In Chapter 4 of "The Great Gatsby," Nick Carraway's opinion of Jay Gatsby shifts significantly. Initially, Nick has a somewhat ambivalent view of Gatsby, but as he learns more about Gatsby's background and observes his actions, his perspective begins to change. One pertinent quotation that captures this change is when Nick reflects on Gatsby's hospitality and charm during their lunch together in New York City.
A key moment that illustrates this change is when Nick describes Gatsby’s smile:
"It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey."
This quote signifies Nick's growing admiration for Gatsby, as he starts to see him not just as the mysterious millionaire, but as a person with depth and complexity. Nick begins to recognize Gatsby's idealism and the vulnerabilities that lie beneath his grand exterior.
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