The one we truly despise

As with many other forms of social interaction, criticism is centered entirely upon the one delivering it. The person receiving criticism hardly needs an identity since they are merely a platform on which the critic lashes out his or her own self-perceptions. 

In psychology, a term known as psychological projection reveals the ironic nature of criticism. In its essence, it states that people tend to criticize others based on their own insecurities and qualities. This characteristic of criticism is quite curious; doesn't it make sense that people should criticize qualities that they themselves don't possess? 

Perhaps the nature of criticism reveals more about the critic than the victim. The comment on the rudeness of a classmate might as well point towards the rudeness of the commenter. The words spilled about a person hardly describes the person receiving it, but presents a clear view on the feelings in insecurities about the person saying it. The words collectively form the person's unwanted characteristics or the jealousy of qualities they aspire to possess. 

With this in mind, a second look at the Great Gatsby reveals a more understandable view on the Narrator's seemingly contradictory feelings. Gatsby represents "everything for which [the narrator has] an unaffected scorn"(Fitzgerald) yet he was also described as gorgeous. Gatsby might just be the physical projection of the Narrator's inner beliefs and feelings. At least this will explain why he both feels scorn towards Gatsby's character yet also deeply admires his whole person. 

"We always see our own unavowed mistakes in our opponents"(Carl Jung)

The mirror may be a better place to direct our criticism.