Literally, of course, Nick, the narrator of The
Great Gatsby, is neither a painter or photographer. I assume then that you
are thinking figuratively, and asking whether Nick as narrator is more similar to a
photographer or a painter.
Speaking simplistically, Nick is
more of a painter than a photographer. Viewed simplistically, a photographer only
captures what's present. A photographer doesn't comment on or interpret what he films
(again, thinking simplistically). A photographer just takes pictures of
reality.
A painter comments on, or filters, or interprets
what he paints. The night sky reflects what's going on in van Gogh's mind in one of his
most famous paintings, for instance. A painting is further removed from reality than a
photo is.
This might represent Nick's narration in the
novel. Nick is an unreliable narrator who reveals his prejudices and opinions
throughout the novel. He may say that he doesn't think he is better than anyone else
and that he doesn't judge people, but he actually does. Everything in the novel is
filtered through Nick's eyes, and arranged in his
mind.
Nick remembers Tom from college, and before he's
even met Tom in the present of the novel he condemns him. He judges Jordan before even
being introduced to her. He applauds Gatsby and declares Gatsby's great value, in
comparison to the value of other characters in the
novel.
If a painter makes more value judgments and does
more interpreting than a photographer, then Nick is more of a painter than a
photographer.
No comments:
Post a Comment