"I was thirty. Before me stretched the portentous, menacing road of a new decade." page 135
Nick has grown unhappy with how his life is turning out in New York. He thinks the parties and the drama is unnecessary, and is starting to lose who he was when he moved to West Egg. He is starting to have less of a tolerance for people and is growing negative about how his life is going to turn out. He does still have Jordan who does make him happy.
"As we passed over the dark bridge her wan face fell lazily against my coat's shoulder and the formidable stroke of thirty died away with the reassuring pressure of her hand." page 136: KC
Nick has grown unhappy with how his life is turning out in New York. He thinks the parties and the drama is unnecessary, and is starting to lose who he was when he moved to West Egg. He is starting to have less of a tolerance for people and is growing negative about how his life is going to turn out. He does still have Jordan who does make him happy.
"As we passed over the dark bridge her wan face fell lazily against my coat's shoulder and the formidable stroke of thirty died away with the reassuring pressure of her hand." page 136: KC
SL
Nick seems to admire Gatsby. Nick usually does not like most wealthy people, but Gatsby was the exception. Gatsby had a dream and ambition. Gatsby worked toward it to the end and never doubted himself that he could achieve it, and that was something Nick liked about Gatsby. EJ
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Nick lived in a tiny home next to Gatsby's. He seemed like a nobody living next to that mansion, but he was one of the few who actually knew Gatsby. It shows how no one really knew who Gatsby was. Nobody but the nobody knew Gatsby. EJ
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Nick was Gatsby's only real friend, probably because he wasn't in it for the parties. He actually respected Gatsby instead of using him for entertainment like others did. Nick honestly cared about the man, and was the only friend to attend his funeral. He wanted other people to see Gatsby the way he saw him, and begged others to come and say farewell to no success. Nick has strong moral value for the most part; he stood by his friend and was his spokesperson until the very end. He also lost Jordan, the girl he loved. He lost her because of his loyalty to Gatsby. KC
Through all he said, even through his appalling sentimentality, I was reminded of something - an elusive rhythm, a fragment of lost words, that I had heard somewhere a long time ago. For a moment a phrase tried to take shape in my mouth and my lips parted like a dumb man's, as though there was more struggling upon them than a wisp of startled air. But they made no sound, and what I had almost remembered was uncommunicable forever. (pg 111, ch 6) -SL
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< This excerpt is very vague, and does not definitively state anything, however it suggests that Nick may have lost something long ago. Since what Gatsby was talking about was Daisy and his love for her, it may mean that Nick has lost love in the past. Also, since he could not put his finger on what it was, the passage may also suggest that he has suppressed this memory. -SL
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Something I think is very interesting about the story is Nick's place of residence. Of course Gatsby moved into a house right across the bay from Daisy because he wanted to be near to her; the close proximity of their two homes is nothing strange. The strange thing though, is that Nick, who is Daisy's cousin, also moved there. There was no suggestion that Daisy asked him to move there, or anyone else for that matter, so his choice to move there was dependent on completely random circumstances. That's why I think it is so strange that Nick just happened to come to live right next door to the man who was in love with his cousin, thus drawing him into this man's story. -SL
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SL |
Second cousin once removed of Daisy. (pg5) SF