Character: Nick Carraway (Leaving Cert English): Revision Notes
Character: Nick Carraway
Introduction and overview
Nick Carraway serves as the narrator of The Great Gatsby and is a complex character in his own right. He comes from a well-established family in Minnesota and moved to New York in 1922 to learn about the bond business. Nick positions himself as Gatsby's neighbour in West Egg, describing his own modest house as a "small eyesore" compared to the grand mansions surrounding it.
As a narrator, Nick presents himself as quiet, reflective, and somewhat removed from the main action. However, his role is far more complicated than it initially appears. He functions as both an observer and participant in the events he describes, creating a unique narrative perspective that shapes how we understand the entire story.
Nick's dual role as both storyteller and character creates what literary scholars call a "complex narrative perspective." This means readers must constantly consider not just what happens in the story, but how Nick's personal involvement and biases might be shaping the way events are presented to us.
Nick as the narrator
The intradiegetic narrator
Nick operates as what literary critics call an intradiegetic narrator - a storyteller who exists within the world of the story itself. This means he shifts between first-person perspective (when describing his own experiences) and third-person perspective (when recounting events involving other characters).
Nick's position as an intradiegetic narrator is crucial to understanding the entire novel. Unlike an omniscient narrator who stands outside the story, Nick is personally involved in the events he describes. This creates inherent bias and limitations in what he can know and how he presents information to readers.
Importantly, Nick positions himself both within the action and outside of it. As he famously states: "I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life". This paradoxical position allows him to observe and comment on events whilst also participating in them.
Reliability concerns
Nick's role as narrator raises important questions about trustworthiness. He never claims to have instigated any of the novel's key events - instead, he presents himself as someone who simply accompanies other characters through their dramatic experiences. This limited involvement might initially suggest reliability, but it also means readers must be cautious about accepting his version of events as completely objective.
The fact that Nick tells the story retrospectively (looking back after two years) adds another layer of complexity. Memory can be unreliable, and the passage of time may have altered his perception of events and characters.
Nick's key characteristics
Tolerance and moral judgement
Nick begins his narrative by recalling his father's advice to reserve judgement, stating: "I am inclined to reserve all judgements". He explains that this tolerance has made him a confidant to many people, as others feel comfortable sharing their secrets with him.
However, this supposed tolerance becomes complicated when examined closely. Whilst Nick claims to withhold judgement, he frequently describes other characters using harsh terms like "vulgar," "vacuous," or "domineering." His decision to eventually leave the East Coast suggests that his tolerance has limits - he ultimately cannot accept what he sees as the moral corruption of East Egg society.
This contradiction reveals an important aspect of Nick's character: he wants to see himself as non-judgmental, but he actually holds strong moral opinions that influence his narration throughout the novel. This self-deception is a key factor in his unreliability as a narrator.
Questionable honesty
One of Nick's most controversial claims comes in Chapter 3: "I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known". This self-assessment immediately raises questions about his reliability as a narrator.
Several incidents in the novel challenge this assertion:
- He is dishonest about his relationship with a woman back home
- Jordan Baker challenges him about not being straightforward
- He enables Gatsby's affair with Daisy whilst claiming to disapprove of dishonesty
- He praises Catherine for lying to officials after Gatsby's death
The word "suspect" in his claim is particularly telling - it suggests uncertainty rather than certainty about his honesty. This linguistic choice encourages readers to question the reliability of his entire narrative.
Reflective and observant nature
Nick's storytelling style reveals his thoughtful, analytical personality. Because the story is told retrospectively, he has had time to reflect on events and develop complex interpretations of the characters and their motivations.
This reflective quality allows Nick to offer sophisticated social commentary throughout the novel. His observations often move beyond simple plot description to explore deeper themes about American society, morality, and the pursuit of dreams. However, this same reflective distance might also mean his account lacks the immediate emotional authenticity of events as they happened.
Nick's analytical nature makes him an effective vehicle for Fitzgerald's social criticism. His ability to step back and examine events allows the novel to function on multiple levels - as both a personal story and a broader commentary on American society in the 1920s.
Self-awareness and caution
Despite his flaws, Nick demonstrates considerable self-awareness. He acknowledges his own limitations and biases, admitting that he holds certain characters to different moral standards. He recognises his privileged background and understands how this shapes his perspective.
Nick also shows awareness of his role as confidant and the responsibilities this brings. He mentions avoiding certain social connections early on to prevent being caught in awkward situations. His comment about "boasting" of his tolerance and admitting "it has a limit" shows he can critically examine his own behaviour.
Nick's unreliability as a narrator
Contradictions and inconsistencies
Although Nick presents himself as honest and trustworthy, his behaviour often contradicts these claims. He maintains different moral standards for different characters - being particularly lenient towards Gatsby whilst harshly judging Tom and Daisy.
Nick's unreliability stems not from deliberate deception, but from self-deception and emotional bias. He genuinely believes he is honest and fair, but his actions and judgements throughout the novel reveal significant blind spots in his self-knowledge.
His trustworthiness is further challenged by his admission of dishonesty about his romantic relationships and his enabling of Gatsby's pursuit of Daisy. These moral inconsistencies make his judgements throughout the novel questionable.
Emotional bias and sentiment
Nick's feelings about Gatsby significantly influence his narration. He admits to having mixed emotions - both admiring and being disappointed by Gatsby. This emotional involvement means his account cannot be considered objective.
His attachment to Gatsby is evident in statements like: "I wanted to get up and slap him on the back. I had one of those renewals of complete faith in him that I'd experienced before". This emotional investment colours how he presents Gatsby to readers, potentially making him appear more sympathetic than an objective account might suggest.
Influence of alcohol
Nick's reliability is also affected by alcohol consumption. In Chapter 2, when intoxicated at Tom and Myrtle's party, his narrative becomes confused and fragmented. He describes the evening through "flickering lights" and admits his memory of events is unclear.
This raises questions about other scenes where alcohol might have affected his perception and subsequent recollection of events.
Symbolic significance
Light imagery
Throughout the novel, Nick frequently references lights and illumination. He describes "the satisfaction that the constant flicker of men and women and machine's gives to the restless eye" and observes the "single green light" that becomes so significant to Gatsby's story.
This light imagery serves multiple symbolic purposes:
- It represents the instability of the modern world and the dreams people pursue
- It suggests the superficial, flickering nature of 1920s society
- It connects to broader themes about illusion versus reality
- It links to Conrad's Heart of Darkness, suggesting Nick serves as a modern version of Marlow, observing and commenting on moral darkness in American society
Social commentary
Nick's observations provide social criticism of 1920s American society. His references to carelessness among the wealthy, his descriptions of moral corruption, and his ultimate decision to return to the Midwest all serve Fitzgerald's broader critique of the era.
Through Nick's voice, Fitzgerald can present both the seductive appeal of the Jazz Age lifestyle and its underlying moral emptiness.
Nick's relationship with Jordan Baker
Nick's romantic involvement with Jordan Baker reveals important aspects of his character. Initially attracted to her physical appearance and sophisticated manner, he describes her as representing the ideal modern American woman.
However, as the novel progresses, Nick becomes increasingly critical of Jordan's carelessness and moral flexibility. Their relationship ends when he recognises that her casual attitude towards responsibility conflicts with his developing moral compass.
The relationship serves as a symbol of Nick's own internal conflict - he is drawn to the excitement and freedom of 1920s society but ultimately cannot accept its moral compromises. This mirrors his broader relationship with the East Coast elite throughout the novel.
The value of Nick's narrative voice
By the novel's end, Nick's voice increasingly merges with Fitzgerald's own perspective. He provides social commentary that critiques the materialism and moral emptiness he observes in post-war America.
Nick's journey from innocence to experience mirrors broader themes about American disillusionment following World War I. His movement from indifference to moral engagement makes him an effective vehicle for Fitzgerald's social criticism.
His privileged background gives him access to different social circles, whilst his Midwestern values provide a moral framework for judging East Coast society. This combination allows him to serve as both insider and outsider, participating in events whilst maintaining enough distance to offer critical commentary.
Key quotes for analysis
Analysis: Nick's Role as Confidant
"I was privy to the secret griefs of wild, unknown men. Most of the confidences were unsought—frequently I have feigned sleep, preoccupation, or a hostile levity when I realised by some unmistakeable sign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon."
This quote establishes Nick's role as confidant and reveals his awareness of the burden this places on him. It also demonstrates his use of foreshadowing - he hints at future regrets about this role.
Analysis: Nick's Self-Deception
"I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known."
This self-assessment becomes increasingly ironic as the novel progresses and readers observe Nick's own moral compromises and contradictions.
Analysis: Nick's Final Judgement
"I found myself on Gatsby's side, and alone."
This final assessment reveals Nick's ultimate isolation and his complex feelings about Gatsby. Despite recognising Gatsby's flaws, Nick admires his commitment to his dreams in a way that separates him from other characters.
Key Points to Remember:
- Nick functions as both participant and observer, creating a complex narrative perspective that affects how we understand all events in the novel
- His claims to honesty and tolerance are undermined by his behaviour and moral inconsistencies throughout the story
- The retrospective nature of his narration means his account may be influenced by memory lapses and subsequent reflexion rather than immediate experience
- His emotional attachment to Gatsby and bias against Tom and Daisy colour his presentation of events and characters
- Nick serves as Fitzgerald's vehicle for social commentary about 1920s American society, representing both its attractions and moral limitations