The Great Gatsby - Book & Movie Review

Okay. So here goes.

The Great Gatsby...

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald's third book stands as the supreme achievement of his career. This exemplary novel of the Jazz Age has been acclaimed by generations of readers.

This book is probably one of the greatest books of the 20th century.

The novel is set during the Roaring 20s in America, narrated by Nick Carraway, a man from a well-to-do family just out of fighting the war and looking to sell bonds. He moves to East Egg, the slightly less grand area in comparison to West Egg, right opposite Gatsby's mansion. Gatsby is rich, mega-rich, and throws magnificent parties every weekend which the whole town attends. However, the host is never seen during these parties and is never completely known by any one person. Gatsby holds a dark secret about his past and how he became so great, a deep lust that will eventually lead to his demise.

So let's analyze.

I believe that The Great Gatsby is eerily similar to Romeo & Juliet, but I believe that it is more than just a great love story. It is also a reflection on the hollowness of a life of leisure.

There are many themes in the book.

One, The American Dream:

"The American dream, or myth, is an ever-recurring theme in American literature, dating back to some of the earliest colonial writings. Briefly defined, it is the belief that every man, whatever his origins, may pursue and attain his chosen goals, be they political, monetary, or social. It is the literary expression of the concept of America: The land of opportunity."

Two, Gender Relations

"Daisy, in fact, is more victim than victimizer: She is victim first of Tom Buchanan's 'cruel' power, but then of Gatsby's increasingly depersonalized vision of her. She becomes the unwitting 'grail' in Gatsby's adolescent quest to remain ever-faithful to his seventeen-year-old conception of self."

Daisy is thus "reduced to a golden statue, a collector's item which crowns Gatsby's material success." As a woman living in East Egg during this time period, Daisy must adhere to societal expectations and such as actively fulfilling the roles of dutiful wife, mother, keeper of the house, and charming socialite.

Many of Daisy's choices—ultimately culminating in the tragedy of the ending and misery for all those involved—can be partly attributed to her prescribed role as a "beautiful little fool" who is reliant on her husband for financial and societal security. Her decision to remain with her husband despite her feelings for Gatsby is thus attributable to the status, security, and comfort that her marriage to Tom Buchanan provides.

To say a few.

Now the Movie,

This book is pretty intense for some and sometimes pretty difficult to understand. But, I recommend to those readers who wish to read an intense romance and experience the Roaring 20s.

The movie is colorful, to say the least. The DRESSES. Man! I found some pretty chic but others hideous. But leaving aside the costume, who doesn't like to watch Leonardo DiCaprio. Though I also like watching Amitabh Bachan in a small clip.

I suggest this book for those who wish to suffer from heartache from an audience's point of view. For those who love a good narration and a classic.

So, Good Reading, People!!!!

Thank you

Sirisha

Over and out.