To what extent is Nick as biased narrator? by Alison

Alisha and Emily

alishaa1232 — 2015-11-23 09:29:29 UTC

At the beginning of the novel, Nick isn't very critical of Daisy and Tom, yet at the end of the novel he begins to hate them. He is also very critical of Myrtle and Gatsby, yet at the end of the novel he becomes best friends with Gatsby and admires Myrtle's vitality when she is killed. "Chocked a little on in giving up the tremendous vitality she had stored so long."

Aidan and Sean

2015-11-23 09:32:58 UTC

Nick in the Great Gatsby is a biased character because he contrasts himself saying he's the most honest person he knows, but in reality he's biased towards Gatsby. This is proven where Tom invites Nick to the Valley of Ashes, but Nick is ungrateful which suggests he is unreliable, whereas he says to Gatsby "they're a rotten crowd... You're worth the whole damn bunch". This clearly suggests he's more biased towards Gatsby.

Amie, Lacey, Lutricia, Tia and Jessie

2015-11-23 09:54:24 UTC

Nick is shown to contradict himself within the first chapter which leads to the conclusion that he can be biased towards people. Nick says he "is inclined to reserve all judgements" but then shows to be judgemental of Gatsby. (Where does he? Give an eg and explain it)

Nick is also shown to be critical of Tom's affair with Myrtle saying he was "confused and a little disgusted" about Daisy's reaction towards the affair but then allows Daisy to use his house for her own affair with Gatsby. Nick is also very critical of Myrtle suggesting she "blocks out the light" perhaps out of his feelings for Daisy and the bias he has towards her as family.

Throughout the beginning of the novel Nick is very biased towards Daisy as he is very critical towards Gatsby's house but very complimentary towards Daisy's saying her house is like "reflecting gold".

Jess and Chelsea

2015-11-23 10:32:41 UTC

Nick is biased because at the beginning of the novel he explains that he 'is inclined to reserve all judgements' for people, however he judges Gatsby based on the rumours surrounding his name and he also judges Jordan at the end of the novel due to how Daisy acts.

As well as this, Nick contradicts himself because he explains he doesn't want anything to do with Jordan, yet a few days later he ends up on a date with her.

Nick is very analytical of Myrtle (when he first meets her he explains that she has a 'thickish figure' and that her face doesn't contain 'a gleam of beauty') and believes that she is a bad person because she is involved with Tom in an affair. However, Nick does not judge Daisy even though she too is involved in an affair.

tacor

connorleebowler — 2015-11-24 12:02:28 UTC

Nick is a biased narrator because, he was brought up different which has a effect in prejudice and opinions, his upbringing allows Fitzgerald to showcase he thoughts towards the post war generation. He chooses what to say and when he says it. He is also young which means he has limited life experience. Also the young opinion of things may be seen as subjective rather than a more neutral perspective. He also assumes everything without evidencing. He is also very quick to judge, he does this when he meets Myrtle "contained no facet or gleam of beauty" this shows that Nick has a subjective view but also doesn't give people the chance to show theirselves.

Danielle B, Danielle R, India, Kate and Rebecca

2015-11-24 12:45:58 UTC

Nick is biased because he judges people when hypocritically he has previously said "I am inclined to reserve all judgements". This is further proved by Jordan who calls Nick dishonest when they break up : "It was careless of me to make such a wrong guess. I thought you were rather a honest, straight forward person. I thought it was your secret pride." This shows that even if Nick claims to be showing a fair account of what happens in the novel, he is untrustworthy as a narrator.

As the book is written through a first person narrator, Nick has only seen one side of any event, if he has seen said event at all. This means that whatever he tells the reader, is most obviously only his opinion of the event. This therefore suggests that it this novel, Nick is a biased narrator

edgymcfredster — 2018-03-21 10:47:53 UTC