Hope In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

We all know that hope is a powerful thing but have you ever thought about what happens when you let it consume you? This is exactly what we see in this film and it eventually leads to the demise of multiple characters. There's a continuous buildup of that feeling of hope throughout this film as a love story unfolds and the viewer is brought along for the journey. The Great Gatsby falls under the genre of romantic tragedy and was directed by Baz Luhrmann. This film was released on May 1st of 2013 and features well known actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. The director used the film techniques of music, costume, and acting authenticity to portray this tragic love story and how hope and infatuation can lead to one’s demise. These

The Great Gatsby is a layered film that employs film techniques, symbolism, and foreshadowing to show the dark side of hope. The Great Gatsby takes us back to the 1920s in Long Island, NY. The ending of WWI (World War One) and the backfiring prohibition on alcohol had brought parting to an all-time high. Jay Gastby is played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Nick Carraway by Tobey Maguire, Daisy Buchanan by Carey Mulligan, Tom Buchanan by Joel Edgarton, Jordan Baker by Elizabeth Debicki, and Myrtle Wilson by Isla Fisher. This film is told through the eyes of Nick Carraway who moves into a cottage next door to the millionaire Jay Gatsby. He finds himself thrown into the deceitful world of the wealthy through his new friendship with Jay Gatsby but Gatsby has ulterior motives for being so welcoming to Nick. Gatsby has been in love with Daisy, Nick’s cousin, for years even after her marriage to the wealthy Tom Buchanan. Gatsby has thrown illustrious

The next day Gatsby is waiting for Daisy to call, still convinced that she will tell him she’s leaving Tom even after going home to him last night. Nick tells Gatsby he has to leave and go to work and tells him he will call to check in on him. “I’ll call you up. Do, old sport, please do… I supposed Daisy’ll call too.” (The Great Gatsby 1:59:33-1:59:44). Gatsby was saying this as more of a question to be reassured by Nick that Daisy will call. Even after everything that’s happened Gatsby is still delusional thinking that Daisy will call. The film technique of actor authenticity is strong here because you can see on Gatsby’s face the delusional hope he has for Daisy still. Gatsby decides to swim in his pool while he waits for Daisy’s call and as the viewer you can see a shadow holding a gun walking through his house. As Gatsby emerges from the water the phone rings and he smiles as he stares out at the symbolistic green light thinking that Daisy has finally called. Just as this happens a gunshot goes off and you can see that Myrtle’s vengeful husband has shot Gatsby in the chest and then shoots himself. Gatsby died thinking that Daisy had finally called and that they would be together when in reality it was just Nick calling to check on him. The symbolism behind the green light started from the very beginning of the film and is the symbol for Gatsby’s hope. The green light is