Nick Carroway’s dilemma lies in the fact that he is always an observer in life and never an active participant. He is always on the outside looking in even though he is wealthier than any of the characters in the novel. He proclaims to be honest and non judgemental, but he does judge others and through the course of the novel he does become dishonest. Another dilemma is that Nick does not have anything to call his own in terms of employment or home. Nick would do well to develop a plan to improve his life. At age thirty, he no longer has the luxury of blaming youth on his problems. Therefore, a proposal to develop a professional life and to buy a home is well in order. By carving out a slice of life for himself, perhaps Nick would no longer have to live life vicariously.

Nick should do the following in order to improve his life: Number 1- put his college education to use and find a job. In order to do this, Nick will write a resume and will spend one hour each day pursuing leads on job opportunities. Number 2-meet with his family lawyer to ascertain how much money he has. After he does this, he will be in the position to purchase a home. He will spend an hour each day searching for a house in his price range with the goal of finding one within six months. Number three-Nick will spend time each day cultivating new friendships with people who are more like him. Number four- Nick will meditate every morning for fifteen minutes with the goal of preparing himself to meet each day with the intent of living his life and not merely observing.

In order for Nick to be the person he can become, he must work to improve himself. He should not rely on the lives of others to fulfill his own life. He must carve out his own life, and in order to do that he must enter the professional world. He must be more discerning about the friends he chooses to associate with this. It would probably be in his best interest to avoid friends who are given to flights of fancy or who are self absorbed and selfish. He must live for the future and not for the past. If Nick works to break free from this fantasy world that he has heretofore been enmeshed in, he will have a much happier life.