Humility Quotes In The Great Gatsby

"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone.just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had," was the world's Nick Carraway's father had told him to provoke a humble attitude for him (Fitzgerald 1). In Long Island, however, with flashy neighbors like Jay Gatsby and the Buchanan's, Nick gets to see how in the absence of humility, the passion, greed, and love among other emotions can impose others with overwhelming ego. Set in the 1920's, a time of social rebellion, these characters are built on ego. F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" shoes the extremes of emotional desires as it overshadows morality and ethics from the view of a neutral component: Nick Carraway. Nick's point of view is crucial

This is first seen in his line of work and his home. In chapter 1, we see how after World War I, Nick needed a job to support himself, so he took to the bond business as a broker. He also settles in West Egg, but compares his scrawny home as "an eyesore.and it had been overlooked.all for eighty dollars a month," (Fitzgerald 1). Nick's decision to move to New York, under those conditions, clearly indicates to the reader of his own desires to live a humble life, while setting up areas of contrast to characters such as Gatsby and Tom, who both live extravagant lives. Furthermore, I think Fitzgerald's decision to give these traits to a protagonist undermines the concept of the American Dream, which correlates to the desires of most of the major characters, except Nick, himself. Because of his humble values, Nick's role as the protagonist exercises minimal prejudice towards other characters. Consequently, his point of view is used for accurately characterizing the other characters. Unlike Nick's humble perspective and minimal lifestyle, Tom and Daisy Buchanan live melodramatic and flaunty

From Nick's neutral standpoint, we see how Tom's lust overpowers the bond he has with Daisy. In turn, Tom's deviations create a false trust with Myrtle, which is responsible for demoralizing her own marriage. This shifty nature of Tom Buchanan dictates a feeling of greed, contempt, and disloyalty, which is unlike any character in "The Great Gatsby." Similarly, these feelings are also seen in the main female protagonist, Daisy Buchanan. Daisy's demeanor is very concealing at the beginning of the book, but, with Gatsby's association, we see how indecisive and confused she is. "I did love him once-but I loved you too" were her words when given the ultimate choice between Gatsby or Tom (Fitzgerald, 7). This conflict Daisy faces highlights the uncanny resemblance to Tom. Both struggle to find satisfaction in love, and sacrifice their ethics to get what they want. In Daisy's case, however, the outstanding factor pushing her over the edge was Jay Gatsby. Objectively the most volatile character, Jay Gatsby personifies the absence of