CH1 Great Gatsby Analysis

Chapter One: Nick as Narrator Nick is both an observer and a participant in the novel, The Great Gatsby. He attempts to portray himself as a trustworthy narrator by talking about his background. He mentions his family s prestigious background. He narrates, We have a tradition that we re descended from the Dukes of Buccleuch (Fitzgerald 3). He also mentions his graduation from college and his participation in the Great War. More importantly he says he is an honest man who is inclined to reserve all judgments (Fitzgerald 1). As a narrator he seems rather hypocritical since he says he does not like to judge people, yet only in the second page he judges Gatsby and says, NoGatsby turned out all-right (Fitzgerald 2). This perspective seems to be reinforced by his narration of chapter two where Nick is drunk and his retelling of the events is still quite accurate thus putting into question his credibility. Furthermore in chapter three he says, I would have accepted without question the information that Gatsby sprang from the swamps of Louisiana or from the lower East Side of New York (Fitzgerald 49). He again judges Gatsby, implying he comes from a dark past. Overall, Nick cannot be trusted as a narrator since he has shown to be rather judgmental and over opinionated on the facts in the story. I THINK YOU SHOULD MENTION SOMEWHERE ABOUT JORDAN BAKER AND ALSO MENTION THAT HE CAN T BE TRUSTED AT PARTIES BECAUSE HE IS DRUNK! OTHER THEN THAT THIS LOOKS LIKE A+++++. TAKE A LOOK AT THE HIGHLIGHTED, WHEN I READ IT SEEMED AMBIGOUS THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SENTENCE STRUCTURE. CAN YOU SOME HOW REARRANGE IT. THE DISCUSSION QUESTION IS BELOW. SEE IF YOU LIKE IT!!!!!!!

DISCUSSION QUESTION: F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays Nick as the author of the story and tells it from his point of view, why does Fitzgerald do this? Discussion Question: Even though we have not discussed the importance of the green light. What do you think of it and the connection with Gatsby? Why did the author add the green light in the first chapter of the book? Does it seem to be a symbol, theme, or motif in your opinion?