In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby the label of outsider is awarded to Nick despite a majority of his characteristics fitting the mold of an average American man. An outsider can be defined as “a person who does not belong to a particular group; a contender not expected to win.” However, the novel seems to insinuate that it is not membership of a group that determines outsider status, but possession of power. Throughout American history, it is not the minority that is automatically the outsiders it has been those who power has been systematically stripped away. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby could hardly be described as a member of the majority demographic because of his obscene wealth and illegal business practices. Despite Nick Carraway's
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Nick portrays himself as certifiable unremarkable and seems to force himself into the role of outsider. Throughout the novel Nick stands back and makes quiet observations of his surroundings; He the observes “the racy, adventurous feel of it at night… the enchanted metropolitan twilight” and a feeling that he felt of “haunting loneliness sometimes, and felt it in others” (Fitzgerald 56). It is Nick’s descriptions that offer the feeling that he is not a part of the adventure associated with New York, but merely an observer. However, it is the crucial observation of when he notes that others too felt the haunting loneliness in a city so filled with life and people. This observation suggests what can be felt throughout the book, that Nick the narrator who has positioned himself as an outsider and third wheel in a world of bustling parties, can feel more like the average person than an outsider. A common phenomenon is to feel strikingly lonely when surrounded by so many people who are not expressing interest in you. Especially in American during the 1920s, as industry was growing and urbanization lead to increased population in coastal cities like New York, loneliness can be a constant emotion. Nick only seems to be paying attention to how other people differ from him; Nick …show more content…
Gatsby solidifies his outsider status through his out of the ordinary choice to pursue wealth with the goal of not simply finding success, but chasing his dream of being with Gatsby. Starting out as a regular midwestern man, Gatsby chooses a life for himself that didn’t fit the mold of most, no stable office job, wife, and two kids in a modest house. Gatsby is an outsider in that he decides to chase his dream of being with Daisy however hopeless it may seem to the unbiased observer. Gatsby, despite his racketeering ways, is an outsider because of his unique somewhat naive perspective that anything is possible. Gatsby was so convinced that he could be with Daisy despite everything that had happened; Gatsby “began to talk excitedly to Daisy, denying everything, defending his name against accusations that had not been made” in an attempt to certify that he was worthy of Daisy (134). Gatsby feels like an outsider because he is not of old money but rather had to work for the money that he has. Despite, Gatsby having an immense amount of wealth, he still feels the need to prove himself to Daisy. However, feeling the need to prove yourself to the ones you love for validation and affection is incredibly common and is actually one of Gatsby’s more relatable qualities. Although Gatsby did not
Nick portrays himself as certifiable unremarkable and seems to force himself into the role of outsider. Throughout the novel Nick stands back and makes quiet observations of his surroundings; He the observes “the racy, adventurous feel of it at night… the enchanted metropolitan twilight” and a feeling that he felt of “haunting loneliness sometimes, and felt it in others” (Fitzgerald 56). It is Nick’s descriptions that offer the feeling that he is not a part of the adventure associated with New York, but merely an observer. However, it is the crucial observation of when he notes that others too felt the haunting loneliness in a city so filled with life and people. This observation suggests what can be felt throughout the book, that Nick the narrator who has positioned himself as an outsider and third wheel in a world of bustling parties, can feel more like the average person than an outsider. A common phenomenon is to feel strikingly lonely when surrounded by so many people who are not expressing interest in you. Especially in American during the 1920s, as industry was growing and urbanization lead to increased population in coastal cities like New York, loneliness can be a constant emotion. Nick only seems to be paying attention to how other people differ from him; Nick …show more content…
Gatsby solidifies his outsider status through his out of the ordinary choice to pursue wealth with the goal of not simply finding success, but chasing his dream of being with Gatsby. Starting out as a regular midwestern man, Gatsby chooses a life for himself that didn’t fit the mold of most, no stable office job, wife, and two kids in a modest house. Gatsby is an outsider in that he decides to chase his dream of being with Daisy however hopeless it may seem to the unbiased observer. Gatsby, despite his racketeering ways, is an outsider because of his unique somewhat naive perspective that anything is possible. Gatsby was so convinced that he could be with Daisy despite everything that had happened; Gatsby “began to talk excitedly to Daisy, denying everything, defending his name against accusations that had not been made” in an attempt to certify that he was worthy of Daisy (134). Gatsby feels like an outsider because he is not of old money but rather had to work for the money that he has. Despite, Gatsby having an immense amount of wealth, he still feels the need to prove himself to Daisy. However, feeling the need to prove yourself to the ones you love for validation and affection is incredibly common and is actually one of Gatsby’s more relatable qualities. Although Gatsby did not