The Great Gatsby

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This blog is part of thinking Activity assigned by Prof. Dilip Barad sir to deep dig in symbolic depth of The Great Gatsby, examining its iconic cover, Jay Gatsby’s character, and key themes like the American Dream and class conflict. By analyzing the novel’s symbols and Luhrmann’s adaptation, we uncover its critique of materialism and the illusion of success. This study aims to understand how Fitzgerald’s vision resonates across time.

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1) The book cover of The Great Gatsby, designed by Francis Cugat, is more than just a decorative piece—it reflects the themes of the novel.

1. Dark Blue Background

Sadness and Loneliness: The color represents Gatsby’s inner emptiness and longing for Daisy.

The American Dream’s Dark Side: It highlights how chasing wealth and success can lead to disappointment.

Mystery and Secrets: The deep blue adds an air of mystery, mirroring the hidden truths in the novel.

2. Disembodied Eyes

These floating eyes could symbolize God, Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s billboard, or society’s watchful gaze, judging the characters’ actions.

3. Green Light

The green light at Daisy’s dock represents Gatsby’s unreachable dream and his hope to recreate the past.

4. City Lights

The distant city lights reflect materialism and the illusion of happiness that wealth brings.

2) Understanding Jay Gatsby's Character

Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald's *The Great Gatsby*, is a complex character whose persona is shaped by his relentless pursuit of the American Dream, his idealized love for Daisy Buchanan, and his internal struggles with shame, guilt, and grief. 

From the video *Understanding J. Gatsby*, we learn that Gatsby is a self-made man who reinvents himself to escape his humble origins. His obsession with Daisy symbolizes his desire to reclaim a lost past and achieve a sense of fulfillment. However, his dream is ultimately unattainable, as it is built on illusions and unrealistic expectations. Gatsby's character embodies the paradox of the American Dream—its allure and its inherent emptiness.

The 'Psychoanalytical Study - Shame (Guilt) and Grief' video delves deeper into Gatsby's psychological makeup. His shame over his impoverished past drives him to create a new identity, while his guilt stems from his involvement in illegal activities to amass wealth. Gatsby's grief is tied to his inability to let go of the past, particularly his idealized vision of Daisy. These emotions highlight his tragic flaw: his refusal to accept reality, which ultimately leads to his downfall.Click here for better understanding. 

Gatsby's character is a poignant critique of the American Dream, illustrating how the pursuit of material success and romantic idealism can lead to disillusionment and tragedy.

 

3) Faithfulness of Luhrmann's Film Adaptation to the Original Novel

Baz Luhrmann's 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby is visually extravagant and captures the opulence and decadence of the Jazz Age. While the film remains largely faithful to the novel's plot and dialogue, it takes creative liberties in its stylistic approach. 

Luhrmann emphasizes the spectacle of Gatsby's parties and the grandeur of his mansion, which aligns with Fitzgerald's depiction of excess. However, the film's use of modern music and fast-paced editing diverges from the novel's tone, potentially overshadowing its deeper themes. 

The portrayal of Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Daisy (Carey Mulligan) stays true to their characters, but the film's heightened drama sometimes simplifies the novel's nuanced exploration of themes like the American Dream and class conflict. Overall, Luhrmann's adaptation is a faithful yet stylized interpretation that prioritizes visual splendor while occasionally sacrificing the novel's subtleties.

Here is some scenes that differ in Novel Or Movie:

The Green Light

Novel: The green light at the end of Daisy's dock is a recurring symbol of Gatsby's hopes and dreams. It is mentioned subtly throughout the novel and becomes a powerful metaphor in Nick's final reflections.

Film: The green light is more prominently featured in the film, often shown in close-up shots with dramatic lighting. While this emphasizes its symbolic importance, it also makes the metaphor more explicit and less open to interpretation than in the novel.

Nick's Narration

Novel: In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway serves as the narrator, recounting his experiences in a reflective and sometimes selective manner. He shapes the story based on his own observations and judgments, revealing events at his convenience. His narration is retrospective, offering insights into Gatsby’s life while also critiquing the moral decay of the Jazz Age.

Film: In Luhrmann’s adaptation, Nick’s narration is framed differently. He is portrayed as a patient in a sanatorium, suffering from "morbid alcoholism" and depression. Under the suggestion of his doctor, he begins writing about Gatsby, eventually turning his recollections into a book titled The Great Gatsby. This framing device, absent in the novel, adds a layer of psychological depth but also alters Nick’s role from a reflective observer to someone who processes the past as a form of therapy.

The Parties at Gatsby’s Mansion

Novel: Fitzgerald describes Gatsby’s parties as lavish but also somewhat chaotic and impersonal. The guests are mostly strangers taking advantage of his hospitality, reinforcing themes of superficiality and moral decay.

Film: The parties are even more extravagant, featuring anachronistic modern music (such as Jay-Z and Beyoncé), excessive CGI visuals, and hyper-stylized cinematography. Luhrmann exaggerates the spectacle, making the parties resemble a 21st-century music festival rather than a 1920s gathering. This change underscores the idea of Gatsby as a pop culture icon but diminishes the novel’s critique of hollow excess.

4) Symbolic Significance of 'Green Light' and 'Billboard of The Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg'

The Green Light: The green light at the end of Daisy's dock is one of the most iconic symbols in 'The Great Gatsby'. It represents Gatsby's hopes and dreams for the future, particularly his desire to reunite with Daisy and recapture the past. The light also symbolizes the broader idea of the American Dream—its promise of success and happiness, which remains just out of reach. Ultimately, the green light underscores the theme of unattainable aspirations and the illusion of the American Dream.

The Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg: The billboard featuring the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, looming over the Valley of Ashes, serves as a symbol of moral decay and the loss of spiritual values in the materialistic world of the novel. The eyes are often interpreted as a representation of a godlike figure, observing the characters' actions and judging their moral failures. They highlight the emptiness and corruption beneath the surface of the Roaring Twenties, reflecting the novel's critique of a society driven by greed and excess. Dr. T.J. Eckleburg (the billboard doctor), or the all-seeing gaze of society. These eyes watch over Gatsby and Daisy, judging their actions and reminding them of the moral consequences of their choices. The green light: 

5) Theme of 'The American Dream' and 'Class Conflict' in the Novel

The American Dream: 'The Great Gatsby' explores the American Dream as both an aspirational ideal and a destructive illusion. Gatsby's rise from poverty to wealth epitomizes the dream's promise of upward mobility. However, his obsession with material success and his inability to achieve true happiness reveal the dream's emptiness. Fitzgerald critiques the idea that wealth and status can bring fulfillment, suggesting that the American Dream is ultimately unattainable and often leads to moral corruption.

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Class Conflict: The novel also delves into the rigid class divisions of 1920s America. Gatsby's attempts to infiltrate the upper class are met with resistance, as characters like Tom Buchanan view him as an outsider. The distinction between "old money" (Tom and Daisy) and "new money" (Gatsby) highlights the entrenched social hierarchy and the impossibility of transcending one's origins. This class conflict underscores the novel's themes of inequality and the futility of Gatsby's quest to rewrite his past.

Together, these themes reflect Fitzgerald's critique of a society obsessed with wealth and status, where the pursuit of the American Dream often leads to disillusionment and tragedy.