The Great Gatsby

Nick Carraway, the narrator, is a Midwestern transplant who observes the action of the novel dispassionately at first, then ambivalently, and finally with outright disgust for many of the characters. Unassuming and tolerant by nature, Nick’s demeanor invites individuals to open up to him without fear of judgment. As a result, he is afforded a strikingly intimate view of the other characters’ passions, motivations, and aspirations, particularly Gatsby’s. Though largely a passive spectator to the events of the novel rather than an active participant, Nick’s perspective allows him to comment on the action without personal bias. This makes him an effective vessel through which the author can convey his own thoughts and beliefs on wealth, hedonism, and the hollowness of the American Dream.

Fitzgerald’s own biographical details support the notion that Nick is a surrogate for the author himself. Both men grew up in Minnesota and moved east to attend Ivy League schools. Although they both made a number of friends and acquaintances in college among the young American elite, their backgrounds isolated them from the kind of social opportunities afforded to many of their classmates. Both served in World War I and relocated to the New York City era following their discharge.