In Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Nick tells his only compliment to Gatsby. He states that Gatsby is worth more than the whole upper-class at the time. This quote means that he is a better person than most people, superficial and vain.
Nick compliments Gatsby by calling him "the most hopeful man" he had ever met, impressed by his determination and sincerity. Nick feels compelled to commend Gatsby because he recognizes his deep passion for his goals, and his genuine generosity of spirit that is rare in the wealthy circles they move in.
“You're worth the whole damn bunch put together.” Nick addresses these words to Gatsby the last time he sees his neighbor alive, in Chapter 8. This moment nicely captures Nick's ambivalent feelings about Gatsby. Even though he disapproves of Gatsby until the end, Nick still winds up taking his side.
Nick is particularly taken with Gatsby and considers him a great figure. He sees both the extraordinary quality of hope that Gatsby possesses and his idealistic dream of loving Daisy in a perfect world.
Is it possible for Nick to give a compliment to Gatsby while simultaneously disapproving of him from beginning to end?
It is possible to disapprove and compliment him at the same time. Nick appreciates Gatsby's determination and he stands for what he believes in whereas the others like Daisy and Tom hide behind their money. He was determined to change his life even when he viewed it as hopeless.
Nick's bias becomes clear in the earliest pages of the book, when he tells us that “there was something gorgeous about him [Gatsby], some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life.” We are inclined to see Gatsby as a sensitive genius and to side with him in the romantic triangle between Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom.
Tone Nick's attitudes toward Gatsby and Gatsby's story are ambivalent and contradictory. At times he seems to disapprove of Gatsby's excesses and breaches of manners and ethics, but he also romanticizes and admires Gatsby, describing the events of the novel in a nostalgic and elegiac tone.
Nick admired Gatsby's ability to maintain hope and hold onto his dream of being reunited with Daisy, despite the obstacles and challenges he faced. Nick was glad to have said this compliment when he did because it showed Gatsby that someone recognized and appreciated his optimism and determination.
This is at the very end of the novel. Of the late Gatsby, Tom says, “That fellow had it coming to him. He threw dust in your eyes just like he did in Daisy's….” And that's why it matters that Nick is gay and in love with Gatsby: because Tom's assessment is spot-on, but Nick will never admit it.
Nick views Gatsby as a deeply flawed man, dishonest and vulgar, whose extraordinary optimism and power to transform his dreams into reality make him “great” nonetheless. Read an in-depth analysis of Jay Gatsby.
Who does Nick fall in love with in The Great Gatsby?
In that novel, Nick loves Gatsby, the erstwhile James Gatz of North Dakota, for his capacity to dream Jay Gatsby into being and for his willingness to risk it all for the love of a beautiful woman. In a queer reading of Gatsby, Nick doesn't just love Gatsby, he's in love with him.
Three days after the murder of Gatsby, a telegram from his father, 'signed Henry C. Gatz' arrives and, a few days later, Mr. Gatz arrives at the mansion.
Nick does not like Gatsby at first, feeling as though he likes to garnish the truth to make his life seem more exciting, but over time, the two form an unlikely but solid bond. Nick facilitates the reunion of Gatsby and Daisy but remains an observer in their meetings, trying not to get too involved.
In both book and movie, Gatsby is waiting for a phone call from Daisy, but in the film, Nick calls, and Gatsby gets out of the pool when he hears the phone ring. He's then shot, and he dies believing that Daisy was going to ditch Tom and go way with him.
Nick Carraway admires Gatsby for his ambition and determination. He admires Gatsby's ability to dream big and have the courage to pursue his goals, even when they seem impossible.
Gatsby has two purposes in mind when he calls Nick 'old sport'. First, he is attempting to manufacture the sense of closeness with Nick. Everything that Gatsby does is for Daisy, including his befriending of Nick.
Nick makes an overt statement of the affinity he feels with Gatsby: 'They're a rotten crowd,' I shouted across the lawn. 'You're worth the whole damn bunch put together. '
How does Nick feel about Gatsby's offer to compensate him for his help by hiring him? Nick is concerned that the work will be illegal. Nick is offended that Gatsby is offering to pay him for his help. Nick appreciates the offer, but regretfully declines.
Nick finds Gatsby's story “threadbare” at first, but he eventually accepts at least part of it when he sees the photograph and the medal. He realizes Gatsby's peculiarity, however. In calling him a “character,” he highlights Gatsby's strange role as an actor. Read more about Gatsby's role as the novel's protagonist.
In Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Nick tells his only compliment to Gatsby. He states that Gatsby is worth more than the whole upper-class at the time. This quote means that he is a better person than most people, superficial and vain. It is even though Gatsby's happy life is illusional.
The relationship between Tom and Daisy is built more on money rather than love, however, there is little bits of love. Daisy marries Tom because of his wealth, but throughout their relationship she does, fall in love with Tom at least once.
