In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald chooses to tell the story through Nick; who takes a narrator perspective. Nick becomes an influential character to Gatsby. In the first chapter there is a passage that carefully lays out one of the overall themes in the novel. In this passage, Nick idolizes Gatsby with godlike and heroic references, demonstrates a longing for the past, and portrays Gatsby's fate as undeserving.

Throughout this passage, Nick portrays a tone of admiration towards Gatsby with heroic, respectable, god-like references. Nick's view of Gatsby is described by saying .".. [That] there is something gorgeous about him, some heightened sensitivity to the promises of life..."With the words "something gorgeous" Nick brings out admiration towards Gatsby. Then later in the passage, speaking of the "extraordinary gift of hope", Nick later states ."..as I have never found in any other person and which it is not likely I...