How effectively has the composer established the characters of Nick Caraway and Gatsby in the opening section and how is the responder positioned to respond to these characters?
...ates a sense of maturity, awareness about him. As Nick continues on to say “I’m inclined to reserve all judgments” and refer to himself as an abnormal person, F. Scott Fitzgerald establishes Nick as an introverted, reserved and seemingly closed character. Nick Caraway goes on to reflect on past experiences and set the foundations for his characters context. This is done through the background information conveyed to the audience in the opening paragraphs such as, “In college I was unjustly accused of being a politician”. The responder is positioned to be curious about Nick’s background and intrigued as to how he came into contact with Gatsby. The audience is also positioned to view Nick constructively as his optimistic outlook on life is valued by today’s culture. Nick also conveys his attitudes throughout his narration on the ideas and values of materialism versus substance and dreaming versus reality. Nick and Gatsby represent the characters of depth and profoundness, whereas the Buchanan’s represent the shallowness and superficiality of society. This parallel is also present in the representation of the valley of the ashes and East and West Egg. Nick uses irony and paradoxical images to relate his feeling and attitudes to the responder throughout the opening sequence which also helps him to establish himself as an open, honest, trustworthy and caring character – which is valued by society. The first time we read of Gatsby is when Nick Caraway introduces him as “Only Gatsby, the man who gives his name to this book, was exempt from my reaction” (Page 8). This way of introducing Gatsby creates a sense of esteem and admiration for his character. The responder instantly responds well to the character of Gatsby as Nick goes on to describe him as “If personality is an unbroken series of successful gestures, then there was something so gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life…”, (Page 8). These quotes set the foundat...