Nick Carraway Character Analysis in The Great Gatsby

Nick Carraway, a character in the Great Gatsby says, “Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people I have ever known” (Fitzgerald). However, tThroughout The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Nick demonstrates a lack of humility because he is judgemental to those he believes are morally below him but doesn't do anything to prevent or voice that it is wrong. The best example of humility is Jesus, according to Ben Franklin. He believed this because it was most important in life to set your standards and not allow them to falter; remain humble and have pride in what you do. Ben Franklin also stated, “He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas' ''. This aphorism would have humbled Nick Carraway for he thought he was above the people around him. However, although he did not engage in their bad activities, he still hung around bad people which made him guilty by cause. Nick's arrogance allowed him to hang out with people that blinded him with their sinful behaviors.

Fitzgerald introduces Nick Carraway as a sympathetic character in the first few chapters. He claims he is a very open-minded, tolerant, and non judgemental person. The author wants the reader to build a sense of trust to view life in West Egg through Nick's eyes. NicksHis father told him, “Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."(Fitzgerald).  This advice is important because he wants the reader to know that he is very aware that where he comes from provides him with a more personable and classy lifestyle, but also makes him vulnerable to those around him. The story, “The Great Gatsby'' is told in first person from Nick's point of view and it is for that reason the reader can see how he watches all the wrongdoings of his friends and refuses to acknowledge it, which proves that inevitably he lets bad things slide. Therefore, this shows that he claims to be a morally correct and honest person but struggles to stay out of immoral situations which makes him equal to that level of person and standard. It is important to note that in life, you are only as good as the people you hang out with. In the story, Tom is a very racist character, along with his other bad traits like adultery, and dominance over women. Tom says to Nick early in the story, “Well, it’s a fine book, and everybody ought to read it. The idea is if we don’t look out, the white race will be—will be utterly submerged. It’s all scientific stuff; it’s been proven.” (Fitzgerald). It is inevitable that an honest person would share their input or avoid someone who doesn't value the same morals as themselves and that goes to show exactly what Ben Franklin believed. If Nick truly believed his claim of honesty, he would have taken action to something he knew was wrong. His humility would not have allowed him to stay at the table of such a bad man. If you hang out with bad people, or in his words dogs, you put yourself in a situation to look bad or act the same way.

Significantly, the aphorism stated by Ben Franklin as “Poor Richard'' has a universal meaning of being cautious with the company you keep. When you associate with those of low reputation; it may not only lower your own but also lead you astray. It is not until the end of the story when Nick realizes how horrible the people were. It is shocking that Nick was able to last as long as he was, engaged in these dishonest activities whilst he claimed to be a good person. Nick may have believed this to be true because he was never a part of the action but because he was so trustworthy people like Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby often told him secrets and made him second party involved. Nick said, “I was most keenly aware of its superiority to the bored, sprawling, swollen towns beyond Ohio… it had always for me a quality of distortion” (Fitzgerald). The distortion of life was most likely referring to the moral emptiness of the town. No one thing can define a good person, but typically they are someone who stands for who they are without faltering. Nick may have good quality traits but at the end of the day he associates with people who cancel them out.

Furthermore, towards the end of the story Nick begins to feel  repelled by the vulgar actions of the people he meets in West egg. He realizes their mistakes, with an exception to Gatsby. The reader can believe that his soft spot for Gatsby is due to his ability to chase such a dream and pursue such a strong love for Daisy. This is intriguing to Nick because Gatsby is the one character who shows the concept of  humility that Nick was chasing, and believed he demonstrated. He knew that although Gatsby found his fortune; mostly illegal and under the table, on the outside he had was a good person with good intentions.  Nevertheless, Nick was well aware of Gatsby being rumored to be a gangster and that should have been viewed as unacceptable from the beginning. As the story progresses the reader sees that Nick starts on the outside of the immoral behavior but quickly is drawn into it which makes him the focal point. People may see that as being curious, but at the same time, to believe you are more classy and above something means you should not become involved. This will cause a person to be “dirty”, or act similarly because it is a habit to act like the people you surround yourself with. 

Overall, the lesson to be learned about the humility virtue and the aphorism, “He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas”, is exceptionally demonstrated throughout this story with the use of the narrator, Nick Carraway. He eventually grasped the idea that believing you are an honest person and being an honest person is the ability to humble yourself. The East became haunted for Nick and he ends up leaving after Gatsby's death. It is important to see that shortly after Gatsby's death is when the story ends, and that shows the reader that the narrator had nothing better to do in life than end his fame when he  because the narrator no longer has something below him to trifle about. Ben Franklin's 13 Virtues are truly all connected because in order to have one you must seek out the actions of the others. To be a morally good person, you can not only succeed in one aspect of life but succeed in all of them. In spite of all Nick had overseen from his friends, he learned at the end of the book how all of his friends' actions had eventually caught up to them. Nick's humility was tested early in the story but he never made the executive decision to stay away from the problems and that is why the reader is able to acknowledge that to be an “honest” or humble person, Nick should have stood strong in what he believed rather than letting everything slide over his head.