What Is Nick's Relationship In The Great Gatsby

1. The first two pages of the novel reveal much of Nick’s view on the nature of human relationships. It is obvious that he comes from a privileged household, which unexpectedly contributes to his view that judgments should not be made unless all information is taken into account. He attributes this lack of bias to his father, who once said, “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald 3). As a result, people tend to trust Nick and reveal their secrets to him. However, he observes that this type of relationship is “marred by obvious suppressions” (3), which causes him to condemn lies and pretenses. Despite this, it is also revealed that from …show more content…
The eyes of Doctor T.J. Eckleburg are not only metaphors for God’s omniscience, but also for Nick’s point of view and role as an outside observer. As an advertisement, the billboard essentially does not belong in the “valley of ashes,” for it promotes a business that is geared towards the wealthy and affluent. In the same way, Nick is an outsider in the East, which enhances his ability to perceive things as they are without bias. Additionally, the spectral gaze of the eyes on the billboard see the bleakness of “the valley of ashes,” just as Nick sees the moral decay of the West and East Egg residents. The landscape is described in a grotesque manner, marred by grey cars and ash-grey men moving along a foul river. The term “valley of ashes” is used to capture the desolation of the …show more content…
Although the central plot of The Great Gatsby does not center on Nick Carraway, the narrator, he is still a key character. His unbiased presentation of events is crucial for the reader’s experience because it enables one to make his or her own interpretation of the novel. This contributes the novel’s status as a timeless American classic. Without Nick, Gatsby never would have had an intermediary between him and Daisy. Nick’s close proximity gave Gatsby the courage to reach out to Daisy and pursue her. If Nick had never moved to the cottage next door, Gatsby may have spent the rest of his life pining for Daisy from his palace on the other side of Sound, and constantly reaching towards the green light but never reaching it. Compared to other narrators, Nick is unconventional by common standards. More often than not, the narrator is usually completely detached from the conflict and shown as an omnipresent figure, like in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, or a central character in the main conflict, such as in My Antonia. However, Nick does not fit any of these descriptions, as he is neither an omnipresent and omnipotent narrator nor the most important figure in the conflict between Gatsby and Daisy. This enables Nick to showcase both the virtues and flaws of each character, adding to a rich picture of life in the 1920’s. He gives readers ample information to make their own judgments, giving all the colors of each