What is the significance of Nick Carraway's background in the novel, The Great Gatsby?

Nick's background puts him in an interesting place in the novel. He has been raised in a wealthy family that owns a business in the Midwest. Despite his relative wealth, however, he does not have the enormous privilege of Tom and Daisy. He is not nearly as wealth and his family has not been rich for many generations. This allows him to occupy a place in the novel where he is both part of the...

Nick's background puts him in an interesting place in the novel. He has been raised in a wealthy family that owns a business in the Midwest. Despite his relative wealth, however, he does not have the enormous privilege of Tom and Daisy. He is not nearly as wealth and his family has not been rich for many generations. This allows him to occupy a place in the novel where he is both part of the high society he follows while also being capable an outside perspective.

For example, Nick studied at Yale with Tom. This, along with his relation to Daisy, allows him to have a place in their home. And yet, when he is invited he is still overwhelmed by their wealth. He marvels at how a man of his own generation could have such means.

Likewise, his more ordinary upbringing allows him to understand Gatsby, who grew up poor, better than a character like Tom. Yet his life of comparative privilege gives him a clear sense of distance from Gatsby's modest upbringing as well. Nick is the narrating center at the core of the all the other characters.