Nick carraway is a young man (who turns 30 throughout the book) from Minnesota. He travels to New York in 1922 to learn the bond business. He lives in the West Egg district of Long Island, next door to Gatsby. Nick is also Daisy’s cousin
I am inclined to reserve all judgements, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me and made me the victim of not a few veteran bores.”- Chapter One
From this quote and throughout the book we learn that Nick Carraway is very tolerant in the fact that he feels he doesn’t like to judge people. As a result of this, the people around Nick realise this and so, therefore, tell him a lot of their stories and problems because they know he will not judge them. Making him a good person to be the narrator because he states him in unbiased.
“When I came back from the East last autumn I felt that I wanted the world to be in uniform and at a sort of moral attention forever; I wanted no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart. “ – Chapter One
When he came back from this whole story and everything that had happened he now wants the world to be on the same page with their morales and want everyone to stick to it and obey the morales like soldiers. Then he states that he wants no more crazy trips and is over being tolerant of hearing everyone’s stories.
“…wedging his tense arm imperatively under mine, Tom Buchanan compelled me from the room as though he were moving a checker to another square.”- Chapter One
Nick is being compared to as a chess or checkers piece as he is moved where the player wants him to be moved. He is like a pushover does what the person tells them to do so he gets lots of information.
I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” – Chapter Two
nick wanted to be part of it but he is repelled like degusted about how they were doing things.
“Most of the time I worked…I knew the other clerks and young bond salesmen by their first names…I even had a short affair with a girl who lived in Jersey City and worked in the accounting department, but her brother began throwing mean looks in my direction…” – Chapter Three
He needs the money so he works very hard doesn’t get easy money like the others. He cares for his workers and is friendly. But he cares what other people think as he ends his relationship because the brother sent him a look.
I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.”– Chapter Three
He has some kind of cockness about himself. Thinks highly of his honestly even though he actually isn’t truthful throughout the whole movie.
They’re a rotten crowd…You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together!’ I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him because I disapproved of him from beginning to end.”- Chapter Eight
This quote creates a contradictory about nick as he states he doesn’t like to judge but here he has said that he has disapproved from the start.
I shook hands with him. It seemed silly not to for I felt suddenly as though I was talking to a child.”- Chapter Nine
Nick decided to take the road with the lest conflict as he can get out with. Takes the easy option out.
“I sat there brooding on the old unknown world…” –Chapter Nine
Deep in thought, he is a thoughtful guy puts lots of time into what he thinks about.
Finally, consider how Nick changes throughout the story. He is not the same young man that he starts out as. Describe how Nick comes across as a different person towards the end of the story as opposed to the beginning. Explain the possible reasons for this change.
Nick came into west egg stating that he does not judge and it allows him to have many interesting encounters with many different people whether he likes it or not. But comes out wanting “no more riotous excursions with privileged glimpses into the human heart.”. This is almost a full 360-degree flip and it all because of this extreme story.