When power comes to mind, the measures taken to achieve it tend to be overlooked. A common misstep taken by those on the road to glory is the abandonment of their past selves. Jay Gatsby, previously known as James Gatz, fits this description of self betrayal, but a reader only discovers this with the assistance of additional characters. Nick and Owl Eyes are both pivotal figures in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, as they serve parallel purposes in the discovery of Gatsby’s past. Although they possess many different qualities, they both realize Gatsby’s true nature. Both the differences and similarities in their conduct improve the reader's understanding of Jay’s life and actions. Although Nick and Owl Eyes unearth Gatsby's actual identity, …show more content…
When Gatsby first discloses the course of his false life, Nick is not convinced. Not until Gatsby presents his photograph and medal does Nick consider his tale. In fact, Nick is utterly surprised when Gatsby reveals his medal and thinks, “To my astonishment the thing had an authentic look” (71). The medal and photograph are in fact real, but Gatsby’s account of how he earned his fortune is false. Nick still considers him to be an honest man even after his tale contains flaws. Foolishly, Gatsby says his family is from the Midwest, but then he says they are from San Francisco. For an instant, Nick possesses Owl Eyes’ intuitiveness, until his typical gullible character extinguishes his spark of unbelief. He has faith in Gatsby, even when Tom destroys Gatsby’s facade in the Plaza Hotel. Although Nick had doubts previously, he had a surge of confidence in Gatsby when he explains his brief stay at Oxford. Nick admits, “I wanted to get up and slap him on the back. I had one of those renewals of complete faith that I’d experienced before” (136). Even after Gatsby reveals the truth about his life, Nick still has the utmost respect for him. It is plausible that Nick would have have maintained his faith if Gatsby would not have informed him of his actual