In my opinion the way Nick opens up is the most crucial. Him talking about judgement and morals kind of sets up the story. Along with also not liking what Gatsby represented he didn’t judge him because of his personality. Nick in the beginning tells us something his father said about reserving moral judgement so you don’t misunderstand someone. He describes himself as being very moral and very tolerant which is important as it may foreshadow the theme of the book. He goes on to say he didnt judge Gatsby due to his personality. Nick describes Tom as being powerful and inferring from where he lives connected as well. He also says he tries to interest them in a book that encourages white supremacy so that shows he might be racist to …show more content…
It is here Nick learns George Wilsons wife is Nicks mistress. Myrtle is quiet about the situation and talks some with Tom and George. Tom tells her quietly he wants to see her so Myrtle makes an excuse to leave. The secretivity of the situation implies George is not aware of what is going on. George Wilson is described as being spiritless and covered in ashes. From the description it sounds like he accepted he will always be part of the valley of ashed . They go on to describe him as unaware of whats going on around him and thats how he reacts to Tom too just in a sense lifeless. The valley of ashes seems to be a desolate wasteland that people in poverty live. The most symbolic parts are the eyes on the billboard I believe George describes as the “eyes of God.” Along with that the valley representing poverty which until this point in the book isn't seen yet. Tom attacks Myrtle because she would not stop talking about his wife and saying her name. Myrtle was drunk and started to see herself as Toms equal which is why she did that. However Tom did not like that him breaking her nose was his way of putting her back in her social ladder place and also shows you what kind of person he is. Chapter 3 I believe the most important plot point in chapter 3 is Nick growing closer to Jordan and starting to like the city itself more. It gives some background to Nicks life over the
Nick’s father gives him this advice “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one”(Fitzgerald 1) and to keep in mind “People in this world haven’t had the advantages you’ve had” (Fitzgerald 1). Nick then claims that he is “inclined to reserve all judgements” (Fitzgerald 1). Nick was able to stand up for Gatsby rather than just let Tom have a skewed view of Gatsby when he said that he was “Some big bootlegger”(Fitzgerald 107). Many other people believed Gatsby had some illegal, high paying job. Nobody knows Gatsby’s job, but Nick wanted to make sure that his reputation was not tainted before he met Tom. Nick defended Gatsby well staying reserved and without being rude to Tom. and on the surface it hardly did anything to gatsby’s reputation at all Daisy runs over Myrtle, Nick
In chapter 2 Tom takes Nick to meet Myrtle, his lover, in the Valley of Ashes, where her home is. They all then go to New York, to the apartment bought by Tom for Myrtle, and Myrtle organises a ‘party’, during which she argues with Tom, which ends with him punching her.
Nick is an unreliable narrator. He seems, from the beginning, to be level headed and wholly observant. However, he blacks out when he gets drunk, and we lose time. Also, he is deeply embedded and prejudices us against Tom and for Gatsby.
I think Nick saw Gatsby as great because of the things he achieved and the way he achieved it. Although Gatsby was not from old money he made it seem like he was from old money. Something Nick thought was especially interesting. But what I think really got Nick is when he found out Gatsby wasn't really Gatsby and that he dealt with illegal things all in the name of love to get
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
One thing that surprises me about Nick is that he was loyal to Gatsby who seemed likeable enough but empty inside. He seemed like the picture was more important than the real person. Nick was interested in person and would put himself in a bad light to help a friend. “I didn’t want to go to the city. I wasn’t worth a decent stroke
The speech characterises Gatsby using Nick’s personal experiences with him. For example, he talks about how Gatsby waited to make sure that Daisy was safe. This put Gatsby in a positive light, characterising
Although to Nick, Gatsby seems at once completely unoriginal, extremely knowable, being with him, he notes, was "like skimming hastily through a dozen magazines” (Fitzgerald 55). Gatsby, in Nick’s point of view, was disruptive. He is unable to trust Gatsby, for a fear that he would just vanish at the moment in which a promise leans toward its fulfillment.
Throughout reading, and watching the movie Great Gatsby, we have been introduced to a variety of characters and setting in which these character express many traits about themselves. Even though these characters express their feelings towards one another it may only happen in a selection of settings. Each of these things together differ between the novel and the movie. Throughout the novel and movie we meet Nick who in the book provides a smart, tolerant, caring, and flawed persona.
Nick’s behavioural changes are one the most evident changes that the reader is able to notice after he is invited to Gatsby’s house. These changes could be regarded as either negative or positive depending on how the reader interprets them. “Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.”(pg. 59), this is one of Nick’s quote from the beginning of the story before he meets Gatsby, he states that he is very honest to himself and to others but the reader soon finds out that is not the case. Nick is not an honest individual because after Gatsby is accused for Myrtle Wilson’s murder he does not speak up and tell Tom Buchanan and George Wilson (Myrtle’s husband) as to whom committed the crime. This misunderstanding ultimately leads to the death of Jay Gatsby as he shot my George at his Mansion. These series of events are important to Nick’s behavioural changes as the reader to notice how being in Gatsby’s mansion had affected his honesty. Another behavioural change the reader is able to notice is Nick’s drinking habit as he starts to drink more when he first enters one of Gatsby’s parties. Chapter two of “The Great Gatsby” is where the
At the beginning of the book, he stresses to the readers that he is a trustworthy character. However, the favoritism he gives certain characters makes him seem unreliable. First of all, he is extremely sympathetic to Gatsby. He barely interacted with the rest of the characters in the book, but for some reason chooses to value Gatsby above all of them. On page 44 he says to Gatsby "They're a rotten crowd...you're worth the whole damn bunch put together”. It's hard to notice the favoritism he makes with the amount of unreadable characters, but it does over romanticize the root of the story. If the story was presented without Nick’s perception of Gatsby, it is just a man who longs for a relationship with a rich society
Besides ignorance to thought, Nick being a practical, peripheral narrator, provides little to no, personal opinion. Although it could be argued that this is a negative quality for a narrator, Fitzgerald made sure he gives nothing away, nor forces any opinions on the readers. He leaves all final opinions in the hands of readers, which makes the novel such an interesting topic because of the variety of interpretations available. Nick never judges any of the characters for their immoral actions and poses as an innocent, reserved bystander. This leaves final judgment open to opinion, which is why The Great Gatsby can appeal to so many different audiences. At the end of the novel, Fitzgerald includes the statement “one gentleman to whom I telephoned implied that he had got what he deserved” (169) in reference to Gatsby’s death, which leaves readers to choose a side, whether readers should pity Gatsby, or if one has the right to believe that his unlawfulness lead to his own demise.
Throughout the novel, Gatsby exhibits his persistent ambition to achieve greatness. Firstly, when describing Gatby’s past, Nick states that Gatsby “sprang from his Platonic conception of himself,” illustrating his high expectations for himself (98). Meeting with Nick for the first time, Gatby’s father mentions that “he knew he
Some critics suggest that although Gatsby is the principal figure in the action of the novel, Nick is the most significant character because of his moral development. Exactly what does Nick learn from his experiences in the East?
Since he died for taking the wrath of something he did not do. Gatsby is a man who struggled to get what he wants and who much reach a certain status before marrying the woman he is in love with. He was basically an outsider who comes from an uncertain past. Gatsby was able to win the hearts of many of the people around him with his tales of adventures and showing off his wealth. Yet, there is not a view that shows the success of Gatsby. He tries to convince Nick about his upbringings and his heroic exploits. Gatsby’s stories seemed extraordinary to the point where people questioned it but they still believe