Nick describing Tom is an example of being unreliable because he immediately says he has "arrogant eyes". He does not hide his judgmental side and is very critical of people, even through first impression. This passage shows that Nick is a very unreliable narrator.
Nick is the narrator, but he is not omniscient (he can't see everything), and he's also very human and flawed. In other words, he's an unreliable narrator, sometimes because he's not present for a certain event, other times because he presents the story out of order, and finally because he sometimes obscures the truth.
Nick carraway is made the narrator he is a reliable one he tells us that he reserves all his judgments therefore the reader is lead to believe what he is saying is coming from an 3rd person objective point of view.
Most notably, Nick writes, “I'm inclined to reserve all judgments…. Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope” (Fitzgerald, 1-2). Given Nick's language and first-person narration, Fitzgerald implies that Nick is an unreliable narrator.
Nick is also Daisy's cousin, which enables him to observe and assist the resurgent love affair between Daisy and Gatsby. As a result of his relationship to these two characters, Nick is the perfect choice to narrate the novel, which functions as a personal memoir of his experiences with Gatsby in the summer of 1922.
Nick Carraway seems to be the perfect choice to narrate the novel. He is the cousin of Daisy Buchanan, he was in the same senior society as Tom Buchanan at Yale, and he rented a house right next to Jay Gatsby. He knows all the characters well enough to be present at the crucial scenes in the novel.
Nick's bias becomes clear in the earliest pages of the book, when he tells us that “there was something gorgeous about him [Gatsby], some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.” We are inclined to see Gatsby as a sensitive genius and to side with him in the romantic triangle between Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom.
He says that “I am one of the few honest people I have ever known.” This quote may be subjective, but it should still be considered as evidence of Nick's trustworthiness. As you can see, Nick Carraway's detailed character analysis proves that he is a reliable narrator.
It is a trait he inherited from his father, who was against criticizing people. He said, “just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.” Presenting himself to the reader, Nick says that he is inclined to reserve all judgments. Therefore, he can be a reliable narrator.
What is Nick like as a narrator? Is he a reliable storyteller, or does his version of events seem suspect? How do his qualities as a character affect his narration? He is reliable because everyone trusts him with their secrets.
First Person (Peripheral Narrator)
Nick Carraway is our first-person narrator, but he's not the center of the story—and that makes him a peripheral narrator, someone who's always on the outside looking in.
Nick's relationship to Gatsby is an example of irony because Nick tells the story about Gatsby but he does not like the man. He says, 'Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, (...) represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn. ' As readers, we wonder why Nick wants to talk about Gatsby.
Because Nick grew up not judging others, this has made him a more reliable narrator because he is unbiased in his opinions. If the story was told from another character's point of view it would not be as nearly as believable because Nick is a trustworthy, honorable, honest guy.
Summary. Nick is highly hypocritical, while more honest and having more morals than the other, he certainty has his own big faults. He has a hard time just telling the truth and being honest with himself at times.
In general though, Nick is more honest than all the other main characters. He's just got a blind spot when it comes to being honest with himself and when evaluating Jay Gatsby, whom he adores despite Jay's gaping flaws of character.
He sees both the extraordinary quality of hope that Gatsby possesses and his idealistic dream of loving Daisy in a perfect world. Though Nick recognizes Gatsby's flaws the first time he meets him, he cannot help but admire Gatsby's brilliant smile, his romantic idealization of Daisy, and his yearning for the future.
Nick Carraway is a fictional character and narrator in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby. The character is a Yale University alumnus from the American Midwest, a World War I veteran, and a newly arrived resident of West Egg on Long Island, near New York City.
Nick's candour demonstrated through his narration and observations draws the reader to believe he is exceptionally honest. He affirms his honesty by saying "I am one of the few honest people I have ever known" Nick's actions support his claim of honesty throughout the book.
Also, it should be noted that though Nick was in a sanitarium, he wasn't "crazy." He was diagnosed with things such as anxiety and depression.
Nick Carraway
Nick describes himself as "one of the few honest people that [he has] ever known," and he views himself as a hopeful man who can see the best in everyone. To that end, he is the only one who truly cares about Gatsby and not just about Gatsby's wealth.
A moral voice
Nick can therefore be seen as the moral compass of the story. He refuses Gatsby's offer of a dubious scheme that could make him a nice bit of money . When he meets Jordan, nothing happens between them at first because of the interior rules that act as brakes on my desires… .
Honest, tolerant, and inclined to reserve judgment, Nick often serves as a confidant for those with troubling secrets.
The first theme contributing to Nick's corruption is hypocrisy, the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not possess. Nick Carraway believes himself to be non judgemental, “Reserving judgements is a matter of infinite hope “ (Fitzgerald 2).
He tells Nick that he is from a rich family and that he is an Oxford man. But really his parents are poor farmers and he only went to Oxford for five months. He manipulates Nick by telling him these lies and by keeping an upscale figure. Gatsby's true personality comes through one day when he is talking to Nick.
One of the most important conflicts in the book is Nick Carraway's internal struggle. Carraway does his best to keep out of other people's business. He doesn't fight with anyone. However, he struggles with the excess and lack of responsibility of the people around him.