Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nick As A Narrator in Chapter 3
Nick As A Narrator in Chapter 3
Hugo Hammond
English Literature
Hugo Hammond
an invitation. This gives the reader the impression that Nick is a good
moralizer, and perhaps opposes the American Dream at the time, of
having affairs, going to parties, etc However, this might be contrasted
as Nick still indulges in some of these activities, such as getting roaring
drunk and enjoying it, meaning perhaps he does not have as high a
morality as he claims.
However, what could be interpreted as having a high morality could
also be interpreted as arrogance on Carraways behalf. For instance, Nick
says, I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known. This
supercilious remark is condescending towards other characters (although
they never hear it), and could be Nicks attempt at trying to better himself
in the eyes of the reader. Nicks statements such as these are unreliable,
as we never hear the account of other characters, and what does happen
is filtered through Nicks perspective. It is also apparent that he still does
dishonest things, such as letting Daisy and Gatsby have an affair, even
helping it happen, and not turning Daisy in after she killed Myrtle. These
arrogant remarks that Nick claims to be true, therefore, can be considered
irritating, perhaps a typical man of the time, with a superior attitude,
possibly due to his wealthy family background or upbringing.
It is therefore shown that Carraway narrates the chapter from the
perspective of a bystander, but one who paints his opinion of what is right
or wrong over everything, in a quite vexing manner. His account of some
things may be taken as read, but people such as Gatsby may have been
exaggerated so he is not entirely reliable either. Therefore, Nick as a
narrator may be considered irritating, but most of his memory may be
true, just some parts decorated to seem better.