Gatsby

Gatsby The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is one of America’s greatest works of literature. It is set during the 1920’s, when there was a dramatic political and social change happening. The time period is known as the roaring 20’s because of the mass partying and alcohol consumption in the younger generation. Nick Caraway narrates as the story of good-looking, wealthy man Jay Gatsby is told. The novel was made into a movie in 1974, and was re-created again in 2013; both films accurately portrayed Fitzgerald’s story. The 2013 contemporary film is the most effective in advancing the overall theme due to narration done by Nick Caraway and the cast chosen. The 2013 contemporary film, directed by Baz Luhrmann, is a better reflection of the story line of the novel The Great Gatsby, than the 1974 version due to Nick Caraway’s voice over throughout the film. “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back, ceaselessly into the past.”(Fitzgerald 123) The last words Nick Caraway’s character speaks as the 2013 film closes in its final scene. The camera fades from the once green light Gatsby would look at while thinking of Daisy to Nick Caraway pulling a page out of his type writer. Nick stares at the paper, paces a little, and adds “The Great” in front of his already typed front cover with the words “Gatsby By Nick Caraway.” The paper fades back to the green light and the light starts flashing, finally the light fades to black. The viewer now sees that the narration by Nick Caraway was the reading of his novel, entitled The Great Gatsby. This decision better reflects the novel because Nick Caraway narrates the story throughout the novel, just like he does in the contemporary film. Unlike the contemporary film, the original 1974 version has Nick Caraway as the main character. Although the viewer sees the story from his perspective, the inside thoughts done in the voice over are not displayed. Due to the fact that the contemporary film