Ah, the Great Gatsby and his ways of using people. He doesn't seem to know exactly what the qualifications of a friend are. Would such a good friend do that?
Yes, Gatsby takes Nick to lunch and invites him to parties, but he doesn’t really confide in him. . . at least not at first. He is just another guest at one of Gatsby’s parties; Gatsby doesn’t really pay attention to him, as a friend might. But, it is also obvious that Gatsby needs a friend, whether it be out of his own agenda or because he needs someone who can be there for him (Yeah, its for his own agenda). Nick is that ideal friend; there is a beginning of a great friendship between the two, even if it not so evident at first.
The way Gatsby throws all his parties and acts at them, give a big insight into his life. His parties are really impersonal and really have no rhyme or reason to them. It seems that he Gatsby just wants to fit in with the “old money” and will play that “cool cat” part by throwing legendary parties.
Nick, on the other hand is a little more skeptical and doesn’t believe Gatsby’s first story about his life. Nick is the friend Gatsby needs to keep him tied to reality and be his confidant and Gatsby is the friend Nick needs to embrace his “luxury side”.
I agree with you when you say Gatsby needs a friend, but do you think he's just using Nick to get to Daisy? I said yes in my blog, but after reading more, I think it has evolved into a real friendship, or rather, a dependency on Gatsby's part.
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