In F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," Nick Carraway's opinion of Jay Gatsby evolves throughout the novel. Initially, Nick is somewhat skeptical and critical of Gatsby, viewing him as mysterious and potentially shallow. However, by the end, he comes to respect Gatsby for his dreams and ideals.
One quotation that highlights this change is from Chapter 8, where Nick reflects on Gatsby's pursuit of the American Dream despite the tragic outcome:
“I had never seen such a look of bewilderment as on Gatsby’s face, and I thought I might be mistaken, but I didn’t think so. That is fancy, however, when I always thought of it like that.”
This shows that Nick begins to see Gatsby as a tragic figure, a man driven by hope and dreams, rather than just the wealthy party-thrower he initially thought him to be. Nick’s realization of Gatsby’s profound longing and the futility of his dreams signifies a deepened respect and understanding of his character.
You can also consider the final lines where Nick reflects on Gatsby’s hope:
"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."
This line encapsulates Nick's understanding of Gatsby's eternal optimism and the tragedy of his dreams, cementing a shift in Nick’s perspective by the end of the novel.
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