Essay On Nick Carraway In The Great Gatsby

Nick Carraway, the narrator, is an essential part of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Nick is able to stay in the background and be observant for most of the novel but simultaneously is able to remain a very important character. Coming home from the war back to his home in the Midwest, he began to feel stifled. Hence, he longed for a more exciting lifestyle. When he moved to New York, readers are able to see his fascination with the lives of those belonging to the upper class. However, this fascination soon ends when he realizes everyone’s true character. Nick manages to distance himself, and learns that he loves the quieter and more genuine Middle West. When Nick Carraway fought in World War I, it brought ever changing excitement

The people that Nick has been surrounding himself love nothing more than talking about themselves, and their money, predominantly Tom. For example, the day of the luncheon Tom tried to impress everyone with the materialistic things he has. Tom mentions, “‘I’ve heard of making a garage out of a stable,’ Tom was saying to Gatsby, ‘but I’m the first man who ever made a stable out of a garage’”(119). His aim was to impress, but it ended up just being a loud cry for attention. Although, it was not only Tom that loves talking about his money. Gatsby, who Nick constantly gives the benefit of the doubt, talks about his money in hopes of impressing Daisy, the love of his life. Gatsby shows the house to Daisy and Nick, and when they got to his closet he was proud to present everything he had to Daisy, trying to prove to her that he was good enough for her. Gatsby goes on to talk about the clothes he has, saying “‘I’ve got a man in England who buys me clothes. He sends over a selection of things at the beginning of every season, spring and fall.’ He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one, before us… While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher”(92). Everyone that Nick surrounds himself with were dedicated to prove something to each other, constantly trying to impress. Nick begins to take notice of this, their true colors really beginning

In the end of the book, when Gatsby is shot and Wilson kills himself, The Buchanan’s retreat “back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together”(179). Much to Nicks dismay, he is inclined to judge the Buchanans. Nick mentions that, “They were careless people”(179), along with everyone involved in Gatsby 's death. This is the first time readers see Nick make such blunt remarks about someone. Nick then finds himself front and center in the middle of the drama surrounding Gatsby 's death. It is not a place he wants to be, but if he does not take care of Gatsby 's ordeals, no one will. A turning point for Nick was when none of the people who previously came to Gatsby 's parties, showed at his funeral. All of Gatsby’s so-called friends were so wrapped up in their own lives, they did not have time to pay their respects to a dead man. Following the funeral, Nick ends up seeing Jordan. She had been heartbroken over the fact that Nick had ended their relationship over the phone. Jordan then makes a remark that really questions Nicks character. She brings up an old conversation they had had earlier. Jordan says “You said a bad driver was only safe until she met another bad driver? Well, I met another bad driver, didn 't I? I mean it was careless of me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were rather an honest, straightforward person. I thought it was