The Perfect Narrator

Donaldson, Scott. "Fresh Approaches: The Trouble With Nick." Critical Essay's on Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. (1984): 131-139. Print.

In Donaldson’s criticism he has strong opinions about Nick as the narrator. He states that Nick is “a snob”, “propriety rather than morality guides him”, “not entirely honest”. Donaldson asks the question if Nick is unreliable. He believes that Fitzgerald did a great job as making Nick the narrator that he was. He believes that his “shortcomings” allow him to be the “perfect narrator” in The Great Gatsby. He talks about Nick’s statement about criticizing others in the novel. This was advice given to Nick from his father and Donaldson believes that Nick misunderstand it. He also discussed Nick’s “reserving judgment is a matter of infinite hope.” Donaldson dismisses this because Nick does not posses hope in the novel. Donaldson points out Nick’s “ability to reserve judgment” are not possible. He gives many examples where Nick puts others down in the novel. Nick is also faced with the mysteriousness of his next door neighbor, Gatsby. Nick doesn’t believe anything he hears about his neighbor instead makes his own judgments of Gatsby at the beginning and end of the novel. Donaldson believes that the “snob” in Nick finds Gatsby questionable.

While most question Nick and his ability to be the narrator, Donaldson however believes his traits make him the perfect narrator. Nick has the "personality" that allows him to describe the events of The Great Gatsby in a way that only Nick could. Donaldson thinks that Nick's snobish traits allows him to have a different perspective on the aspects of the novel. Fitzgerald would not be able to acheive his moral of the story if he didn't have Nick as the narrator passing the judgments that Nick passes. Donaldson touches on Nick reserving judgment is impossible for him and ultimately makes him unreliable as our narrator. The main issue Donaldson pointed out was that in order for Fitzgerald to get his vision across he needed Nick to pass judgment. The novel might pass judgment on others which is considered unreliable it still is necessary to be able to see the moral of the story. If Nick was an honest and non judgmental narrator, the story would of be perceived by the readers much different. This critcism shows why it was okay for Nick to pass judgment and allows the readers to realize that if Nick was to be an ethical narrator it would of affected the readers ability to fully grasp the concepts of The Great Gatsby.