A Carraway Comparison
Andrea Martino
Ms. Butler
English III AP
9 January 2014
A Carraway Comparison
In the novel, The Great Gatsby, the narrator, Nick Carraway, is seen in two opposing ways. On one side, some view him to be a snob and feel as though he lacked moral courage, however others view Nick as a morally upright character who the reader can depend on for the real, unaltered story. Although it is reasonable to say that Nick let Tom, a morally corrupt character, off the hook by the end of the novel after much havoc has occurred in his life, but it would be more valid to argue that Nick is a reliable narrator, which of whom grows in moral awareness as the novel proceeds. In their arguments, some critics of the novel have accused the character, Nick, of displaying moral weakness but letting Tom off the hook nearing the end of the novel. Carraway realizes that Tom has had much go wrong in his life all at once and ignores his moral beliefs. The opposing sides may argue that Carraway maintains his moral standards but he deliberately ignores the fact that Tom is an adulterer and by doing this he is not living up to the man he claims to be. Nick ignores the fact that Tom holds a mistress due to the reasoning that he is aware of the misfortune Tom is going to discover. Gatsby states, “Daisy is leaving you” and Tom responds with “She is not leaving me!” (Fitzgerald 133). This quote is one example of Tom’s misfortune that leads Nick to ignore his beliefs. Even though he was protecting a friend and respecting his misfortune, he still disregarded his morals. Separate from other critics, some recognize that although Nick has come to a deceitful, ugly place, he has enough moral courage to be aware of himself. Nick is aware of his need in situations and places himself only in the matters of his business. He said, “Calmness wasn’t an end in itself, I made an excuse at the first possible moment, and got to my feet” (Fitzgerald 87). This quote is applicable when explaining why Nick has
Ms. Butler
English III AP
9 January 2014
A Carraway Comparison
In the novel, The Great Gatsby, the narrator, Nick Carraway, is seen in two opposing ways. On one side, some view him to be a snob and feel as though he lacked moral courage, however others view Nick as a morally upright character who the reader can depend on for the real, unaltered story. Although it is reasonable to say that Nick let Tom, a morally corrupt character, off the hook by the end of the novel after much havoc has occurred in his life, but it would be more valid to argue that Nick is a reliable narrator, which of whom grows in moral awareness as the novel proceeds. In their arguments, some critics of the novel have accused the character, Nick, of displaying moral weakness but letting Tom off the hook nearing the end of the novel. Carraway realizes that Tom has had much go wrong in his life all at once and ignores his moral beliefs. The opposing sides may argue that Carraway maintains his moral standards but he deliberately ignores the fact that Tom is an adulterer and by doing this he is not living up to the man he claims to be. Nick ignores the fact that Tom holds a mistress due to the reasoning that he is aware of the misfortune Tom is going to discover. Gatsby states, “Daisy is leaving you” and Tom responds with “She is not leaving me!” (Fitzgerald 133). This quote is one example of Tom’s misfortune that leads Nick to ignore his beliefs. Even though he was protecting a friend and respecting his misfortune, he still disregarded his morals. Separate from other critics, some recognize that although Nick has come to a deceitful, ugly place, he has enough moral courage to be aware of himself. Nick is aware of his need in situations and places himself only in the matters of his business. He said, “Calmness wasn’t an end in itself, I made an excuse at the first possible moment, and got to my feet” (Fitzgerald 87). This quote is applicable when explaining why Nick has