Nick Carraway Opioion

“To understand a character’s essential qualities is impossible because the reader’s perception is mediated by the narrator’s views” (Wilde). Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, is introduced in a certain way by Fitzgerald in order to gain trust from the reader. He is shown to be looking back at time and explaining the events that have taken place. Therefore, this trust must be gained as time can askew facts and opinions; the reader must be able to empathies with the narrator and so be able to believe the judgments which he gives. It is through his eyes and ears that the reader forms their opinions of the other characters. In the novel the characters trust Carraway and confide in him quite a bit. He thinks of himself as an open minded non-judgmental, non-partial person. I think that it is almost impossible to live life and not judge others and also not be partial and judge different individuals with different standards. No matter Carraway is a tour guide in the novel, offers his opinions on others which in turn affects our personal point of view of the characters.

After serving in World War I, Carraway moves east from his Midwest roots to learn the bond business, settling on the island of West Egg he soon sees how New York is, "one of the strangest communities in North America" (Fitzgerald 9). Yet it is not too soon after meeting Jay Gatsby that Carraway himself “responds powerfully to the bare suggestion of Gatsby’s dream” (Lynn 158). Even though Carraway “narrates” the story, he is confused about his own opinions on what the American Dream is. Carraway immediately proceeds to preface the story he recounts over the course of the novel by passing judgment on his former companions. Mysteriously hinting at themes, which will pervade the plot of his tale Carraway reflects that "only Gatsby...was exempt from my reaction [this man for whom I have] an unaffected scorn" for us (6). Throughout the novel, Carraway is the vehicle used to gather all of the...