To What Extent Is Nick A Reliable Narrator In The Great Gatsby

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Nick is characterised as an unreliable narrator, leading the reader to have the impression that the character of Gatsby is portrayed inaccurately as the novel is greatly influenced by Nick’s personal feelings and how he represents Gatsby’s character. There are multiple moments in which Nick’s feelings towards Gatsby are portrayed as tempestuous at best, with his feelings towards Gatsby changing throughout. During Chapter Four, readers are acquainted with Gatsby’s history with Daisy whilst Nick listened to Jordan, furthering the argument regarding Nick’s lack of reliability as a narrator. Jordan’s character is portrayed as dishonest, and due to this her opinions and narration is equally unreliable. Nick, as well as being the primary narrator, is also portrayed in the novel as a character, and is therefore subject to bias and emotion. Due to his relationship with Gatsby as a neighbour and his past history and hostilities with Tom, he contrasts both of these characters and holds more sympathy for Gatsby and negative feelings towards Tom. Through this essay, readers will be presented with information that will suggest Nick’s unreliability as a narrator, and how his own personal feelings and bias has a major …show more content…

Throughout the novel, Jordan is categorised as an inaccurate women and therefore on page thirty-eight, Nick used the following quote, “she was incurably dishonest,” to reveal Jordan’s attribute. The quote reveals Jordan’s dishonesty and the word “incurably” describes that this feature of dishonesty about her’s cannot be fixed which, therefore, consequently notifies the readers about Nick’s unreliability as a narrator as he’s intentionally using an undependable source to apprise and influence the audience about Gatsby’s

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