In the first chapter of The Great Gatsby, we are introduced to Nick Carraway, who writes the story from his perspective. Nick has structured Chapter 1 to be one that effectively draws the audience in to read on. By mentioning Gatsby here and there, Carraway feeds the audience’s desire to know who the “Great Gatsby” is. In addition, giving the audience a glimpse of his background establishes trust between the audience and him.
In the first few pages, we meet Daisy and Tom Buchanan, two rich individuals living in East Egg. Daisy happens to be Nick’s first cousin and Tom is a man he grew up with in college. This shows that Nick is, in fact, related to the rich. He can be categorized into that group of “the wealthy,” or at least associated …show more content…
It is important to note that Nick does this after he states his credibility because now we can believe his judgement of Gatsby. Moreover, he explains why Gatsby is so great by distinguishing him out of the entire upper class community. This, in turn, feeds the audience’s desire to know who Gatsby is (a desire that is created after reading the title of the story) and why he is the main character. After Carraway explains the East is a place that lacks morals and after he mentions that he tends to judge people quickly based on their superficial characteristics, such as lifestyle and material possessions, (shown through the advice his father gives him), Nick surprises us when he says, “Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction—Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn.” Carraway continues to embellish him by saying he is “gorgeous” and has “some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.” These characteristics of Gatsby prove to us that, yes, he is different and, yes, he is “great.” The audience, at this point, is not only urged to read on, but anticipates the reveal of Gatsby when we are formally introduced to him. And, in fact, Carraway uses this anticipation to his advantage. He name-drops Gatsby throughout the chapter (when talking about Gatsby’s mansion and asking Daisy of him as well). This continues to build excitement the audience feels as we soon meet the “Great
In the first few pages, we meet Daisy and Tom Buchanan, two rich individuals living in East Egg. Daisy happens to be Nick’s first cousin and Tom is a man he grew up with in college. This shows that Nick is, in fact, related to the rich. He can be categorized into that group of “the wealthy,” or at least associated …show more content…
It is important to note that Nick does this after he states his credibility because now we can believe his judgement of Gatsby. Moreover, he explains why Gatsby is so great by distinguishing him out of the entire upper class community. This, in turn, feeds the audience’s desire to know who Gatsby is (a desire that is created after reading the title of the story) and why he is the main character. After Carraway explains the East is a place that lacks morals and after he mentions that he tends to judge people quickly based on their superficial characteristics, such as lifestyle and material possessions, (shown through the advice his father gives him), Nick surprises us when he says, “Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction—Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn.” Carraway continues to embellish him by saying he is “gorgeous” and has “some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.” These characteristics of Gatsby prove to us that, yes, he is different and, yes, he is “great.” The audience, at this point, is not only urged to read on, but anticipates the reveal of Gatsby when we are formally introduced to him. And, in fact, Carraway uses this anticipation to his advantage. He name-drops Gatsby throughout the chapter (when talking about Gatsby’s mansion and asking Daisy of him as well). This continues to build excitement the audience feels as we soon meet the “Great