In all serious books, the author will try to make a major character more interesting or relatable. Without at least one character that is interesting, any book will feel tedious and dull. While there are many different traits that could be used to describe an interesting person, one particular trait that I want to focus on is intelligence. As a bestseller, and a book that is regarded as a great American literary work, The Great Gatsby also attempts to create smart characters.
One character that’s especially intelligent is Nick Carraway. He seems to be the only character with a job that requires any intelligence whatsoever. Most of the other characters seem to be more interested in having “proper social graces.” For example, when the Sloanes and Tom visit Gatsby, they seem far more interested in social gestures than in having intelligent conversations with each other. In fact, Tom seems to be extremely egocentric and rude, both of which indicate a curmudgeon. A curmudgeon is not necessarily dumb, but it definitely
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Because Nick is the narrator, readers can see every part of his thought process. Every description uses fairly advanced vocabulary and vivid imagery. Readers know that he actually thinks about people and how they act. Whenever Nick describes people, readers can't help but to notice how astute he is. All of these little details add up to showcase Nick’s intellect .
Another reason that Nick is smart is because he went to college. His job of managing bonds requires extensive knowledge, and he is knowledgeable. While a few other characters also went to college, they don't appear to be nearly as intelligent. Jay Gatsby only went to college for a few months. Tom Buchanan also went to college, but he comes across as an uneducated bigot, so college didn't really work out for him. None of the women were educated, and Wilson is just a mechanic. That leaves Nick as the smartest major