The first thing that Nick tells about himself is that he refrains from passing judgment on others. Nick’s background and tolerant personality make people confide in him, giving more credence to his narration.
Detailed answer:
The reader meets The Great Gatsby‘s narrator, Nick Carraway, in the novel’s first chapter. He comes to New York from the Middle West and rents a bungalow in West Egg. His house appears to be next to the estate inhabited by millionaire Jay Gatsby. Nick narrates the subsequent events, but he is not the main character of the book. For the most part, he stays an observer rather than the protagonist.
In the first chapter, Nick reveals that he was born in a wealthy Midwest family. After graduating from Yale, he gains the title of a World War I veteran. He presents himself as a tolerant person who keeps his opinions to himself. It is a trait he inherited from his father, who was against criticizing people. He said, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.” Presenting himself to the reader, Nick says that he is inclined to reserve all judgments. Therefore, he can be a reliable narrator.
Nick’s accepting nature is what attracts people to him and makes them confide in him. At college, he was unjustly accused of being a “politician.” The reason is that he knew too many secrets of others that no one else was aware of. As the plot unfolds, Nick becomes the confidant of the critical characters of the story. He even earns the trust of Jay Gatsby, who is otherwise a very private person.
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