The Great Gatsby is written from the first-person perspective. Nick Carraway narrates the events of the novel in first-person, but he is not a reliable narrator.
Detailed answer:
There are three common points of view used in fine literature. They are first-person omniscient, first-person limited, and third-person limited. The events of The Great Gatsby, a classic novel penned by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald, are narrated in first-person. The story revolves around characters that live in two fictional towns – East Egg and West Egg. Nick Carraway, the narrator, is a young man from the Midwest of the United States. He was raised in a narrow-minded rural town but got a degree from Yale University. World War I weathered his character, and military service made him change his outlook on life. Nick came to New York City to learn the bond business and rented a house next to Jay Gatsby.
Choosing Nick Carraway as the narrator of the story was a smart choice. Even though he keeps an open mind about people, his observations are very personal. Nick is described as a great listener. That is what helps him learn a lot about others and add detail to the story. There is a quote that is a perfect example of his attitude. “I’m inclined to reserve all judgments, a habit that has opened up many curious natures to me.” Besides, he is Daisy’s cousin, which gives him a lot of clarity in her life. What is interesting is that Nick is not the center of the story. Throughout the book, he remains on the periphery. For this reason, he is a limited narrator as he cannot read other people’s thoughts.
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