Nick Carraway serves as the moral center of The Great Gatsby. Unlike other characters who act through their wealth, desire, and social status, Nick constantly demonstrates ethical awareness and accountability. Even though he's not perfect, Nick actively tries to decipher right and wrong using principles rather than self interest. This alone places him at the highest level of ethical development in the story.
Based on the Kohlberg scale, Nick's moral decisions are motivated by internal ethical principles instead of external rewards or social pressure. He judges actions based on justice, responsibility, and dignity. He dislikes immoral behavior even when it costs him friendships or a position in a social setting. He openly condemns Tom and Daisy despite their wealth and power.
On page 191 of the story, Nick says "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made".
Nick openly disapproves of the abuse of wealth and power, showing ethical reasoning involving justice and privileges. He understands that moral responsibility does not disappear because of privilege or status. Ultimately cementing Nick's moral righteousness.
On page 175, Nick says "I found myself on Gatsby’s side, and alone. From the moment I telephoned news of the catastrophe to West Egg village, every surmise about him, and every practical question, was referred to me."
Nick acts out of virtue and integrity, sticking around to arrange Gatsby’s funeral when others abandon him. This really shows ethical responsibility and commitment to a sense of dignity, even when there is no social or personal benefit. A virtue is a beneficial characteristic, such as having courage, being honest, and having compassion
These two moments in the story show that Nick operates at the postconventional level of Kohlberg’s moral development, which means that actions are guided by internal principles instead of social pressure or self interest. By being disapproving of Tom and Daisy’s carelessness, Nick applies justice and rights based reasoning, understanding that wealth does not excuse moral responsibility and that harm to others weakens your dignity. When he stands “on Gatsby’s side, and alone", Nick demonstrates virtue ethics and commitment to Gatsby, choosing integrity and responsibility even when there is no gain from it. Through both judgments and actions, Nick always evaluates morality and that is captured by the Markkula ethical lenses via justice, rights, virtue, and integrity. This puts Nick at a position of moral excellence within the story and that allows his character to develop morally better than other characters within the story.
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