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Abstract

This paper thematises the evaluation and detection of narratorial (un)reliability. The focus is on the narrator of The Great Gatsby, Nick, who presents an exemplary ambivalent case of narratorial unreliability. The perception of Nick’s (un)reliability changes depending on the situation, the readers’ value scheme, and the historical standpoint. Nick cannot be labeled as solely reliable or unreliable. It is instead a spectrum where elements of unreliability and reliability exist. Although a multiplicity of textual and extratextual indicators point towards unreliability, there are also several hints of reliability. Hence, the decisive research question is: In how far can Nick in The Great Gatsby be considered an (un)reliable narrator? The paper covers various theories concerning unreliable narrators, i.e., those of Chatman, Booth, Nünning, Olson, and Hansen, that are then applied to The Great Gatsby. The focal point will be on Nünning’s concept with his extratextual and textual indicators for unreliability since it is the most detailed and applicable for narratorial analysis where the relevance of the historical standpoint is also considered. Furthermore, the paper includes the changing academic and popular reception of Nick as a narrator over the years, which will show that analysing and evaluating a narrator depends on the historical standpoint of the reader,

Keywords: Nünning, Booth, unreliable narration, The Great Gatsby, narratology