The Judge

The way Nick is protrayed is a theme throughout the book. In the beginning, Nick is shown as one of the only characters that reserves judgement on the people around him. This portrait of Nick is fuzzied by the fact that he does judge Tom when he first sees him in the book. Nick again contradicts this good judgemen when he confesses that "Dishonesty in a woman is a thing you never blame deeply -- I was casually sorry, and then I forgot." Although Nick wouldn't admit it, he does hold a double standard, excusing Jordan's shortcomings because of her gender. At the end of that chapter, Nick reveals his own sense of self worth: Of all the people he has known, he is one of the few who is honest. In many respects, this is true, and as the story continues, Nick's moral standard becomes more and more pronounced, but the very fact that he has dismissed Jordan's dishonesty makes the audience wonder, at least momentarily, whether this is true. In chapter four, Nick placed himself in a position in which he will have to come to terms with helping decieve Tom while bringing Gatsby's fantasy to life. Nick, too, is becoming more and more involved with Jordan and this, perhaps, clouds his judgement. If nothing else, this moment of passion makes NIck seem more human. He has needs and longings, just as everyone does. In addition, his agreeing to help Gatsby reunite with Daisy suggests he, too, has a bit of the romantic about him. His morality isn't as rigid as may have been initially supposed; these small acts of human nature help warm the reader to an otherwise aloof man.