The Stockdale Paradox In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Stockdale Paradox is a technique that people use when a person is determined to achieve a goal. Many people have experienced this in their lives if they have ever wanted something more than anything. “The Stockdale Paradox is a technique to navigate challenging and ambiguous times by combining the ability to confront the brutal facts of your current reality, even as you maintain unwavering faith that you will prevail in the end, no matter how distant that is” (ModelThinkers). The paradox states that the more a person believes they will succeed, the more likely they are to succeed. The novel The Great Gatsby uses the Stockdale Paradox with the characterization of Gatsby as he continuously believes he is a good person filled with hospitality, which he can achieve to the public. Still, in reality, he is corrupt and is using the paradox

Gatsby’s leaves are very quick and frequent in the film, to represent how corrupt he is. He can be seen leaving every conversation immediately to attend his private calls, which shows how corruption has consumed him. The film uses facial characteristics and visual emotion to hide Gatsby’s corruption behind his charisma. In the film when Gatsby is first introduced, a scene is shown of Gatsby holding up a glass to the viewers with an extravagant smile (Luhrman). Visually being able to see these moments it is shown that Gatsby only does right, later finding that this was a ploy for his corruption. The film uses Gatsby’s natural charm to deceive the viewers. Gatsby makes conversation in a very welcoming way that feels like he can be trusted with anything. His dialogue in the film always talks in a way that appeals to others' wants (Luhrman). In the movie, this is shown through his conversations with other people and the emotional appeal it has on others. Gatsby is very calm and collected in his manner of making conversation, which conveys a joyful