Abstract: The Great Gatsby is one of Fitzgerald’s representative works. Through the depiction of the characters in different social stratums, the writer reflects the society in America in the 1920s, which was filled with extravagance and moral decline. The narrator Nick not only witnesses them leading a luxurious and loose life but also witnesses them degenerating gradually and losing morality. Actually Nick’s own morality is also experiencing transformation. Through the analysis of the changes of Nick’s attitudes towards Gatsby and the rich people, this paper aims to reveal how Nick’s morality goes from naivety to maturity. The first part discusses the changes of Nick’s attitudes towards the rich people, mainly from tolerance to despising. The second part discusses the changes of his attitudes toward Gatsby, mainly from contempt to compassion. The last part analyzes the causes of the transformation mainly from three aspects of social background, family education and living environment, thus exposing people’s hypocrisy and indifference in that historical background.  

Key words: Nick; Morality; Transformation; Causes

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1.Introduction1

2.The Change of Nick’s Moral Cognition about the Rich.2

2.1Putting up with the Rich

2.2Despising the Rich

3.The Change of Nick’s Moral Cognition about Gatsby.. 3

3.1Contempt for Gatsby

3.2Compassion for Gatsby

4.The Causes of Nick’s Moral Transformation 5

4.1Social Background

4.2His Family Education

4.3His Living Environment

5. Conclusion . 9

Bibliography.. 10

Acknowledgment. .11