Thesis: F. Scott Fitzgerald uses Nick Carraway in the Great Gatsby to analyze
pride and its effects in a man’s life. I. Nick tells the reader about his
background and family history. II. Nick Carraway’s interactions between the
many characters in the novel show a reflection of pride. A. Interactions between
Tom and Nick show examples of pride. B. Interactions between Gatsby and Nick
show examples of pride. C. Interactions between other minor characters show
pride throughout the novel. III. Discussions arise that give Nick certain biased
or critical opinions, these opinions reflect his pride and other people’s
opinions reflect it as well. A. Discussions about money and other financial
issues help flesh out the idea of pride. B. Discussions about social situations
and interactions between certain couples show Nick’s concern over his pride.
1. Nick talks or discusses the relationship between Tom and his mistress. 2.
Nick discusses the relationship between Tom and his mistress. 3. Nick talks
about the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy. Adam Bussey Mrs. Forchion
English IIIA, Period 3 26 May 1999 Pride in the Great Gatsby Pride. The
dictionary defines it as “quality or sate of being proud; an unreasonable
opinion of one’s own superiority over others; and as the reflection of this
quality in disdainful or arrogant behavior.” Many people experience different
kinds of pride. Some show off, others reflect their family’s history with
powerful pride. Pride can also effect a man in many different ways. It could
show a person to be shallow, concerned or important, for example. A novel is a
good way of showing one’s own interpretation of pride. F. Scott Fitzgerald
uses Nick Carraway in the Great Gatsby to analyze pride and its effects in a
man’s life. F Scott Fitzgerald told the story of The Great Gatsby through the
eyes of its humble and quiet narrator, Nick Carraway. The novel starts out,
simply enough, with Nick detailing his background. This itself was the beginning
of Fitzgerald showing pride in the novel. Nick started by telling about
something his father said, “Just remember that all the people in the world
haven’t had the advantages you’ve had.”(5) Right away the author is
establishing the pride of the narrator. His father has instilled in him the idea
that he is better than others and above them with this advice. This could effect
anyone’s view on life. Imagine growing up with the sole idea that you are
better than other people are. What would society thing of that person? Not an
easy thing to grow up with. Later, the narrator told of his historical
background, saying that he had “a sense of the fundamental decencies is
parcelled out unequally at birth.” This meant that he was felt to have had
unequal and unfair advantages right from the moment he was born. The family of
the Carraways also gave the reader a showing of what pride was, by saying how
much of a prosperous and beneficial family Nick had come from. The background
and cultural aspects of a person can influence how they would act in future
situations because of their pride. Nick Carraway also voiced Fitzgerald’s idea
of pride through the many characters he interacted with. Among these were Tom,
Gatsby and several of the other minor characters. Nick had gone to college with
Tom Buchanan. They had become somewhat friends and had gotten to know each
other. When Nick visits the Buchanans he tells the reader that he is impressed
with a man such as Tom, who can do all of the things he ahd done in his life. He
sort of looks up to Tom, much of a looking up to an older brother kind of thing.
In his conversations with Tom, nick’s reflection of his pride was shown. When
tom was asking Nick about his job, “’I’m a bond man.’ ‘Who with?’ I
told him. ‘Never heard of them.’ This annoyed me.” It showed what a
concern it was for Nick to become appreciated by his close friends. This comment
struck a cord at Nick and slightly damaged his ego of believing he was above
people. Nick and Tom had many aquaintances that showed how each of the had a
pride of their own and how it effected their economic and social lives.