Through the story of the great Gatspy we see Nick discover what it is to have desire, Nick is finding himself through all of the characters in this novel. Through these irresolute characters, Nick is able to find his own self, a solid ground to construct his life. It seemed to me that Nick was a person of solitude, a loner, and even after he was out of the military he was left with a sense of longing and lack of knowledge about himself. He seems intelligent and is in the process of becoming a bondsman; basically he is just doing something to say he does it. His life’s goal is not to become a bondsman; it is more of just something to do than something he longs for. He finds himself borrowing from his parents to begin his own journey. As he sets out and finds this peculiar, out-of-touch group of people he begins to relax and find comfort in their dysfunction. The dysfunction leader, Gatsby, teaches Nick a thing or two about desire. At the beginning of the novel, and really right up toward the end, I see Nick as lackluster. He has no career that he is just dying to be a part of, or a love he is aspiring to have, or really any life at all. We discussed light and floating and how lovely things seem to just float about in this novel. Nick is floating, but not in a picturesque sort of way, Nick is floating in a boat that was not tied to the pier properly sort of way. That is why his mind lacks judgment and he is able to gather with so many different people. He is aimlessly floating from one dysfunctional group into another. The coast is smooth sailing until Gatsby’s life unravels in front of Nick. Gatsby is a different kind of dreamer. He would have made for a fantastic artist if only his efforts were toward art and not money, I feel this way because he had such a wild imagination. It is this imagination that allows for the elaborate schemes and parties pushing him further toward his desires, money and Daisy, while masking who he truly was. Gatsby was not honorable but he was admirable in his quest to pursue the American Dream, which so often ends in defeat. I feel it is through Gatsby we see Nick blossom. He begins to look at life differently, and this is evident in the last few pages. He is not only ending Gatsby’s life with poetic phrases, but he is beginning to find his own desires. As the pool is filled with blood and the picture of a summer ending with defeat, Nick is developing his own life. Nick is blossoming into a person who has desires and goals. He is beginning to feel the pull of desire. He sees Jordan and feels something for her; almost regret in not pursuing her further, this is a sign that Gatsby did inspire Nick through his desire for Daisy. I am not suggesting Nick will begin a life built around Jordan, but maybe a life built around pursuing things he wants and not letting it just drift away. I feel that Gatsby had a light coming from his life, despite his criminal tendencies, and as his story ends that light is spread to Nick. Nick has moved on from being a wall flower.

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