Immoral vs. Flawed Can a fourteen year old boy be convicted of being immoral because of lying, cheating, stealing, faking, drugging, and masquerading? What is expected of a fourteen year old teen who had divorced parents, is unsupported, unloved, taken advantage of, used, abused, has no real friends, physically unappealing to most, anti-social, a nerd, a softy, and an introvert? If that boy does makes a series of bad choices, is he automatically an immoral person. Immoral is the act of violating moral principles, not following patterns of conduct commonly made and accepted as compatible with the principles of personal and social norms. Throughout Youth in Revolt, Nick is portrayed as though he is an immoral person. C.D. Payne wrote about this fourteen year old that makes all these mistakes just for one girl, Sheeni Saunders. Nick’s obsession with Sheeni leads him to compromise his morals and make many mistakes and problems, but he does have morals, he, just like all human beings, has fallen short of many of them. One moral accomplishment that Nick has not fallen short of is being faithful towards Sheeni. Nick’s moral code can be defined as faithful. From the moment Nick saw Sheeni on page 22, he is magnetized by her persona. Nick hardly knows much about Sheeni, yet two days after meeting her he writes an “hour-by-hour chronology of the worst night of his life,” because Sheeni told him she has a boyfriend (29). After a certain amount of time and series of events that get in the way of Nick and Sheeni being together for example, Nick living in Oakland while Sheeni in Ukiah, then Nick moving to Ukiah to be with Sheeni, but Sheeni betraying Nick and moving to Santa Cruz, Nick drugging Taggerty, warrants for Nick’s arrest, his lying... ... middle of paper ... ...a series of immoral events, caused by immoral people, in a time where morals were non-existences. The novel is so much more than that. It is a teenage boy growing up in a reckless, irresponsible, hypocritical, divorced household where he is challenged to figure out life on his own and find and pursue love, and on his quest he makes many mistakes. His selfish actions have causes many people to be hurt, to suffer, to lose people who they loved. He has also done good things. He remained constant in his goal for his one and only true love, he healed a broken marriage, he gave his time to an elderly lady, and he figured out his own life, on his own without his parents or siblings help. The good does not out weight the bad, but that does not mean that Nick should be labeled as immoral. Nick has revealed growth in his character and is learning to live by his moral code.
As much as generous and honest Nick Carraway is, he still needs a few important improvements in himself. Nick went to Yale, fought in world war one and moved to East of New York to work in finance. After moving to New York, Nick faces tough dilemmas throughout the story such as revealing secrets, and witnessing betrayal. His innocence and malevolence toward others was beyond his control. He did not have the ability or knowledge to know what he should have done in the spots he was set in. He seemed lost and having no control of what went on- almost trapped- but indeed, he had more control than he could have ever known. Because of the situations he has experienced and the people he has met, such as Gatsby, Tom, Jordan and Daisy, his point of view on the world changed dramatically which is very depressing. Trusting the others and caring for them greatly has put him in a disheartening gloomy position.
Among the first indicators of Nick’s unreliability as a narrator is shown through his extreme misunderstanding of his father’s advice. When Nick’s father told him that “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages you’ve had” (1) he most likely meant not all people have the same opportunities in life. However, Nick perverted his father’s meaning and understood it as “a sense of the fundamental decencies us parceled out unequally at birth” (2). Nick’s interpretation of his father’s advice provides insight into his conceited, somewhat supercilious attitude, as he believes that not all people are born with the same sense of manners and morality.
In this novel, Nick Carraway is seen as an “all knowing” character who tells the reader his insight of the events in the novel and how he succeeds about staying friends with everyone around him while being the middleman in many events throughout the book. He succeeds at being this because his efforts throughout the book to keep everyone together and just observing and using his own judgment, he is able to stay out of most of this trouble and helps when he can. Nick does many great things in this novel that impact a lot of different moments throughout the story. Unfortunately is the end, there is death which ultimately impacts his decision to move out back west and get away from the big city life. For him personally, this is probably the best decision. Although many horrific things happen, Nick still made a huge positive impact on the characters and their actions in the novel and he added some extra insight to the events that occurred to the readers. Nick is a very significant character and the novel would not be the same and have the same effect without
First of all, Nick, one of the main characters of this story is seen as a normal person living a usual life. He is a sweet and nice guy who seems to keep to himself and stay out of everyone’s business, but actually cares a lot about the people close to him. Nick Carraway is the narrator of the novel therefore readers see things and picture them through him most of the time and realize he is a really good person who is quiet and almost never judges people. “In consequence, [Nick is] inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to [Nick] and also made [Nick] the victim of not a few veteran bores.” (Fitzgerald 1, 1). Carraway was quiet but always there for the ones closest to his heart, like Daisy and Jay. Nick loved his cousin Daisy and always did what made her happy as he s...
In the beginning of the novel, Nick’s father says, “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone… just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages you’ve had,” (1). This non-judging person is the one who encounters Daisy and Tom’s lifestyle and speaks the truth to it. However, as time goes on, Nick encounters more people and he begins to adapt to their customs. These actions cause him to join in the 1920's socialite world, which is based off of judgement and the class system. Nick becomes more passive as he enters this world. He begins to look past immoral things, which he once acknowledged. These things are Jordan’s cheating, Tom and Myrtle’s relationship, as well as Daisy and Gatsby’s. This passiveness, especially in chapter five, begins to make him look lower of people, such as Gatsby’s true past of being poor. He begins to see many people of the valley of ashes as something to
Nick’s naïveté and innocence leads to continual judgement of the deceiving upper class community he surrounds himself with; however, he realises Gatsby is the most genuine and optimistic man he has ever met. Gatsby’s never ending confidence in his dream of a future with Daisy represents blind faith of an unattainable dream, yet Gatsby never ceases to reach for his goals. Gatsby even believes that he can fix every mistake he has made in the past (Fitzgerald 128). His naive and ignorant outlook on his future influences many vindictive decisions he has made in his past. Nick’s admiration of Gatsby’s ambitions compels him to recognize Gatsby’s efforts. Nick exclaims that Gatsby is “worth the whole damn bunch put together” (Fitzgerald 126). Nick idolizes Gatsby because his questionable actions were driven by his immense passion for Daisy. Believing that the elite, upper class society is corrupt, Nick found that Gatsby was the only wealthy individual he had met who is pure of
...d Nick of being dishonest I agreed with her. In the beginning I thought Nick would be the most honest character, but he wasn’t. I think the environment and people around Nick changed him. Especially when everybody in the book was being dishonest (Jordan by cheating at golf, Tom by having an affair with Myrtle) which influenced Nick. Nick portrays how not only the city but the enviroment you live in can change you. It is hard to relate to stories that happened in the earlier days, because it is like two different worlds. Fitzgerald uses societal developments of the 1920’s to build the story, for example Gatsby’s automobile and his stories from the past. In conclusion Nicks change of character and development is displayed throughout the Great Gatsby. Nicks opinion of Gatsby changes as well, showing how Nick Carraway is maturing, and he’s leaving behind his innocence.
The maturation of Nick begins with his description of his time leading to his arrival in West Egg, “I graduated from New Haven in 1915, just a quarter of a century after my father, and a little later I participated in that delayed Teutonic migration known as the Great War” (Fitzgerald, 3). The protagonist comes into the story having not lived much of his life in the normal world that he desires to successfully conquer. He goes directly from schooling into the war, where he found heroic satisfaction. Yet, somehow, Nick is able to keep part of himself innocent and pure despite being in the horrors of war. It is not long after attending his first party at Gatsby’s that Nick confesses that “Every one suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known’ (Fitzgerald, 59). The level of Nick’s idealism and virtuousness begins at such an innocent pl...
Nick is our narrator and the voice of reason in a time and place where parties are the goals and having a good time is all that matters. Parties at Gatsby’s mansion are the rule not the exception and all who attend pay homage to their false prophet Gatsby. He is their leader the charming man living in a mansion and driving and awesome care. Too bad he has no sense of real worth. Yet nick seems to be loyal to him the whole time “They're a rotten crowd, “I shouted across the lawn. “You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.”I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end. First he nodded politely, and then his face broke into that radiant and understanding smile, as if we’d been in ecstatic cahoots on that fact all the time” (Pg 162). Nick appears on the sidelines more than in the mix with all the drinkers and boasters and unfaithful spouses. “I forgot to ask you something,...
Nick often does not speak of himself but when he has, he has referred to himself as “one of the few honest people that (he) has ever known,” (Fitzgerald 59) but seems to act the complete opposite of said characteristics. Nick starts of the novel by saying “In consequence I am inclined to reserve all judgments,” but all he seems to do is just that, labeling Jordan liar when he, himself, is also a liar. Nick also tells of how shallow his “friends” are but he himself is shallow as well. Nick cannot be relied upon to practice what he preaches and therefore cannot be relied upon to write the complete truth. Nick’s hypocritical nature demolishes his credibility as a person, and therefore as a narrator.
Fitzgerald creates a particular impression of Nick in the first few pages of the novel in order for Nick to present himself as honest and to secure the trust of the reader. Fitzgerald does this by describing Nick's upbringing and his opinion of himself. Nick states that he is 'inclined to reserve all judgments' which is 'a matter of infinite hope.' This has the immediate effect of presenting Nick as an unbiased narrator. When he states that his tolerance has a limit, the reader feels that he would only judge people if they have gone too far. The importance of this is that Nick does form very strong opinions of characters later in the novel. This encourages the reader to view these characters so that they will develop ...
Nick attempts to deceive the reader at the beginning of the novel by describing himself as a man who is inclined to reserve all judgments (3). But Nick actually evaluates everyone based off his own bias judgments. He describes Jordan Baker as an incurably dishonest (57) and careless person (58). Tom and Daisy are careless people who “smash-up things and creatures and then retreat back into their money or vast carelessness” (179), according to Nick’s description. He describes Mr. McKee as feminine (30). Nick also describes George Wilson as a spiritless man (25). He is effectively not reserving his judgments. This deception and lying from Nick is another reason why he is an unreliable narrator, which goes against how Nick generally describes himself as an honest man who reserves all judgments, showing his non-objective stance.
From reading the novel “Wisdom of the Last Farmer” written by David Mas Masumoto was about his experiences as an organic farmer. David had help created a better understanding for the pleasure of discovering the meaning of life lessons. Family, nature, and farming are the three category that helped contribute toward David life lessons. Family helped shape David into discovering life lessons as he shared bonds and experiences with his family. Nature had lesson David to work hard to achieve in life. Farming had played a big role for David as he experiences risk-taking farming life style. I have been foster by the life lessons that David stumbled across with family, nature and farming.
It is true that the years do go by very fast. It is almost unbelievable that I am finally at the doorstep to earn my Bachelors of Science degree in community health. Being in the major has empowered me to work diligently and think critically and strategically before any important decision. Through the School of Public Health I have not only been marinated in valuable information and knowledge, but I have also acquired priceless skills that have extensively prepared me to become a community health professional. Each elective and core courses alike have fully prepared me to meet the competencies of the program. Undergraduate courses such as, Health 200: Introduction to Research in Community health, Health 300: Biostatistics for Public Health Practice, Health 301: Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, Health 391: Principles of Community health, Health 420: Methods and Materials in Community Health and Health 490: Principles of Community Health, have fully prepared me to be a public health professional.
To obtain and understanding of the current state of American Architecture and its development, we must first briefly establish the origin of architecture in America. Much of the 17th-century English colonial architecture resembled late medieval forms that had survived throughout much of rural England. The first American architecture houses were built in a wide range of sizes, gables, and overhangs. They also had a lack of symmetry that was reflected in the late medieval style throughout Europe. However, unlike rural England’s architecture, in Virginia and Maryland; brick construction and a symmetrical facade were preferred for one story homes. Upon the idea of domestic homes, cities began to be founded in the 17th century. Cities such as Boston, were chaotic in plan and with the turn of the 18th century, colonies began to take on a more permanent role, often establishing individual character. Newly founded cities, such as: Williamsburg, Virginia; Annapolis, Maryland, and especially Philadelphia began to be laid out in a logical organization of regular grids. This eluded planners in London during the same period and thus the diverse seed of American architecture was planned. Continuing the development of unique American architecture, American in the early 1890s began to value their own heritage and architectural language featuring larger neighborhood tracts. In the 19th century, the Colonial Revival style took a more eclectic style, and columns were often seen.