"The role and stance of the narrator Nick Carraway"
Despite the title, Nick Carraway is the first character we meet, and
Appropriately his role in The Great Gatsby is crucial; without him the
Story would lack balance and insight. The first chapter is primarily
Dedicated to establishing his personality and position in the book,
Then moving on to Tom and Daisy. Nick is our guide in The Great
Gatsby; he relates the story as he has seen it and from what others
Have told him. He strives at all times to be objective and to make
Balanced comments just as he said in the beginning of the book, I'm
Inclined to reserve all judgements. The role of Nick Carraway is so
Important to the book that the character of Jay Gatsby could not
Exist. His objectivity is reinforced throughout to us by his scorn of
Gatsby which becomes known to the reader when he says he, represented
Everything for which I have unaffected scorn.
The cover of the first edition of The Great Gatsby...
The Great Gatsby (1926 film)
The Great Gatsby (1974 film)He registers contempt
For much of what Gatsby stands for; the falseness, the criminality, but
He still likes him. His ability to laugh at Gatsby and his false
Beliefs show he's neither charmed not wholly disgusted by Gatsby.
Nick's amusingly contemptuous remarks show his sense of humour, and
Although he is straight-laced, he does not bore the reader. Fitzgerald
Tells the audience of his age, thirty, which makes the them take his
Opinions seriously, as he is not some immature man. Nick is introduced
Directly, but Gatsby remains a distant and unknown character for a good
While. The establishment of Nick's reflective, tolerant personality is
Essential, as are his limitations, so we just don't dismiss him as a
Character speaking the words and feelings of the author. The fact that
He disapproves of Gatsby so early...