsby intentions and motives and even his life are revealed as the novel unfolds. Gatsby has literally created his own character, even changing his name from James Gatz to Jay Gatsby to represent himself. As his quest for Daisy demonstrates, Gatsby has an extraordinary ability to transform his hopes and dreams into reality; at the beginning of the novel, he appears to the reader just as he desires to appear to the world. This talent of creating himself is what gives Gatsby his quality of "greatness". Nick admires Gatsby's optimism, capacity to dream, and ability to live as if the dream were to come true, and it is this that clouds his judgment on Gatsby and obscures our comprehension on the reality of Gatsby.
Furthermore, "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest...