This 3 page paper is a proposal to analyze the character of Nick in "The Great Gatsby," explaining why this character was chosen. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: D0_HVNickGG.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
paper will seek to prove that Nick is a "reliable narrator." That it, it will examine his character to see if hes presenting an accurate narrative of the events. Sources
The critical approach of the paper will involve a close reading of the novel as its main source, and literary criticism by others as secondary sources. The first point
of discussion is why Nick was chosen, not Gatsby or one of the other characters. Further Discussion and Preparation The book is rich in detail and makes a reader feel
as if he/she was there, watching the story unfold. But the characters seem less important, or perhaps its that Fitzgeralds writing is so extraordinarily clear that we grasp the essence
of these people immediately. For example, when we first meet Tom Buchanan, he voices his approval of a book on race: "The idea is if we dont look out the
white race will be-will be utterly submerged. Its all scientific stuff; its been proved" (Fitzgerald 13). This is of course a racist standpoint and that, coupled with Fitzgeralds description of
Buchanans physical appearance ("a cruel body" (Fitzgerald 7)) are more than enough to tell us everything we need to know about Tom. Hes a powerful man, in his business, in
his personal life, and physically; hes a bigot, hes a racist, and he has a mistress who he makes little effort to hide from his wife (Fitzgerald). He is the
embodiment of all the very worst characteristics of the "alpha male." Because he is so easily characterized, he isnt very subtle, and thus isnt a particularly compelling subject for analysis.
Daisy, Toms wife and the object of Gatsbys obsession, is also less a person than a symbol. She is the epitome of what we might call today a "trophy wife,"