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How Does Nick Carraway Affect The Great Gatsby

1471 Words6 Pages

Krish Gupta

Ms. Yellin

AP Language and Composition Period 3

13 January 2023

The Impact of Nick Carraway on Jay Gatsby While perceptions may not always be true, they are sometimes what society must believe. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a best-selling novel that recounts the tragic story of the main character Jay Gatsby through the narrator, Nick Carraway. Made as both a character and storyteller by Fitzgerald, Nick is able to advance the story through his views and thoughts. Not knowing the truth behind his words, Nick’s role in the story is essential towards the development of Gatsby. His presence throughout is what leads him to his conclusions about the main character. Thus, Nick’s presence in the background of the story …show more content…

Throughout the novel, Nick tends to be the observer in the background. Rather than being incorporated into Fitzgerald’s constant dramatizations between characters, he simply watches them happen. As a result, Nick notices all the nuances, actions, and gestures of Gatsby. Inevitably, these observations lead Nick to characterize him in certain ways. For example, when Gatsby comes to pick Nick up for a lunch meeting, Nick notices that Gatsby was “never quite still; there was always a tapping foot somewhere or the impatient opening and closing of a hand” (Fitzgerald 64). Nick’s presence as a bystander allows these minute details to be seen. Moreover, his specific observations of Gatsby help to characterize him as one who is seemingly anxious all the time. This finding also proves crucial in explaining the actions of Gatsby in the presence of his love interest, Daisy. When Gatsby finally meets Daisy after almost five years, he is in complete disbelief. With Nick as the observer yet again, he is able to notice obvious embarrassment in Gatsby. In fact, Nick describes Gatsby being “pale as death … [having] distraught eyes … [and] trembling fingers” (Fitzgerald 86). Similar to his anxious nature, Gatsby is shown to be a complete mess through Nick’s eyes. By having both Gatsby and Daisy meet, Fitzgerald is able to force an awkward moment between them. Furthering his views on Gatsby, …show more content…

The world is a place where belief is tested. What one chooses to believe is based on their interpretation of the truth. Nick Carraway’s thoughts were our perception of the truth in this tragic epic. Therefore, we have no choice but to accept Nick’s testimony of the events that transpired. Just as we have to believe Nick, we also have to conform to living in our truths. Nick was living in the background of Gatsby’s life, being a mere shadow in the events that took place. Thus, instead of being a bystander, Nick should not let society place him, but choose where to place himself. In all, it is better to be the Gatsby of your own epic than to be the Nick Carraway of someone

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