The Great Gatsby Compare And Contrast Essay

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The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows Nick Carraway, a young bond salesman, as he retells the events of an unforgettable summer. Over the course of sunny days and extravagant nights, a story of lies, lost love, and the American dream unwinds. This American classic has since been adapted into many films. One such adaptation is the 2013 film directed by Baz Luhrmann. When composing a film based on a classic novel it is crucial to get the main points across in a timely fashion. Although similarities exist throughout both forms, because of their significance to the story, there are many differences between the two formats. The character traits of Nick Carraway, and Daisy Buchanan differ greatly between the novel and film, while …show more content…

The setting plays a large role in both formats as it not only contributes to differing places but also offers deeper meanings for richer interpretations. Two settings with similar characteristics are those of Jay Gatsby’s Mansion and the Valley of Ashes. The reader is first introduced to Jay’s mansion as Nick moves in next door. It “…was a colossal affair by any standard-it was a factual imitation of some Hotel De Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy, and marble swimming pool and more than forty acres of lawn and garden.” (Fitzgerald 8). The sheer description of the mansion is enough to paint an ornate mental picture. The mansion is a reflection of Gatsby himself and changes as Gatsby changes. An example of this is after Gatsby death, Nick visits the mansion on his last night in New York, “ I went over and looked at the huge incoherent failure of a house once more.” (Fitzgerald 188) The extravagance of the house, and the things that go on represent part of the vast wealth Gatsby acquired for the cause of Daisy. It also parallels his over top passion for Daisy; it is an architectural representation of Daisy and Gatsby’s love, beautiful from the outside, but over-the-top and unstable. The film uses the evidence from the text to construct a visual representation. Less time is spent admiring the house, because it is easier for the viewer to take it all in at …show more content…

Scott Fitzgerald follows a young narrator from the outside. Over the course an ideal summer comes a tale of forbidden love, deceit and an unreachable goal. The adaptation of this novel into the 2013 film directed by Baz Luhrmann, very similarly mirrors the setting, but diversifies with the characters themselves. With all the differences and similarities it is up to the viewer/reader to decide which they enjoy more, and because of the beautifully written words of F. Scott Fitzgerald and cinematography and direction of Baz Luhrman, it may be a tough

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