Sarah Ellis
Mr. Dorner
Humanities 2017
8 March 2017
Nick Carraway: The Evolution
Narrators play a huge role in novels. The narrator is the most important feature in designing a novel because it defines the readers’ perspective and, subsequently, their experience whilst reading the work. In the famous novel, The Great Gatsby, we are introduced to Nick Carraway. Nick is the narrator of this story. However, Nick still plays a large part in this story and is a one of the main characters. Nick is special from most of the other characters, he is one of the few characters who changes greatly from the stories beginning to its end. Tom and Daisy are too absorbed in their wealthy lifestyles to make large changed to their character and Gatsby’s heart is set on the dreams and goals he created for himself as a child. The story begins with Nick moving to West Egg where he hopes to sell bonds. He was a very optimistic person who attempted to not harshly judge people without getting to know them. “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages the you’ve had.” (1) His Dad gave him this advice to always remind him to not judge. So, at the beginning Nick was happy and hopeful of his new life in West Egg. However, Nick undergoes many tragedies and event that modify his perspective on life.
One of the biggest events to have an impact on Nick would be his relationship with Gatsby. When he moved to West Egg he moved into a small house next to a large mansion.
Later in the story we discover that the mansion belongs to the mysterious Gatsby. Nick got an invitation to a party one night. This was strange because no one who attends the parties has ever gotten an invitation. He tells us in Chapter Three how he was invited, “I had been actually invited. A chauffeur in a uniform of robin’s egg blue crossed my lawn early that Saturday morning with a surprisingly formal note from his employer: the honor would be entirely Gatsby’s, it said, if I would attend his “little party” that night. He had seen me several times, and had intended to call on me long before, but a peculiar combination of circumstances had prevented it — signed Jay Gatsby, in a majestic hand.” (41) The invitation pro...
