Nicks’ fascination with Gatsby

Essay by ivotixHigh School, 10th gradeA-, November 2014

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Alexandria Hancock

March 24, 2014

AP English Language

Period 5

Nicks' fascination with Gatsby

In "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, our view on the prestigious society of New York is through the eyes of Nick Carraway. Nick is a fascinating man with a past of being in the war before his friends convinced him that being in the bonds business was all the rage. His pursuit of the job however led him to the one man that interested Nick the most, Jay Gatsby. Gatsby is a man of mystery, everyone seems to know of him yet no one has ever really seen him.

Nick moved into the little "eyesore" next to Gatsby's gigantic mansion, and almost immediately noticed the oddness of his neighbor. They first meet at one of Gatsby's parties, Nick had no clue who he was speaking to, but later on in their conversation he learned that he was in the presence of the host.

In these first few scenes of them together, the similarities of their dreams and desires become apparent, both are die hard romantics that have a lust for the finer things in life. The only difference is that Gatsby will go through anything to achieve his goals while Nick knows to not break his morals. Even though he despises Jay for his vulgarity and immorality, he sees the greatness in what he does. Gatsby can do what Nick cannot, he even says "…[Gatsby had] …an extraordinary gift for hope, a romantic readiness such as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I shall ever find again."

Another way Nick is fascinated by Gatsby is his relentless pursuit of the past. "You can't repeat the past." "Can't repeat the past?" he cried incredulously.