A Journey Through Gatsby's Glittering World: A Critique of The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby, 1974

Directed By: Jack Clayton

Link to Trailer


The film The Great Gatsby is about Nick Carraway, relocating to New York City in order to pursue a career in the bond business. He rents a modest cottage in the wealthy Long Island community of West Egg, which is located across the harbor from the opulent East Egg, where the affluent live. Here, the mysterious and wealthy Jay Gatsby and Nick move in next door to each other. Nick revives his relationship with his affluent cousin Tom Buchanan and Daisy Buchanan. It becomes clear that Daisy and Tom's marriage is under stress as a result of Tom's infidelity and Daisy's nostalgia for the past. As the plot develops, it becomes clear that Gatsby and Daisy had a romantic relationship before she married Tom. Gatsby confides in Nick and expresses his desire to rebuild his relationship with Daisy when he learns of Nick's closeness to Daisy. In the hopes that Daisy is going to one of his extravagant parties, Gatsby hosts them at his luxurious estate. Gatsby and Daisy meet thanks to Nick, and their romance is reignited. There are arguments and tensions between Gatsby, Tom, and Daisy as a result of his pursuit of Daisy. Gatsby's extravagant parties and the gossip about his wealth and past draw unwanted attention from the upper class. A encounter at the Plaza Hotel is the breaking moment in Daisy's love triangle between Gatsby and Tom. The film's climax occurs during a tense confrontation between Gatsby and Tom. A tragic series of events occurs, leading to a catastrophic accident that upsets the lives of everyone concerned. Gatsby's fantasy of living with Daisy appears to be in jeopardy,as his own mysterious background is revealed. 

In The Great Gatsby, the physical plot driver is the green light at the end of the Buchanan's dock. In the movie, Gatsby's longing to be reunited with Daisy Buchanan is represented by the green light. From Gatsby's home across the bay, the green light can be seen, signifying his desire for a future with Daisy. He connects it to the beautiful times they spent together in the past and sees it as a symbol of his hopes and goals.

The 3 Main acts begin when Nick Carraway moves to West Egg, Long Island, and settles there at the start of the movie. Nick moves in next door to the mysterious millionaire, Jay Gatsby, and goes to one of his fancy parties. During a tea party at their mansion, Nick revives his relationship with his cousin Daisy Buchanan, and her husband Tom. The characters are introduced, and we learn that Nick and Daisy were once linked. The intense pursuit of Daisy by Gatsby is explored in the second act. He hopes she will come to one of his nice parties at his rich estate because he shares Nick's wish for them to get back together. Gatsby and Daisy rekindle their romance after Nick sets them up. Gatsby becomes increasingly fixated on getting Daisy back and goes to outstanding lengths to impress her. His love for Daisy grows more intense. At the Plaza Hotel, where the film's confrontation between Gatsby, Daisy, and Tom takes place, things come to an end and tensions are very high. The crumbling of relationships and the bad results of the characters' actions are the main themes of the third act. The social and class divide between them challenges Gatsby's optimistic notion of a life with Daisy. Gatsby and Tom get into a violent argument that ends in a catastrophic accident that completely changes the direction of the story. As Gatsby's fantasy of being content with Daisy starts to collapse and his own mysterious background is revealed, the film arrives at its conclusion. 

The main character changes that I noticed were in Nick. His character development is primarily driven by his developing scepticism against the immorality of the upper-class society he joins. Vs. his initial interest in their way of life, he gradually starts to criticize their behavior and beliefs. By the end of the movie, Nick has developed a more moral outlook and a desire to separate himself from the corruption and superficiality of the world he has seen.

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