The Great Gatsby Nick Carraway Analysis

Nick Carraway, easily being the most stable character in the novel, is actually going through a psychoanalytical process himself. Unlike other residents in East and West Egg however, Nick’s actions are a response to trying to become an individual, a process called individuation by psychologist Carl Jung. Following his early life in the midwest, Nick moves to the east to accomplish that goal of becoming an individual. While there he becomes enamored by the social norms of the east. He finds himself drinking, partying, and even finds himself a girlfriend in Jordan Baker. The morals he was soon raised with however, prevent himself from losing responsibility in the actions he performs like so many in the east. Following the death of Gatsby, Nick realizes the careless nature of his companions and soon abandons the norms of East and West Egg. In that sense, Nick becomes his own individual defying the social norms of the east and becoming his own person. Finally, one can also look at the entire novel of The Great Gatsby, as an adventure into the human psyche. Freud describes the human psyche as having three components, an id, ego, and superego. The id is the impulsive part of the human psyche, constantly seeking instant gratification and incentive. Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom all fit the scheme of the id when one considers their impulsive behavior, especially that of Gatsby, as the id is not affected by reality or logic (like his desire to win back Daisy). Nick can then be described as Gatsby’s superego, trying to bring him back to reality, and balance the impulsive behavior of the id. An interesting

As the unconscious motives of Gatsby and his companions influence the actions and behaviors they perform, background information on the science is key to a complete analysis of this literary