The man with large glasses who admires Gatsby’s books is nicknamed Owl Eyes. He first appears at one of Gatsby’s extravagant parties, where he is astonished to discover that Gatsby’s library contains genuine books rather than fake decorations.
Owl Eyes is never given a conventional personal name in the novel. His nickname comes from his enormous, owl-like spectacles, which make him visually memorable and link him to the novel’s recurring imagery of eyes, watching, and judgment. He is one of the few party guests who seems genuinely curious about Gatsby rather than interested only in free food, alcohol, and spectacle.
His surprise over the books also reveals a common misconception about Gatsby. The library is real, but Gatsby’s identity is still carefully constructed: he has assembled evidence of culture and sophistication to support the persona he presents to strangers. Owl Eyes later reappears at Gatsby’s funeral, one of the very few partygoers to show up. That contrast exposes the emptiness of Gatsby’s social world: many guests enjoy his hospitality, but almost none remain loyal after his death.