The Role of the Narrator in The Great Gatsby Essay

In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nick’s unreliability as a narrator is blatantly evident, as his view of Gatsby’s actions seems to arbitrarily shift between disapproval and approval. Nick is an unreliable and hypocritical narrator who disputes his own background information and subjectively depicts Gatsby as a benevolent and charismatic host while ignoring his flaws and immorality from illegal activities. He refuses to seriously contemplate Gatsby’s negative attributes because of their strong mutual friendship and he is blinded by an unrealized faith in Gatsby. Furthermore, his multitude of discrepancies damage his ethos appeal and contribute to his lack of dependability.

His philosophy, ‘I’m inclined to reserve all judgements…’ suggests he won’t take any characters sides, and that he will think twice before ‘criticizing anyone’. Although at the beginning we seem to put our trust in Nick that he will be a detailed narrator, we can begin to question his reliability near the end of chapter 1 when Nick says, ‘I was in and without’, highlighting inconsistent narrating skills (he won’t be fully involved in all the events that go on), and therefore, we can assume that sometimes he will step back in the novel and let the inevitable unfold. One example of Nick being reserved is in Tom Buchanans house, when he is being invited over for dinner with Daisy Buchanans and Jordan Baker. He seems to withdraw in passing conversations and ‘avoid all eyes’. This either suggests he can be unsociable and shy at times, or he is merely observing certain situations without contributing to them.

The reader receives the impression that Nick’s self analysis of his own character tries to influence their opinion of him. Therefore the reader becomes inclined to question his judgements. Nick Carraway’s narration takes the reader into his confidence; he describes significant experiences in an almost voyeuristic way. Nicks narrative style uses elaborate and very mature vocabulary that gives extra depth and description to his account; drawing the reader further into the story. Additionally Nick’s tone creates a sense of authority and immediacy which encourages the reader to read on.

1. Pay attention to Nick's judgments. What do they reveal about his character that he does this (especially in relation to his opening comments)?

Nick's assessment of the other characters is honest, he does not exaggerate their actions, although his incessant judging and prejudging is biased, that is reserved to him. Carroway relays Tom's remarks about race "It's up to us, who are the dominant race, to watch out or these other races will have control of things" but does not interrupt the conversation to add his judgement, rather he waits until Tom is finished to state "There was something pathetic in his concentration, as if his complacency, more acute than of old was not enough to him anymore." By separating his assumption from what actually happened the reader is encouraged to believe that Nick is a reliable narrator who does not distort the

At one point in the novel, Nick says that "human sympathy has its limits" (143).  Even the narrator of the story, who has less

To begin with, because Nick is merely another character in the unfolding tragedy readers can never see into

Nick Carraway is the most reliable character for the choice of narrator. At the beginning of the book Nick’s father

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.

character but is vital in the role of the novel. It is later that Nick realizes that he becomes twisted and that he finds no desire to associate himself with careless people like Tom, Daisy,

Before one can learn, one must be confused. It’s no surprise that a coming of age character starts out naïve and inexperienced. When Nick first introduces himself, he appears very innocent. “In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice,” he says. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald 1). Nick naively claims that he is a man

Nick is a reliable narrator because he is within and without of the story. Towards the middle of the book thats when Nick and the readers realize that he is “within and without”. “..., simultaneously enchanted by repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life” Here, the author portrays Nick as if he was present in mind but absent in heart, he has an overview of everything which means that through him we will see the truth and that he is someone to trust throughout the book.“Human secrecy to the casual watcher in the darkening streets, and I was him too looking up and wondering”. Here, the author wants us to know what nick is doing, he is in the scene getting along with them, knows their secrets, but he observes it all and knows what is really going on. Clearly, Nick is reliable because he is within and without, views it all, knows each individual and through him we are able to see what is truly happening between the characters.

Nick showed just enough emotion and judgment throughout the complete novel to be considered an active and non-omniscient character. There are those who

A. Towards the end of the novel, Nick criticizes Tom and Daisy's careless nature. This highlights

who is Nicks new neboir and a very rich man who always has parties. The main