How reliable a narrator do you think Nick is based on what you have read in chapters 1 and 2 Throughout the opening of the book we meet Nick Carroway and he exposes many strengths

Nick continues to contradict himself throughout the first two chapters. He ironically claims 'I'm inclined to reserve all judgements,' yet makes judgements on character and situations continually. This is evident when he first introduced Tom as having 'two shining arrogant eyes.' These judgements, particularly surrounding Tom root back to as far as college where he claimed Tom spending as a 'matter for reproach.' In reference to Jordan he said he 'enjoyed looking at her' and this affection could lead to his function as narrator being less reliable. He initially treats Gatsby with contempt claiming at the opening of the novel that Gatsby 'represents everything for which I have unaffected scorn.'

One of his most unreliable moments was when he got drunk, at a time of prohibition. This was when he went to meet Toms other woman Myrtle. The reader is meant to think this is bad but Tom seems to have no concept of this questioning his morals as the narrator. There is an ellipsis from him being in the lift to waking up in bed with a man looking at a portfolio of 'beauty and the beast ... loneliness ... Old Grocery ... Horse ...' and this had no connection whatsoever to the previous events, making him very unreliable at this point.

Tom judgement and function as narrator are questionable because he actually ahs a family link to one of the key characters. Daisy is Nick's cousin and this is bound to shroud his judgements slightly, which is clear because he deeply analyses her relationship with Tom Buchanan proclaiming 'she is not so happy inside.' This gives the reader an idea that she is not so happy in marriage and is insecure, evident when she confesses to Nick she thinks Tom is having an affair. This knowledge and insight means Tom could begin to form slightly biased opinions of Tom Buchanan.

Nick appears to be very uncomfortable in some situations. This is evident when he begins drinking and when standing alone at Gatsby's party. He is desperate to find a companion and when Jordan appears he insists on joining her. This is interesting in some ways, as it shows the reader a more insightful view of the party as he observes things like the falseness of the woman and age of the female guests. But at the same time he may miss crucial things important to the plot.

In conclusion I think that when Nicks many strengths and weaknesses are put together he is quite a weak narrator because he is too obsessed with the people and his opinions of them and he misses out large areas of the plot when hes drunk, or skips a section.

Sam O'Brien