Toby McGuire plays Nick Carraway in the upcoming film The Great Gatsby.
One of the most debated topics of The Great Gatsby is on its narrator Nick Carrway. The question: Is Nick a necessary character? Technically the answer is no. Nick Carraway, himself is not necessary. In another way the answer is yes. Now to find out why.
The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story between Mr. Jay Gatz, otherwise known as Gatsby, and Daisy Buchanan. The book tells the sequence of events leading up to the climax toward the end. Nick Carraway, a born-into-wealth, business man is the narrator. Nick, himself isn’t really a necessary character. What readers and critics need to realize though is if Nick isn’t the narrator he still needs to be in the book, or at least a character nearly identical. There has to be a character that initiates Gatsby and Daisy’s meeting. Also there needs to be someone who experiences the events firsthand. If the narrator doesn’t experience the events you don’t get the full back-story and some parts might be missing from the plot.
Although he may come off as just an unnecessary bystander he isn’t. Nick makes the story. If it weren’t for him Daisy and Gatsby would never meet and there would be no tragic ending or even a story. Because of Nick the reader knows both sides of the story. He knows Gatsby, Daisy, and every other person involved. Nick is also living the story. He has experienced every part that he tells you about. The fact that he has experienced the events makes him credible, you can trust what he is saying a feel comfortable believing him.
All in all Nick Carraway is a necessary character. If he wasn’t in the book at all there would be no The Great Gatsby. He doesn’t have to be the narrator but no matter how hard a reader may try to get away from him he will always be part of the tragic love story they call The Great Gatsby.
Nick Carraway: Needed or Unnecessary? By:Shannon Cunningham