Is Nick "all right at the end"? I think so..
Throughout the novel I find Nick to be a likeable character as well as a reliable narrator. In Chapter I Nick tells us that he is “…inclined to reserve all judgements… I was privy to the secret griefs…” I was able to trust Nick’s storytelling due to his openness and his ability to listen to others without judgment. After reading The Great Gatsby, I found that I had learned a lot about Gatsby as well as Nick himself. His poetic descriptions made me realize how Nick views the world himself.
My two favorite parts of the book are when Nick is describing the “valley of ashes” and Gatsby’s death. In Chapter II Nick describes the valley of ashes as a “desolate area of land” and Fitzgerald uses words like, “grotesque,” “crumbling,” and “ghastly” to describe it. Symbolically it is the product of modern America – a wasteland. The “valley of ashes” is what can occur after a failing dream (the American dream, maybe?). It’s evident too that Fitzgerald didn’t think well of the upper class (as represented by those living in the East) and for Nick to take careful notice of this wasteland (and the difference of the East and the West) gave me the chance to almost judge the characters or to see the “valley of ashes” as Nick was seeing it. Maybe the upper class life isn’t so great? I get the feeling that since Nick is involved in this lifestyle, it’s hard for him to see the “evil” in it.
Since Nick is “privy” to secrets it helps for his friendship to form and grow between Gatsby and himself. A lot of the major events in the novel focus on Gatsby (obviously) but it’s important to take note of how Nick is viewing everything. He starts to see the reality of things and notices how Gatsby strives for Daisy’s attention (by gaining wealth and showing off). On the last couple of pages in Chapter IX Nick reflects on Gatsby’s attempt to gain this “American dream.” Even though Nick says Gatsby turned “all right at the end,” he still notices the downfall of Gatsby. Before Nick leaves, he goes to what used to be Gatsby’s home and says: “I went over and looked at the huge incoherent failure of a house.” Nick also notes that Gatsby “did not know that it was already behind him” (in regards to Gatsby’s “American dream.”) It appears (to Nick, and to us) that the “American dream” was not possible for Gatsby – despite his efforts. On the last page, Fitzgerald uses the word “green” a lot – a reminder that green represented something vibrant, growing and ever-changing –the color associated with Gatsby’s almost-impossible dream. “Gatsby believed in the green light …” Nick admits that Gatsby failed at his attempts, but still admires him (not sure if that’s the best word to use) for what he tried to do. “…We will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…” Gatsby may have failed, but we can still try… I think Nick does turn out all right at the end by seeing the “valley of ashes” within the world. He was able to see the darker side of reality and Nick viewed the life of a man who attempted to completely change that and to achieve what most people want: the “American dream.” He seems hopeful at the end: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
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I agree with a lot of what you said in your blog. The “ashes of dreams” was one of many thought provoking moments in this novel for me as well. I could picture it in my mind as the “American dream” post Gatsby’s death. All the bright parties, all the lights, and all the money all became just added to the pill of ash in the end. All except Nick, I think that Nick was on a voyage that leads nowhere until he met Gatsby. Gatsby’s desire for Daisy gave Nick inspiration for something, for a life beyond his lackluster floating along. I feel Nick needed to feel the light that Gatsby gave during his wonder years of pursuit.
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