Ambition and Control: The Complex Character of Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby

Introduction

Throughout F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway changes a lot and shows he wants control. At first glance, Nick, the guy telling us the story, seems like he's just an observer. But if you look closely, you'll see he's trying to steer his life and maybe even others' lives too. Let's dig into Nick's relationships, his role as the narrator, and his involvement in other people's affairs. We get how much he wants things to be stable during those wild Roaring Twenties. But here's the kicker: his need for control eventually leads him to realize he can't manage everything.

Nick's Relationships

Nick's need for control pops up when we look at how he interacts with other characters. From the start, he aims to be this reliable guy who narrates without bias. He says something like, "I'm inclined to reserve all judgments" (Fitzgerald 1). Seems like he's trying hard to keep his own opinions in check.

Take his relationship with Daisy Buchanan—she’s his cousin and represents wealth and social standing. That fascinates Nick, probably because she embodies the secure life he craves. Remember when he thought about slapping Tom on the back? It shows Nick’s wish to sway Daisy’s choices, even though deep down he knows he can’t really control her.

The Role of Narrator

Being the narrator gives Nick another shot at controlling things. He can shape events and influence how we see the characters. By managing what stories get told and how they're told, Nick tries putting some order into this chaotic world.

But there are limits, right? Even though he's telling us the tale, he's stuck with what really happens. He might try spinning it a certain way, but ultimately, the truth sneaks out. It's a reality check for Nick—his grip on control isn’t as tight as he’d like.

Influencing Others

Nick also gets involved in other people's lives, almost acting like an advisor or guide sometimes. Think about his bond with Jay Gatsby—the rich dude who's sort of mysterious and very central to this whole thing.

Nick becomes Gatsby's confidant and gives him advice here and there. Heck, he even arranges that meetup between Gatsby and Daisy! It’s clear he's attempting to stabilize their lives by controlling parts of it.

But despite all these efforts? Yeah, it's pretty much impossible for him to maintain total control over everything going on around him.

The Inevitable Realization

The story moves along revealing more about each character—and guess what? Nick realizes just how limited his power is when it comes down to actually steering events or outcomes.

An example: His attempt at getting Gatsby together with Daisy doesn’t exactly end well—it turns tragic instead! This unfortunate turn reminds Nick (and us) of life’s unpredictability; not everything fits neatly within our grasp nor will people always act according our plans!

Conclusion

So wrapping up here: In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway constantly grapples with wanting control over situations around him but learns hard truths along way—the fact remains no one really has full reigns on everything forevermore anyway!

References

• Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Scribner, 2004.
• Berman, Ronald. The Great Gatsby and Fitzgerald's World of Ideas. University of Alabama Press, 1997.
• Tate, Mary Jo. Critical Companion to F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work. Infobase Publishing, 2007.
• Mizener, Arthur. The Far Side of Paradise: A Biography Of F.Scott Fitzgerald. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company; Reprint edition (1986).
• Eble Kenneth E., “The Craft Of The Great Gatsby.” College English Vol., pp-203-209.
• Kazanjian Marie-Rose,”Restless Reading : The Problems & Pleasures Of Long Novels” Princeton University Press (2013).