F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” is often hailed as one of the great American novels, capturing the spirit, decadence, and disillusionment of the Jazz Age. Set in the 1920s, the novel tells the story of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire, his obsession with Daisy Buchanan, and the complexities of love, wealth, and the American Dream. The vivid imagery and poignant themes of Fitzgerald’s novel made it a natural candidate for film adaptations, with the most notable being Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 version starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby. While both the novel and the film capture the essence of the Roaring Twenties, they differ significantly in their approach to storytelling, characterization, and visual representation, each offering a unique perspective on Gatsby’s tragic pursuit of the American Dream.
The Storytelling Approach: Literary Subtlety vs. Cinematic Spectacle
Fitzgerald’s novel is celebrated for its literary elegance, with a narrative style that weaves subtlety and symbolism throughout. The story is told through the eyes of Nick Carraway, a newcomer to West Egg who becomes both a participant in and an observer of the unfolding drama. Nick’s perspective provides readers with insight into Gatsby’s enigmatic character while also highlighting his own moral growth. The novel’s beauty lies in its language—Fitzgerald’s lyrical prose paints vivid pictures of the extravagant lifestyle of the wealthy, the allure of Gatsby’s parties, and the hollow emptiness of the American Dream.
In Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film adaptation, the storytelling approach shifts dramatically to embrace a visually extravagant and energetic representation of the novel. Luhrmann is known for his flamboyant style, and “The Great Gatsby” is no exception, with dazzling visuals, vibrant colors, and an anachronistic soundtrack that blends jazz with contemporary music. This stylistic choice creates a sense of immediacy and spectacle, immersing viewers in the decadence of the Roaring Twenties. However, this focus on visual grandeur means that some of the novel’s subtlety is lost. The film’s fast-paced scenes and elaborate party sequences prioritize spectacle over the reflective, introspective quality of Fitzgerald’s writing.
Characterization: Nuances of the Novel vs. Hollywood Glamour
One of the most striking differences between the novel and the film lies in the portrayal of the characters. In the book, Jay Gatsby is presented as a man of mystery, whose wealth and persona are carefully constructed to win back Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby’s complexity is revealed gradually, with Fitzgerald allowing readers to glimpse his vulnerability beneath the polished exterior. He is at once a dreamer, clinging to an idealized version of Daisy, and a tragic figure, whose pursuit of the American Dream ultimately leads to his downfall. The novel’s portrayal of Gatsby is tinged with ambiguity, and readers are left to draw their own conclusions about his motivations and moral character.
Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of Gatsby in the film is both charismatic and emotionally intense. DiCaprio captures Gatsby’s charm and desperation, particularly in the scenes where Gatsby reunites with Daisy and tries to recreate the past. However, the film’s portrayal of Gatsby is more overt, with less emphasis on the mystery that surrounds his character in the book. The use of flashbacks, for example, provides a clear picture of Gatsby’s past and his relationship with Daisy, removing some of the ambiguity that is present in the novel. This makes Gatsby a more sympathetic figure in the film, but it also simplifies some of the complexity that Fitzgerald imbued in his character.
Daisy Buchanan, portrayed by Carey Mulligan in the film, also undergoes a shift in characterization. In the novel, Daisy is depicted as both alluring and shallow—she is the object of Gatsby’s obsession, but she is also self-centered and ultimately incapable of loving Gatsby in the way he desires. Fitzgerald’s Daisy is a symbol of the unattainable, embodying both the beauty and the emptiness of the American Dream. In the film, Mulligan’s portrayal emphasizes Daisy’s vulnerability and the emotional turmoil she feels about her relationship with Gatsby. While this makes Daisy a more empathetic character, it also reduces some of the complexity of her role as a symbol of Gatsby’s unattainable dream.
Nick Carraway: The Observer’s Perspective
In both the novel and the film, Nick Carraway serves as the narrator, providing a lens through which the story is told. In the book, Nick is reflective and contemplative, his perspective shaped by his experiences with Gatsby and the other characters. Fitzgerald uses Nick’s narration to explore themes of disillusionment and the corrupting influence of wealth. Nick’s moral evolution is central to the novel, as he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the world of the rich and ultimately distances himself from the decadence of West Egg.
The film adaptation takes a different approach to Nick’s narration, framing it as a retrospective account told from a sanitarium where Nick is recovering from the events of the story. This framing device, while providing a visual context for Nick’s narration, adds a layer of melodrama that is not present in the book. Tobey Maguire’s portrayal of Nick captures his innocence and his growing sense of disillusionment, but the film’s reliance on voiceover narration and the sanitarium setting can feel heavy-handed compared to the subtlety of Nick’s reflections in the novel. The film also emphasizes Nick’s admiration for Gatsby more overtly, which can detract from the ambiguity of Nick’s feelings about Gatsby that is present in Fitzgerald’s writing.
Visual and Symbolic Elements: The Green Light and the Valley of Ashes
The novel is rich with symbolism, with two of the most prominent symbols being the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock and the Valley of Ashes. The green light represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams, particularly his desire to be reunited with Daisy. It is a symbol of the unattainable, always just out of reach, and it embodies the larger theme of the elusive American Dream. Fitzgerald’s use of the green light is subtle, allowing it to take on different meanings as the story progresses.
In the film, the green light is depicted more literally, with several scenes showing Gatsby staring longingly across the bay at the glowing light. The visual representation of the green light is striking, but it lacks the subtlety of Fitzgerald’s prose. The film’s emphasis on the green light makes its symbolism more obvious, leaving less room for viewers to interpret its meaning for themselves.
The Valley of Ashes, another significant symbol in the book, represents the moral and social decay that results from the pursuit of wealth without regard for consequence. It is a stark contrast to the opulence of West Egg and serves as a reminder of the disparity between the rich and the poor. In the novel, the Valley of Ashes is described in vivid, haunting detail, with the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg looming over it as a symbol of the emptiness of the American Dream. The film brings the Valley of Ashes to life with impressive visuals, emphasizing the bleakness and desolation of the area. However, as with the green light, the symbolism of the Valley of Ashes is more overt in the film, making it less open to interpretation compared to the novel.
The Themes: The American Dream and Its Discontents
The American Dream is a central theme in both the novel and the film, with Gatsby’s rise to wealth and his pursuit of Daisy embodying the idea of self-made success. In the novel, Fitzgerald presents a critique of the American Dream, highlighting its inherent corruption and the emptiness that lies beneath the surface of wealth and glamour. Gatsby’s dream is ultimately unattainable, and his tragic fate serves as a powerful commentary on the illusion of the American Dream. Fitzgerald’s writing conveys a sense of disillusionment, with Nick’s reflections on Gatsby’s life serving as a poignant reminder of the dangers of chasing an ideal that can never be fully realized.
The film adaptation retains this critique of the American Dream but presents it in a more dramatic and visually striking way. The excess and opulence of Gatsby’s parties are depicted with grandeur, emphasizing the superficiality of the lifestyle that Gatsby has created. The use of contemporary music in the film, including hip-hop and pop, adds a modern twist to the depiction of the Roaring Twenties, highlighting the timeless nature of the themes. While the film captures the spectacle of Gatsby’s dream, it can sometimes feel as though the deeper critique of the American Dream is overshadowed by the focus on visual extravagance. The novel’s nuanced portrayal of disillusionment is more subtly conveyed, whereas the film’s emphasis on the excesses of wealth makes its critique more explicit.
The Ending: Tragedy and Reflection
The endings of both the novel and the film are faithful to the tragic conclusion of Gatsby’s story, but they differ in tone and emphasis. In the novel, Gatsby’s death is portrayed with a sense of inevitability, and Nick’s reflections on Gatsby’s life and the American Dream are tinged with sadness and disillusionment. The novel ends on a contemplative note, with Nick reflecting on the passage of time and the futility of trying to recreate the past. Fitzgerald’s final lines, “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past,” capture the essence of the story’s themes and leave readers with a lingering sense of melancholy.
The film adaptation also ends with Gatsby’s death and Nick’s reflections, but the visual portrayal of Gatsby’s funeral and the aftermath adds a layer of emotional intensity that is different from the book. The film’s use of music and visuals creates a dramatic and poignant conclusion, emphasizing the loneliness of Gatsby’s final moments and the emptiness of the dream he pursued. The final scene, with Nick writing the words “The Great Gatsby” on the manuscript of his story, adds a sense of closure that is more explicit than the book’s ending. While this makes for a powerful cinematic conclusion, it lacks some of the subtlety and open-ended reflection that makes the novel’s ending so impactful.
Two Mediums, One Story
Both the novel and the film adaptation of “The Great Gatsby” offer unique interpretations of Fitzgerald’s timeless story. The book provides a nuanced and introspective exploration of the characters and themes, inviting readers to reflect on the nature of the American Dream, the allure of wealth, and the tragedy of unfulfilled desires. Fitzgerald’s lyrical prose and the ambiguity of the characters’ motivations make the novel a rich and layered experience.
The film, with its visual spectacle and energetic style, brings the world of Gatsby to life in a way that is both captivating and emotionally engaging. Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation captures the grandeur and excess of the Roaring Twenties, offering a dramatic and visually stunning portrayal of the story. While the film may sacrifice some of the subtlety and depth of the novel, it succeeds in creating a memorable and impactful interpretation of Gatsby’s tragic pursuit of the American Dream.
