Nick's sarcasm, pessimism, and self-centered cynicism arguably make him the most antagonistic character, or anti-hero. Almost everyone he meets quickly picks up on these attributes and takes a wary or active dislike to him. His general attitude makes him like an older brother. But as time progressed he never quite loses his self-contained and me-first attitude, However, there are cues that he is not as callous as he appears on first impression. For instance, his affection for Ellis.