Impartial Observation

     In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway remembers and follows his dad's advice: " Whenever you feel like criticizing any one, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages you've had"  (Fitzgerald 1).  This is similar to David Foster Wallace's advice in his speech "This is Water," and as a result, Nick is able to escape his "default setting" and not just view the world in terms of himself. Nick reserves his judgement and simply tells it like it is, which is awesome. It allows me to form my opinions and the book is so descriptive that it almost feels like a primary source.  For example, Fitzgerald uses Gatsby's party  to show first hand the excessively glamorous lifestyle of the 1920s as he describes the full orchestra, buffet tables full of spiced baked ham, and more alcohol than they all need. It speaks to the excess of the era like an advertisement for a car curtain with silk pull tassels(Absolutely disgusting by the way. Ruining a beautiful car with overpriced and ugly curtains.). In history, the 1920s are often overlooked because it is sandwiched between World War I and The Great Depression but works like The Great Gatsby help to preserve the era.