Unreliable Narrator In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

In this article, the author utilizes arguments from the novel to support his claim that Nick is an unreliable narrator. He makes the statement that there are points in the novel in which Nick is flawed, confused, misleading, and an inaccurate teller of the tale. Cartwright writes, “Almost from the beginning, the narration invites readers to feel subtle distinctions between representation and explanation...it gives readers two types of impressions. One created through descriptions of places, things, and events, and another created by Nick’s responses and reflections” (Cartwright 3). Nick occasionally only sees a portion of the meaning that a scene carries. An example of this is portrayed when Daisy recounts the story of the butler’s nose before

During their journey, Fitzgerald calls the reader’s attention to Nick’s filtering lenses. This article states that Fitzgerald wishes to distance the reader from Carraway’s judgment, just as Nick is distanced from Gatsby. In receiving more information about Gatsby, Nick rapidly demonstrates a repertoire of responses, his sensitivity at Gatsby’s overtness, “A little overwhelmed, I began the generalized evasions which that question deserves” (Fitzgerald 65), and his fine ear for the false note as Gatsby stumbles over “educated at Oxford...And with this doubt his whole statement fell to pieces” (Fitzgerald 65). In this scene, Nick’s initial, cool skepticism toples before his sensual imagination, which as a result leaves the reader’s more balanced impressions at odds with the narrators. The narrators reactions do distance himself from Gatsby which in turn distances the reader from Gatsby. With the story being told through the eyes of Nick Carraway, it is unfair to the readers since they cannot come to their own perception of Gatsby’s

Nick asks, “ ‘What was that? ...The picture of Oxford?’ ” (Fitzgerald 68). This question can be considered sarcastic, but if Nick is now taking rhetorical revenge, are the readers to understand that his vision of the Grand Canal and chest of rubies is sarcastic too? Or has Nick switched to his rationalist mode? Nick often means more or less that what he says, or his impressionability and fastidiousness alternately swallow each other. The key to Nick’s response is his admission that his “incredulity was submerged in fascination” (Fitzgerald 67). Fitzgerald displays Carraway becoming increasingly convinced of Gatsby, which simultaneously, moves the reader as well. When Nick starts to believe that Gatsby was this wealthy man from Oxford, it left the readers with a feeling with acceptance as