"The Great Gatsby"
The Great Gatsby is narrated By Nick Carraway, telling the story of the famous and mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby as he tries to win back the heart of his old love, the now-married Daisy Buchanan, and all the extravagance and drama that happened along with it. However, it’s important to note that the novel is much more than a simple love story. Its main focus is exploring the decadence of the Roaring Twenties, the distinction between “old money” and “new money”, and the moral hollowness that wealth can bring. There is also a focus on the moral excesses of New York City specifically, although the characters reside in Long Island in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg.
- How did the film capture the Jazz Age, the Roaring Twenties, the Flappers & the Prohibition Act of America in the 1920s?
The Great Gatsby (2013 Film) Directed by Baz Luhrmann.
Jazz in the 1920s helped define a generation torn between the Victorian society of nineteenth century nineteenth-century America and the culture of modernity that was quickly defining the early twentieth century. For many Americans, the growth of cities, the rise of consumer culture, the upsurge of mass entertainment, and the so-called "revolution in morals and manners' '. represented liberation from the restrictions of the country's Victorian past.
The character of millionaire Jay Gatsby represents the extremes of 1920s wealth and decadence.Prohibition creates a 'new money class. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was published in 1925, at the height of the prohibition era. This was also the time period during which the story is set. The “roaring” 1920s saw the prohibition and reinstatement of alcohol, the advent of voting rights for women and Native Americans, and the birth of the Harlem Renaissance.In The Great Gatsby, Prohibition finances Gatsby's rise to a new social status,
The era saw the rise of ready-made clothing in standard sizes, the automobile, commercial radio, electric appliances, and the telephone, as well as the spread of music through home phonograph records.
The setting:
The film is set in the 1920s, and the production design captures the style and ambiance of the era, with lavish parties, opulent mansions, and Art Deco designs.
The costumes:
The costumes worn by the characters in the film, particularly the female characters, are indicative of the Flapper style, characterised by short hemlines, dropped waists, and loose, flowing fabrics.
The music:
The film's soundtrack features jazz music, which was popular during the 1920s and played a significant role in defining the Jazz Age.
The parties:
The film features several lavish parties, which were a hallmark of the Roaring Twenties. These parties were often held in opulent mansions and attended by wealthy socialites.
The Prohibition Act:
The Prohibition Act, which banned the sale and consumption of alcohol, was in effect during the 1920s. This is reflected in the film through scenes where characters are seen drinking illegal alcohol, and the character of Jay Gatsby, who made his fortune through illegal bootlegging.
- Watch PPT on the difference between the film and the novel and write briefly abbrieflyout it.
Narration :
The book is told from the perspective of Nick Carraway, while the movie focuses on Gatsby himself. As a result, the book provides a more nuanced portrait of Gatsby, delving into his past and motivations for throwing lavish parties to win over Daisy Buchanan. In the movie, Nick Carraway is telling about his experiences with Gatsby to a therapist, whereas in the novel he is simply talking to the reader.
Nick and Jordan :
Nick's romance with Jordan Baker is cut out of the movie, as a result,her character, and arguably his character, is less developed. In the novel, they become a couple and break up near the end of Summer.
Minor Characters :
This movie also left out two minor characters, Daisy's daughter and Gatsby's father, that should not have been taken out of the movie. For the most part, this movie kept most of the novel's content and had a cast that brought the novel to life.
Death :
In both movie and novel, Gatsby is waiting for Daisy. In the film Nick Carraway calls him, Gatsby thinks it's Daisy's call and he comes out from the pool and he is shot by the husband of Tom's mistress. He dies believing that Daisy was coming with him(Gatsby), but none of that happens in the novel.
Meet with Wolfsheim :
When Nick luncheons with Gatsby and Mr. Wolfsheim, Luhrmann takes us through a secret door in a barbershop and into a speakeasy full of dancing women and at least slightly corrupt men. To prove a point about corruption, Luhrmann even places the police commissioner on the premise.
Gatsby takes Nick to lunch at a "Well fanned 42nd Street Celler". Where he introduces his new friend.
Gatsby's Behavior :
When Gatsby is verbally attacked by Tom in New York, much of the dialogue is the same. However, when Gatsby begins to lose control, beginsand to realise that Daisy is present in the room but may be out of his grasp, his "face that could kill a man" morphs into a childish freak out where Gatsby even screams, 'Shut Up'. The childish antic is a nice callback to the time Carraway chides him for behaving childishly before he meets Daisy for tea.
- How did the film help in understanding the symbolic significance of 'The Valley of Ashes', 'The Eyes of Dr. T J Eckleberg', and 'The Green Light'?
The green light represents the hopes and dreams of Gatsby, Dr T..J Eckleburg's eyes represent the eyes of God, the Valley of Ashes shows the effects of capitalism and the symbol of time is also repeated throughout the novel.
The Valley of Ashes:
The Valley of Ashes is an unpleasant place that reveals the dark side of American society in the 1920s. Ultimately, it represents the breakdown of morality caused by extreme wealth inequality. In the film, the Valley of Ashes is depicted as a desolate and bleak landscape, covered in industrial waste and soot. This symbolises the moral decay and spiritual emptiness of the wealthy elite who live in West Egg and East Egg. The film also emphasises the contrast between the luxurious lifestyle of the rich and the poverty and hopelessness of those who live in the Valley of Ashes.
The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg:
The eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg are a pair of fading, bespectacled eyes painted on an old advertising billboard over the valley of ashes. They may represent God staring down upon and judging American society as a moral wasteland. They feature on a billboard that overlooks the valley of ashes, a desolate area through which the characters in the novel must travel to reach New York. The film uses close-up shots of the billboard featuring the eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg, a faded and forgotten advertisement, to convey a sense of omnipresence and watchfulness. This symbolises the loss of spiritual values and the moral corruption of the characters in the story. The eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg also represents the unfulfilled promise of the American Dream.
The Green Light:
The green light in The Great Gatsby serves as a representation of all that Jay Gatsby wants to achieve. It is a guiding light. The film uses a green light at the end of Daisy's dock to symbolise Gatsby's longing for his lost love and his pursuit of the American Dream. The green light represents hope and aspiration, but it is always just out of reach, emphasising the unattainable nature of the American Dream. The film also uses the green light as a visual motif to tie together different parts of the story, highlighting its importance.
The film's use of visual imagery, sound, and dialogue helps to convey the symbolic significance of "The Valley of Ashes," "The Eyes of Dr. T. J. Eckleburg," and "The Green Light" in Fitzgerald's novel.
- How did the film capture the theme of racism and sexism?
Racism:
- Amitabh Bachchan is a Jewish character. Luhrmann faithfully keeps key passages from the novel about race.
- Wealthy men and women are driven into Manhattan by a White Chauffeur.
- Tom's later diatribe about intermarriage between black and white.
- Tom's trumpeting of a racist book named 'Rise of the Colored Empires'.
Objectification of Women:
The film depicts female characters such as Daisy, Jordan, and Myrtle as objects of desire, rather than complex individuals with their own thoughts and emotions. They are often shown as objects to be won, possessed, or discarded by the male characters. This objectification is highlighted through the use of camera angles, lighting, and music.
Patriarchal Society:
The film also portrays the patriarchal society of the 1920s, where men hold all the power and women are expected to conform to societal norms. The female characters are restricted by their gender roles and face limited opportunities and choices in their lives. This is shown through their relationships with the male characters and their lack of agency in the story.
Double Standards:
The film also highlights the double standards that existed in the 1920s regarding gender roles and sexual behaviour. Male characters, such as Tom and Gatsby, are portrayed as sexually promiscuous and praised for their behaviour, while female characters who engage in similar behaviour are judged and shamed.
- Watch the video on Nick Carraway and discuss him as a narrator.
Fitzgerald's technique of using an implied author which is to say that The Great Gatsby should really be read as Nick’s memory.
Nick portrays himself and others to his readers. There is no doubt in the novel that he wants to present himself in the most positive and sympathetic way possible. This is true from the opening sentence of the book.
Nick writes, “In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I have been turning over in my mind ever since.”
This line is Chock-full of carefully chosen language intended to Evoke, pathos and sentimentality.
He provides a first-person account of the events and characters in them but also injects his own opinions and interpretations. His narrative voice is thoughtful and introspective, and he often reflects on the meaning and significance of what he observes. One of Nick's key strengths as a narrator is his ability to empathise with others. He is a good listener and observer, and he is often able to see things from multiple perspectives. This allows him to offer nuanced and complex portraits of the novel's other characters, including Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan. At the same time, Nick is not a perfect narrator. He is prone to romanticising the past and being overly optimistic about the future. He is also sometimes unreliable, such as when he fails to tell the full truth about his own past or when he withholds important information about Gatsby's past.
- Watch the video on the psychoanalytical study of Jay Gatsby and write about his character.
Gatsby's feelings of guilt and shame are a key part of his character, contributing to his sense of inner turmoil and tragic destiny. Gatsby's guilt and shame stem from his past and his sense of inadequacy. Gatsby is portrayed as a man who has reinvented himself, creating a new identity for himself through wealth and social status. However, he is also haunted by his past and his sense of social inferiority, stemming from his working-class origins.
Gatsby's relationship with Daisy Buchanan, his romantic interest in the novel. It suggests that Gatsby's infatuation with Daisy is actually a projection of his own repressed desires and emotions. Gatsby's inability to fully express his feelings and emotions leads to a sense of anxiety and frustration, which is seen as a key element of his character. Gatsby's behaviour can be explained by his childhood experiences, his relationship with his father, and his repressed desires and emotions. Gatsby's obsession with wealth and success is seen as a manifestation of his desire for acceptance and approval.
The video provides an interesting and insightful analysis of the character of Jay Gatsby, exploring the psychological factors that contribute to his motivations and actions in the novel.
(Words 2068, Images :15, Videos :03)
No comments:
Post a Comment