Nick Carraway the Perfect Narrator for the Great Gatsby
Nick Carraway, The Perfect Narrator Nick Carraway is a prime example of how an unbiased and trustworthy narrator can change a book. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is told in first person point of view, through the eyes of Nick Carraway, a 30-year-old man living in West Egg, New York. Carraway tells the story as it is happening and lets the reader know what is to come. Nick seems to be an “invisible character” because he is involved in the story but not in the major conflict. Nick Carraway is the perfect choice of narrator because he is reliable, connected to the main characters, and has an amicable personality. Nick Carraway is the most reliable character for the choice of narrator. At the beginning of the book Nick’s father tells him, “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one... just remember that all people have not had the advantages that you’ve had” (Fitzgerald 1). Therefore, Nick tends to refrain from judgment throughout the novel, remembering what his father said. By doing this Nick allows the reader to construct their own thoughts about each character they meet. In addition, Nick is an authentic character and is loyal to all his friends. “Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known” (59). Carraway is an ideal narrator because he presents the reader with the truth and tells the story like the author intended. Nick is a very faithful narrator but he also connects to the main characters. Nick Carraway is the center of the action because he is connected to the main characters. Nick personally knows each character, which helps him relate to what they are going through. For example, he says, “Daisy was my second cousin once removed, I’d known Tom in college... and it was Mr. Gatsby’s mansion to the right of me” (5). This shows that Nick had a personal relationship with each character before the conflict began, allowing him to hear everyone’s side of