Theme Of Mise En Scene In The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a very popular American novel and was portrayed in a 1974 film directed by Jack Clayton. Just as one would read a novel, one must also read into the mise-en-scene of a film. The scene in the film where Jay Gatsby finally meets up with Daisy Buchanan has exceptional use of this cinematic element. The textbook Looking at Movies: An Introduction to Film defines mise-en-scene as, “Staging; the overall look and feel of a movie-the sum of everything the audience sees, hears, and experiences while viewing it” (Barsam and Monahan 500). Mise-en-scene as a whole effects a film greatly, but the setting, costumes, and lighting really bring a film to life.
Setting is a very commonly used term that is well known, but often

Fitzgerald describes Daisy as wearing a “three-cornered lavender hat” (85) and Gatsby as wearing a sports coat looking “pale as death” (86). This can be seen in the film exactly how it is portrayed in the novel. Daisy is wearing a lavender three-cornered hat that matches her lavender dress and is wearing a pearl necklace. This shows Daisy’s wealth and attractiveness. In the book Costume and Cinema: Dress Codes in Popular Film, it says, “In classical Hollywood cinema, great emphasis was placed on female costuming as intimately related to sexual attractiveness” (Street, 3). This is apparent from the film because Daisy is absolutely stunning. Her hair is styled and makeup is done, dress is pressed, fancy jewelry, and a stylish hat. She was styled to meet the male eye. Gatsby is also shown in the film as he is described in the novel. We can see how pale he is and the water dripping from his face. His hands are snug in his coat pockets showing how nervous he is to finally be meeting up with Daisy after all these years. Costume is about more than just appearance. It is a key component when it comes to telling the