The Great Gatsby Film Essay
Joshua DiFabio AP ELA
O’Toole Block 2
The Great Gatsby Film Essay
Two film adaptations exist of Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, the A&E version made in 2000, and the Warner Brothers depiction in 2013. Both versions contain their share of faults as well as moments that do justice to the book, but the latter far outweighs the former in the newer presentation.
The 2013 cinematic perspective of the book presents a greater understanding of the extravagance of Gatsby’s wealth as well as the identity of American culture at the time, highly emphasizing the “flapper” persona. Additionally, as far as scenery goes, the portrayal of the Valley of Ashes in the 2013 film was much more true to the book, as it emanated a feeling of hopelessness and poverty, which focused the viewer on the true characterization of the Wilsons. On the subject of characterization, Myrtle Wilson was represented well in the film in regards to her eccentricity and hints of classlessness in her speech. Furthermore, Daisy is presented in a blithe manner, which was more closely aligned with the novel than the 2000 version. Her mannerisms and dialect were exhibited in such a fashion that she appeared weak and naïve. As for Gatsby’s character, the DiCaprio interpretation emphasizes his denial in the fact that Daisy has moved on and is merely using him for a summer fling. It stays true to the characterization of Gatsby as a hopeless romantic and once again aligns itself with the themes of the book. Also, the scene where the heat became oppressive was much better executed in the new version, as it showed how Tom and Gatsby were at each other’s throats, and further set the mood of the scene with boiling tempers due to the heat. Finally, the last scene where Tom and Daisy entirely ignore the death of Gatsby as well as the funeral is a cinematic slap in the face to the audience, revealing their intrinsic nature as the true antagonists all along. As a
O’Toole Block 2
The Great Gatsby Film Essay
Two film adaptations exist of Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby, the A&E version made in 2000, and the Warner Brothers depiction in 2013. Both versions contain their share of faults as well as moments that do justice to the book, but the latter far outweighs the former in the newer presentation.
The 2013 cinematic perspective of the book presents a greater understanding of the extravagance of Gatsby’s wealth as well as the identity of American culture at the time, highly emphasizing the “flapper” persona. Additionally, as far as scenery goes, the portrayal of the Valley of Ashes in the 2013 film was much more true to the book, as it emanated a feeling of hopelessness and poverty, which focused the viewer on the true characterization of the Wilsons. On the subject of characterization, Myrtle Wilson was represented well in the film in regards to her eccentricity and hints of classlessness in her speech. Furthermore, Daisy is presented in a blithe manner, which was more closely aligned with the novel than the 2000 version. Her mannerisms and dialect were exhibited in such a fashion that she appeared weak and naïve. As for Gatsby’s character, the DiCaprio interpretation emphasizes his denial in the fact that Daisy has moved on and is merely using him for a summer fling. It stays true to the characterization of Gatsby as a hopeless romantic and once again aligns itself with the themes of the book. Also, the scene where the heat became oppressive was much better executed in the new version, as it showed how Tom and Gatsby were at each other’s throats, and further set the mood of the scene with boiling tempers due to the heat. Finally, the last scene where Tom and Daisy entirely ignore the death of Gatsby as well as the funeral is a cinematic slap in the face to the audience, revealing their intrinsic nature as the true antagonists all along. As a