Nick Carraway in Society

When I think of Nick Carraway and how he relates to people in American society I can only imagine that American society varies so drastically from one place to another; being a resident of the very diverse city of Toronto and having traveled to many places around the world, I understand that social and cultural "norms" vary greatly from place to place, more so across such a vast nation. Nick sets out with ambitious goals and his eyes set on his American dream or "green light", and by the end of his quest he sees his dream and his society as something different than what he had envisioned. I believe that Nick Carraway represents the everyman of society, the typical Joe. He seems to me to be a middle class figure with a well rounded education and personality, with whom I can relate to quite well.

Nick Carraway, our Narrator

The story begins by jumping right into Nick Carraway's thoughts. He tells us that his father once 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." Looking back on this after having read the novel, I've realized that throughout the story Nick maintains this sort of reserved, "slow to judgement" personality, as he encounters all these vastly different characters.