Great Gatsby Comparative Essay

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The inability to repeat the past in The Great Gatsby Introduction: F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, The Great Gatsby, has been adapted into many films. The most recent adaptation, directed by Baz Luhrmann and released in 2013, is just one of many. While the book and the film follow Nick Carroway's interactions with his mysterious neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsby's pursuit of his former lover, Daisy Buchanan, it's important to remember that film adaptations of books can differ greatly from the original. Directors often add a personal touch to the story, which can result in a unique twist or deeper meaning. In Luhrmann's adaptation, for example, the perspective is shifted away from Nick and focuses more on Gatsby himself. Additionally, though …show more content…

Baz Luhrmann's adaptation stays true to the original plot while using creative techniques to bring the story to life on the big screen and highlight the futility of trying to recreate the past, supporting Fitzgerald's message that you can't repeat the past. Body 1: Although the book is seen from Nick's perspective, we get to learn a lot about other characters, including Gatsby himself. When Nick goes to Gatsby’s parties he is always introduced to new people such as famous businessmen or singers, however, Nick does meet new characters that we get to see develop as he gets to know them. At Gatsby’s first party Nick meets Gatsby and Jordan “primarily,” and other introductions. During Gatsby's second party, Nick seems to have become more familiar with the people around him. He wasn't going around the party to introduce himself to more people, as he did during the first …show more content…

This is just mentioned in the book, but in the movie, it is a powerful scene that shows how fulfilling Daisy and Gatsby’s past was together. Adding on to this, the movie shows Gatsby and Daisy seeing each other, when in the book, Nick hasn't seen them for a while. __________________________________. The lasting change that is portrayed throughout the film is not being seen through the eyes of Nick. Although Nick appears in many scenes and even narrates some, the story primarily focuses on Gatsby. This change allows the audience to be more involved with Gatsby’s story, helping to understand him better. Conclusion: Baz Luhrmann's film adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" remains loyal to the source material while also creatively emphasizing the futility of trying to recreate the past. This supports Fitzgerald's underlying message that it's impossible to repeat the past. In the novel, Fitzgerald primarily uses characterization, particularly the relationship between Gatsby, Nick, and Daisy, to convey this message. Meanwhile, the film adaptation also supports Fitzgerald's message but incorporates some changes to heighten the sense of unease as Gatsby realizes that he cannot recreate the