Fitzgerald and Nick in The Great Gatsby
Is there more of Fitzgerald in the character of Nick than in the character of Gatsby?
It is of popular opinion that The Great Gatsby is a novel with an autobiographical feel to it. If this is the case and this was Fitzgerald’s purpose, his own character would have to be illustrated in that of one of his fictional characters in the novel. Firstly, we may assume that as Nick Carraway is the narrator, he is the most likely to resemble the author as his views on things will most likely reflect Scott Fitzgerald’s own in his narrative and observations. However, it is also apparent that Scott Fitzgerald is too reflected in that of Gatsby, the novel’s protagonist. Both views are correct but in some ways, one character may reflect Fitzgerald more clearly
Scott Fitzgerald, like both Nick and Gatsby was born in the West and made his way east in later life. His father, Edward, was from Maryland, with an allegiance to the Old South and its values. This is synonymous with Nick’s roots; he too, comes from the Midwest, from a respectable Chicago family, and then later attended Yale college. Furthermore, it is not unlike Fitzgerald’s education at Princeton and upbringing in a family of ‘comfortable’ income. We are led to believe in chapter one that Nick is a good mid-western boy with high standards for everyone he meets. Although he is, more or less, blowing his own trumpet in chapter one when he says ‘I am one of the few honest people I have ever known.’ Nick analyses everyone he meets although rather hypocritically states that he is non-judgemental. This hypocrisy, however mild, is echoed in Fitzgerald’s life also. He makes eminently harsh judgements of the rich people of the 20s, yet continues to pursue that same fast-paced lifestyle and live like they do. In this way, Nick and Fitzgerald are seen to be quite similar.
In his prime, Fitzgerald was (arguably) living the American dream – this is seen through his youth, money and early success. Just like Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald
It is of popular opinion that The Great Gatsby is a novel with an autobiographical feel to it. If this is the case and this was Fitzgerald’s purpose, his own character would have to be illustrated in that of one of his fictional characters in the novel. Firstly, we may assume that as Nick Carraway is the narrator, he is the most likely to resemble the author as his views on things will most likely reflect Scott Fitzgerald’s own in his narrative and observations. However, it is also apparent that Scott Fitzgerald is too reflected in that of Gatsby, the novel’s protagonist. Both views are correct but in some ways, one character may reflect Fitzgerald more clearly
Scott Fitzgerald, like both Nick and Gatsby was born in the West and made his way east in later life. His father, Edward, was from Maryland, with an allegiance to the Old South and its values. This is synonymous with Nick’s roots; he too, comes from the Midwest, from a respectable Chicago family, and then later attended Yale college. Furthermore, it is not unlike Fitzgerald’s education at Princeton and upbringing in a family of ‘comfortable’ income. We are led to believe in chapter one that Nick is a good mid-western boy with high standards for everyone he meets. Although he is, more or less, blowing his own trumpet in chapter one when he says ‘I am one of the few honest people I have ever known.’ Nick analyses everyone he meets although rather hypocritically states that he is non-judgemental. This hypocrisy, however mild, is echoed in Fitzgerald’s life also. He makes eminently harsh judgements of the rich people of the 20s, yet continues to pursue that same fast-paced lifestyle and live like they do. In this way, Nick and Fitzgerald are seen to be quite similar.
In his prime, Fitzgerald was (arguably) living the American dream – this is seen through his youth, money and early success. Just like Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald