Who is the narrator of The Great Gatsby?

The narrator of the novel is Nick Carraway, a young man from Minnesota who moves to New York and tells the story from his own perspective.

Nick narrates in the first person, meaning everything the reader sees is filtered through his observations, judgments, and experiences. He describes himself as “one of the few honest people” he knows, and he tries to reserve judgment about others, even as he becomes increasingly critical of the wealthy, careless world around him.

As both a participant and an observer, Nick occupies a middle position: he is connected to the wealthy “old money” world through his cousin Daisy, but he lives next door to Gatsby in the “new money” world. This allows him to move between different social circles while also stepping back to reflect on them. His role as narrator shapes the novel’s tone: he is fascinated by Gatsby’s hope and ambition but also disillusioned with the corruption and emptiness he witnesses.

By the end of the book, Nick’s perspective becomes more openly critical, especially of characters like Tom and Daisy, whose carelessness harms others. His narration ultimately frames Gatsby’s story as both admirable and tragic, highlighting the tension between dreams and reality that defines the novel.