Great Gatsby: Narrative Structure and

Great Gatsby: Narrative Structure and Mystery Despite the fact that it is told in the first person, F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel the Great Gatsby is not told in the words the title character. Instead, an observer of Gatsby, Nick Carraway, tells the story to the reader. This allows the novel to unfold like a mystery. The reader is initially uncertain if what different people say about Gatsby is a lie or the truth.

Gatsby creates a false persona for himself, and the reader, like Nick, is initially taken in by this created reputation, then disillusioned, even while Carraway still feels sympathy for Gatsby. At the end of the novel, Nick sees Gatsby as heroic, but not in the way he or the reader initially thought. The narrative structure of the novel creates a kind of unfolding mystery story about the nature and meaning of the figure of Gatsby, as well as relates the romance that occurs between Gatsby and Daisy.

It is also a kind of coming-of-age story of Carraway, as he gradually realizes the cruelty and lies hidden in the beauty of the world he has taken for granted. The opening of the novel sets the scene of East and West Egg Long Island society, where Gatsby is trying to establish himself as an important social figure by throwing lavish parties at his palatial home. Nick gives an introduction to his own background, which immediately establishes the wealth and easy privilege enjoyed by people like Nick and Tom Buchanan.

Unlike Tom, Nick has a more distanced view of society, given that he is not quite as wealthy, well-connected, or enamored of this aristocratic lifestyle, although Nick did go to an Ivy League school and is learning 'the bond trade.' Nick is a social insider, but not an emotional insider to this world, which makes him an ideal narrator for the Great Gatsby. During the rising action of the novel, Nick tries to figure out who Gatsby really is.

Is Gatsby really a war hero? Did he go to Oxford? What is his relationship to Nick's distant cousin Daisy? Nick discovers Gatsby's love for the married Daisy, and the man's determination to make himself worthy of Daisy by making money and creating an appearance of wealth and privilege. Gatsby loved Daisy when the two of them were very young, but believed that the only reason she rejected him was because he was poor. Unlike Nick and Daisy, however, all of Gatsby's wealth is new, won by ill-gotten gains.

His recent status as a man of great social standing is only an appearance of reality, not reality itself and the 'old money' of West Egg will not accept him as one of their 'own.' People know that Gatsby is a bootlegger, and gossip about him even while they go to his parties but Nick comes to like Gatsby, and tries to deny the truth of these allegations.

The climax of the novel occurs when all of the various infidelities that have been taking place are revealed to their respective participants. As Nick is the only character who has not been involved in an extramarital affair he is once again a distanced observer. While Gatsby is driving a car with his lover Daisy, they kill Myrtle, Tom's lover, in a hit and run. Daisy is driving but once again, Gatsby 'makes himself up' and takes the blame for the attack. Gatsby dies at the hands.