The Narrator In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby features a statement from Nick Carraway regarding himself as one of the few honest individuals he has ever known. Although Nick convinces the reader to agree with this assessment, his own actions and behaviors suggest that he may only be revealing what he wants the reader to know. In The Great Gatsby, Nick serves as both the narrator and the main character, who is selective about the information he gives to the reader. By withholding information, Nick influences the reader's thoughts and opinions to fit his agency. When Nick reveals his developing relationship with Jordan, he also mentions that he needs to get himself out of a “tangle back home” (Fitzgerald, 58). The tangle at home refers to the woman

Nick establishes his closeness to the wealthy by referring to it as, “the consoling proximity of millionaires” (Fitzgerald 5). This bias ultimately affects the reader’s understanding of the rich characters. The conclusion of this statement from Nick highlights his unreliability as a narrator and that his favoritism distorts the reader’s perception. Nick's earliest bias started in the first chapter saying, “then there was something gorgeous about [Gatsby]” (Fitzgerald 2). Jay Gatsby is a wealthy millionaire who is the central character in the story. Nick's initial admiration for Gatsby influences the readers' thoughts on him. Before Gatsby's introduction into the narrative, the reader is inclined to believe that he is this intellectual and perplexing character. As the story progress, and Nick discloses Gatsby's past with Daisy, the reader subconsciously becomes invested in Gatsby's love affairs, even rooting for him. Nick's ability to persuade the audience with his biases is seen numerously throughout the book, despite claims of being honest. From his closeness to millionaires and his biased towards certain characters, Nick persuades the reader to see the world through his lens. Going on to use manipulation tactics and other faulty methods to influence the reader highlights Nick’s unreliability as a