Why Is Nick Carraway Important In The Great Gatsby

What constitutes love? Is it an everlasting bond between two people, or a disguised enchantment that blinds a summer romance and the true character of the people involved? In the American masterpiece, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author puts into question the culture, lifestyle, and moral being of the 1920’s. The novel is centered around the high society of Long Island, New York, where Nick Carraway narrates his experiences encountering a quiet millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and the wealthy Buchanan family. Intertwined into the story of how each character interacts, there are lies, deceit, and disloyalty. Furthermore, Fitzgerald gifted certain weaknesses to each of his characters such as having no structure, set of beliefs, or guidelines.

Born from a wealthy family, educated, and having established a long distance relationship with a women, Nick goes to West Egg, New York to learn the trade of finance and live on his own. An important part of his character is that he withholds judgement from those he meets, until he has a greater understanding of who they are, and why they do the actions they do. He is the intermediary bond that allows Gatsby, his mysterious neighbor, and Daisy, Tom’s beautiful wife and cousin of Nick. The author develops a sense of responsibility that is placed on Nick’s shoulders, which the reader uses to monitor his every action. However, while in New York he begins to develop feelings for Jordan Baker, a famed golf athlete. In the novel it states, “...she had deliberately shifted our relations, and for a moment I thought I loved her. But...I knew first I had to get myself definitely out of that tangle back home”. In this segment, Nick is halting the developing chemistry between Jordan and him, because of his relationship with a long distance girl. This aspect of Nick suggests that he is careful in his actions and feelings. Although his affections are growing for Jordan, he has the respect and honesty to first end a relationship before professing his love. Furthermore, as time advances, Nick reaches the conclusion that he never fully loved Jordan, and thus decides to part ways. This is seen in the last few chapters when it states,