Much happens in chapter three, so I decided to narrow my focus solely to our narrator, Nick Carraway. As readers, we've been drawn into this upper-class world of materialism, fancy cars, parties, and loose morals, and it becomes easy to forget about our humble - yet gradually corrupted - narrator. Nick is one of the few guests to be invited to Gatsby's immaculate party. He tells us that the other guests, "...were not invited - they went there" (45), adding to our view of the east as a corrupt society full of users and swindlers. He later says that this relationship of user and used is sort of an understood social hierarchy: "East Egg condescending to West Egg" (49). So where does Nick fit into all of it? For one, he seems to enjoy these drunken excursions. If the party illustrated in the second chapter was Nick's second time being drunk, then his welcome approach to getting "roaring drunk" (46) at Gatsby's party proves to us his complicity in the whole scene. At times, he seems almost disgusted with the riotous nature of the party: husbands flirting with women who are not their wives, drunk drivers so drunk they do not even know they've crashed, and a mild obsession with Gatsby's origins, but deep down, I think Nick is fascinated with the whole scene. While no one at the party knows who Gatsby really is, everyone has an idea, and Nick is lured into this world of gossip and facade. When Jordan meets with Gatsby - the nature of that conversation is very mysterious - she comes out and almost taunts Nick with her secret knowledge about what he will never know. I almost feel a little sorry for Nick...he seems in way over his head. Not that he cannot handle it; he just seems too "nice" for it all. He even says that he is the "few honest people I have ever known" (64). I believe that he is in for a major disappointment. Even though he is reserved, he seems a little too gullible, and either Jordan, Gatsby, Tom, or Daisy will disappoint or break his heart somehow. Someone talk about Owl Eyes....what's he all about?
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Ideas on Nick's Character...
Much happens in chapter three, so I decided to narrow my focus solely to our narrator, Nick Carraway. As readers, we've been drawn into this upper-class world of materialism, fancy cars, parties, and loose morals, and it becomes easy to forget about our humble - yet gradually corrupted - narrator. Nick is one of the few guests to be invited to Gatsby's immaculate party. He tells us that the other guests, "...were not invited - they went there" (45), adding to our view of the east as a corrupt society full of users and swindlers. He later says that this relationship of user and used is sort of an understood social hierarchy: "East Egg condescending to West Egg" (49). So where does Nick fit into all of it? For one, he seems to enjoy these drunken excursions. If the party illustrated in the second chapter was Nick's second time being drunk, then his welcome approach to getting "roaring drunk" (46) at Gatsby's party proves to us his complicity in the whole scene. At times, he seems almost disgusted with the riotous nature of the party: husbands flirting with women who are not their wives, drunk drivers so drunk they do not even know they've crashed, and a mild obsession with Gatsby's origins, but deep down, I think Nick is fascinated with the whole scene. While no one at the party knows who Gatsby really is, everyone has an idea, and Nick is lured into this world of gossip and facade. When Jordan meets with Gatsby - the nature of that conversation is very mysterious - she comes out and almost taunts Nick with her secret knowledge about what he will never know. I almost feel a little sorry for Nick...he seems in way over his head. Not that he cannot handle it; he just seems too "nice" for it all. He even says that he is the "few honest people I have ever known" (64). I believe that he is in for a major disappointment. Even though he is reserved, he seems a little too gullible, and either Jordan, Gatsby, Tom, or Daisy will disappoint or break his heart somehow. Someone talk about Owl Eyes....what's he all about?
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