Examples Of Honesty In The Great Gatsby
Nick From The Great Gatsby said, "Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have every known." After reading the beginning of this book, I have concluded that Nick was either mistaken or lying. Though Nick appears to be a good guy, he does not know what true honesty is. Many of his actions prove him to be dishonest and morally wrong.
Nick believes that honesty means being a good person, and having nothing to hide. This is not true though. For example, when Tom openly had an affair on his wife, he did not show honesty. He did not hide that he was having an affair. He was not honest; he was shameless. Honesty requires sincerity and integrity. Americans in the 1920's did not commonly have these attributes. You cannot blame Nick for not knowing what honesty is; he never knew anyone who was honest. …show more content…
Nick showed his dishonesty in his relationship with Miss Baker and with the girl back home.
On page 64 he says, "But I am slow thinking and full of interior rules that act as they brakes on my desires, and I knew that first I had to get myself out of that tangle back home. I'd been writing letters once a week and signing them 'love, Nick,' and all I could think of was how when a certain girl played tennis, a faint moustache appeared on her upper lip. Nevertheless there was a vague understanding that had to be tactfully broken off before I was free." Nick goes by the emotions he has by the moment. He does not know what commitment is. He 'loved' this girl back home, but as soon as he found someone else attractive he suddenly forgot what made him love the girl back home. Now she would only get in the way of love. This proves love to Nick is only a possession, and when he did not have his possession with him, he found a replacement. It did not even matter to him that Miss Baker was dishonest and immoral. He was dishonest and shallow, but no different than anyone else during this
time.
Nick also showed his dishonesty by never mentioning things he should have brought up. My dad has always told me that not telling what should be told is the worst lie that can be told. Nick never told his cousin her husband was cheating on her. He never told Tom what he was doing was wrong. He never told Daisy that Gatsby was the reason she was coming over. Truth is: Nick did not mention a lot of things. If he had, he may have been rude or caused a problem. I rather be rude than be a liar. He proved himself to be even more immoral when he helped lead Daisy to become an adulterous. Nick was not honest in any way.
The 1920's was a time period where people stopped caring. People became immoral and dishonest, and it did not bother anyone else because they were not any better. Isaiah 59:14 describes the 1920's perfectly: "So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot answer." Many people could not accept the truth that having many possessions was meaningless. They had trouble enough being true to themselves, never mind others.
Nick was the typical dishonest guy that went with the flow and denied he had a problem
Nick believes that honesty means being a good person, and having nothing to hide. This is not true though. For example, when Tom openly had an affair on his wife, he did not show honesty. He did not hide that he was having an affair. He was not honest; he was shameless. Honesty requires sincerity and integrity. Americans in the 1920's did not commonly have these attributes. You cannot blame Nick for not knowing what honesty is; he never knew anyone who was honest. …show more content…
Nick showed his dishonesty in his relationship with Miss Baker and with the girl back home.
On page 64 he says, "But I am slow thinking and full of interior rules that act as they brakes on my desires, and I knew that first I had to get myself out of that tangle back home. I'd been writing letters once a week and signing them 'love, Nick,' and all I could think of was how when a certain girl played tennis, a faint moustache appeared on her upper lip. Nevertheless there was a vague understanding that had to be tactfully broken off before I was free." Nick goes by the emotions he has by the moment. He does not know what commitment is. He 'loved' this girl back home, but as soon as he found someone else attractive he suddenly forgot what made him love the girl back home. Now she would only get in the way of love. This proves love to Nick is only a possession, and when he did not have his possession with him, he found a replacement. It did not even matter to him that Miss Baker was dishonest and immoral. He was dishonest and shallow, but no different than anyone else during this
time.
Nick also showed his dishonesty by never mentioning things he should have brought up. My dad has always told me that not telling what should be told is the worst lie that can be told. Nick never told his cousin her husband was cheating on her. He never told Tom what he was doing was wrong. He never told Daisy that Gatsby was the reason she was coming over. Truth is: Nick did not mention a lot of things. If he had, he may have been rude or caused a problem. I rather be rude than be a liar. He proved himself to be even more immoral when he helped lead Daisy to become an adulterous. Nick was not honest in any way.
The 1920's was a time period where people stopped caring. People became immoral and dishonest, and it did not bother anyone else because they were not any better. Isaiah 59:14 describes the 1920's perfectly: "So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot answer." Many people could not accept the truth that having many possessions was meaningless. They had trouble enough being true to themselves, never mind others.
Nick was the typical dishonest guy that went with the flow and denied he had a problem