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I think Nick is a hero-worshipper, a bit like Charles in 'Brideshead Revisited'. He's not that remarkable himself but is in love with Gatsby (though not James Gatz).
I don't think Nick has some sort of raging lust for Gatsby- he's more one of those adoring wives...
I think he is the very opposite, actually; I think that, to him, there are no heroes. Nick certainly winds up with sympathy and affection for Gatsby, but for a while he doesn't know what to think about Gatsby.
Nick initially takes a liking to Gatsby, in that he starts an easy conversation with him at one of his parties. But, at first, he isn't able to realize it is Gatsby he is talking to; this says something about Gatsby -- he does not come as necessarily grand or important or dignified. Nick didn't suspect that the modest man he talked to could be the host of such a party and the owner of such a mansion, and thus we see that Nick doesn't initially perceive Gatsby as a hero.
While Gatsby and Nick continue to get along well, Nick often sees Gatsby as a bit pathetic. The whole "old sport" thing is pathetic, especially that time when Nick narrates that he muttered the expression weakly. (I think this was when Gatsby met Daisy at Nick's house or when he is at a hotel with Daisy, Tom, Nick, and Jordan). It is also a very artificial affectation, and Nick must see through this, since Nick eventually learns of the illusion that Gatsby lives up to. (For example, Nick learns of the lists that Gatsby made for himself in order to sculpt his own image.) And Gatsby is remarkably pathetic when he meets Daisy at Nick's house -- he re-enters the house to make it seem accidental (lol), almost knocks the clock over, and fails to strike a spark in conversation. Nick goes to lengths to make the two feel comfortable and treats Gatsby like a teenage boy.
But there are also moments of Glory for Gatsby, where Gatsby transforms himself from the perennially insecure teenage boy to the actual persona that he created. We see this transformation when Gatsby and Daisy meet at Nick's house and later go to Gatsby's house. On the other hand, we see this transformation go in the other direction when Tom talks Daisy out of Gatsby's plans.
Nick is certainly awed by these transformations in Gatsby, from grand to pathetic and vice versa, but he doesn't hero-worship Gatsby. He is uncertain of whether he truly respects Gatsby throughout their relationship; this is evident when he says "But Gatsby turned out all right in the end," as if he was at bay on this question up until the scene of Gatsby's death. I think the moment when Nick finally comes to respect and sympathize with Gatsby is when he says, right before Gatsby is shot, "They're a rotten bunch. You're better than the whole stinkin' lot of em." (I quote from memory.) Nick is able to finally decide on the way he feels about Gatsby here because by this point Gatsby has shown all his colors.
We see that the respect, sympathy, and admiration that Nick pays Gatsby is arrived at through a process. Nick winds up seeing Gatsby as the perennial young man or teenage boy who long ago invented an image and persona for himself, and spent the rest of his life trying to live up to it. As for Nick himself, he is an outsider. I think Fitzgerald makes Nick gay (or bisexual) because gay people were probably viewed as outsiders in the 1920s. Gatsby too is an outsider; he is New Wealth mixing in with Old Wealth. In this common sense of not belonging, the two can identify with each other and relate.
When Gatsby dies, Nick loses the only other outsider beside himself. Gatsby's death affects Nick so profoundly because in losing Gatsby Nick loses hope in himself.
"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter -- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. ... And one fine morning ---- So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
These last lines of the story can reflect just as much on Nick as on Gatsby. Perhaps Nick is looking for some kind of social progress, or something or other, that runs against the current. When Nick loses Gatsby, he loses hope in something else. Many people have dismissed this thing he loses hope in as the American Dream. Personally, I am less interested in this, and more interested in some dream of Nick's (something personal and specific to Nick himself) that dies along with Gatsby.
Well I certainly wrote a lot here. I didn't plan this post so I doubt it's of admirable quality (and a few things, like the last paragraph, are quite tentative). Anyway, I'm interested in responses.
The quote you paraphrased is:
"They're a rotten crowd," I shouted across the lawn. "You're worth the whole damn bunch put together." I’ve always been glad I said that. It was the only compliment I ever gave him, because I disapproved of him from beginning to end.
I think it's sort of hero-worship, because Nick doesn't have an exciting life himself. He works in finance or something, and so the idea of Gatsby is both seductive and repulsive. He's torn between hating him and loving him, and I think his compliment is really sweet.
Ah, that's a great point!Quote:
Originally Posted by kelby_lake
I think perhaps we disagree on what we mean by hero-worship. I only meant to point out how mixed Nick feels about Gatsby, and how often Gatsby comes across as pathetic.
Maybe he's just conflicted about his hero-worship.Quote:
Originally Posted by ktm5124