Essay On The Relationship Between Nick And Gandby In The...

The Great Gatsby develops a complex, ambivalent relationship between Nick and Gatsby and describes some puzzling similarities between the two men. Eventually, the themes expand to show Gatsby as a symbolic representation of the pursuit of the unreachable American Dream in the early 20th century. Throughout the novel, Nick’s behavior and emotions mirror Gatsby’s. The novel starts of with a description of Nick, who admits that he has moved to New York to join the bond business. Nick is chasing the American Dream in the hopes of becoming rich like Gatsby. Unlike Nick, Gatsby has already achieved the American Dream by pulling himself out of poverty. In addition, Nick’s meager, modest house in a much smaller version of Gatsby’s mansion,†¦show more content†¦Nick’s contracting opinion Gatsby stems from his opinion on Gatsby’s elaborate plot to win Daisy. Though Nick respects Gatsby’s pursuit, he is also disapproving of Gatsby’s overzealous means of achieving his dreams (buying the expensive house, the parties,etc) and is skeptical on whether Gatsby can actually repeat the past. Nick’s ambivalent attitude to Gatsby’s dream may also reflect his view on those trying to achieve the American Dream as well: h e is skeptical of but simultaneously drawn to the Dream. Nick’s understanding of Gatsby’s dream goes beyond just establishing the friendship between the two men. Nick is one of the few ordinary, middle-class characters in the novel, and in many ways, he represents the American people as a whole. Though Nick is the narrator of the story, he does not directly drive the plot besides helping to reunite Daisy and Gatsby in his home. Nick lives a middle class life unlike the extremely wealthy people around him, and admits several times that he does not feel part of this elite group, even imagining himself outside of the party. By developing Nick as an ordinary, middle-class character rather than part of the abnormally wealthy people in the novel, Nick becomes