ThAct: The Great Gatsby

 

The Great Gatsby

1) Read the article on the Book cover art and its connection to the novel's themes - and write your understanding of the symbolic significance of the book cover.

Ans.

The symbolic significance of Francis Cugat’s "Celestial Eyes" cover art for 'The Great Gatsby' lies in its profound connection to the novel’s central themes, as articulated in the article. Each element of the cover—the dark blue background, disembodied eyes, green light, and city lights—serves as a visual metaphor for the story’s exploration of longing, disillusionment, and the corrupted American Dream.  

1. Dark Blue Background:  

   The deep blue hue evokes "sadness and cynicism", mirroring Jay Gatsby’s inner emptiness despite his opulent lifestyle. It underscores his unfulfilled yearning for Daisy Buchanan, who symbolizes an idealized, unattainable past. Additionally, the color represents the "tragic failure of the American Dream", highlighting how Gatsby’s relentless pursuit of wealth and status leads to moral decay and destruction. The darkness also introduces "mystery and intrigue", reflecting the novel’s layers of deception, hidden desires, and societal secrets.  

2. Disembodied Eyes:  

   The haunting eyes, often interpreted as Dr. T.J. Eckleburg’s billboard gaze or the omniscient judgment of society, symbolize "moral scrutiny and existential observation". They loom over the characters, serving as a reminder of the ethical consequences of their actions—particularly Gatsby’s obsession and Daisy’s superficiality. This element ties to the theme of societal surveillance and the illusion of accountability in a morally bankrupt world.  

3. Green Light:  

   Positioned at the edge of the cover, the green light epitomizes Gatsby’s "unattainable dreams"—his longing for Daisy and the futile attempt to reclaim the past. Its ethereal glow underscores the novel’s critique of idealism, emphasizing the impossibility of translating desire into lasting fulfillment.  

4. City Lights:  

   The distant, shimmering lights represent the "materialism and superficiality" of 1920s America. They mirror Gatsby’s attraction to the glittering facade of wealth, which ultimately proves hollow. This imagery critiques the empty promises of the American Dream, where opulence masks spiritual decay.  

Conclusion:  

Collectively, Cugat’s cover art encapsulates the novel’s essence—its melancholic tone, critique of ambition, and exploration of illusion versus reality. The dark blue backdrop sets a somber stage, while the eyes, green light, and city lights weave a narrative of aspiration, judgment, and disillusionment. Together, these symbols reflect the novel’s themes of existential longing, societal decay, and the tragic collapse of dreams built on fragile foundations.

2) Write about 'Understanding Jay Gatsby's character' [Watch two short videos for the ideas i.e. (i) Understanding J. Gatsby and (ii) Psychoanalytical Study - Shame (guilt) and Grief.

Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 adaptation of The Great Gatsby brings Jay Gatsby’s character to life with vibrant visuals, dramatic performances, and emotional depth. Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of Gatsby highlights key themes of shame, guilt, and grief, offering a cinematic perspective on his tragic pursuit of love and the American Dream.

1. Gatsby and Shame

In the movie, Gatsby’s shame over his poor origins is evident in how he reinvents himself. His insistence on being called “Gatsby” instead of James Gatz shows his desire to erase his past. His luxurious mansion, grand parties, and refined mannerisms are all part of his self-constructed image of wealth and sophistication. However, the way Tom Buchanan mocks Gatsby’s background, calling him "Mr. Nobody from Nowhere," highlights that no amount of wealth can truly erase his origins.

2. Gatsby and Guilt

Gatsby’s guilt is subtly portrayed in his interactions with Daisy. In the film, his desperation for Daisy to tell Tom she never loved him reflects his inner conflict. He wants to rewrite history, but deep down, he seems to struggle with whether Daisy truly belongs to him. Additionally, after the car accident that kills Myrtle Wilson, Gatsby takes the blame for Daisy. The way he stands outside her house, watching over her despite knowing she is with Tom, showcases his overwhelming sense of responsibility and guilt.

3. Gatsby and Grief

The film emphasizes Gatsby’s grief through its cinematography and acting. The scene where he waits for Daisy’s call, only to be shot by Wilson, is particularly powerful. The use of slow motion, melancholic music, and DiCaprio’s expression of quiet hope turning to despair highlight his tragic end. Even in death, Gatsby is alone—Nick Carraway’s narration about how no one attends his funeral reinforces the emptiness of his dream.

Conclusion

The film captures Gatsby’s emotional depth, making his shame, guilt, and grief more visually striking. While he builds an empire for love, he ultimately dies unfulfilled, proving that the past cannot be recreated. His tragic arc remains a powerful critique of the American Dream and the illusions that come with it.

3) How faithful is Luhrmann's film adaption to the original novel?

Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby (2013) stays largely faithful to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel in terms of plot, dialogue, and themes, but it also takes creative liberties in visual style, character depth, and narrative framing to make the story more cinematic.

1. Faithful Aspects

Plot & Dialogue: 

The film closely follows the novel’s storyline, keeping key events intact, including Gatsby’s rise to wealth, his love for Daisy, and his tragic downfall. Many lines of dialogue are directly lifted from Fitzgerald’s text.

Themes: 

The movie captures the novel’s core themes—the illusion of the American Dream, the corruption of wealth, and the unattainability of the past. The symbolic green light, Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy, and the contrast between West Egg and East Egg remain central.

Characters: 

Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), Nick (Tobey Maguire), and Daisy (Carey Mulligan) largely reflect their book counterparts, especially in their mannerisms and personalities.

2. Deviations & Artistic Liberties

Visual Style & Modernization: 

Luhrmann, known for his extravagant style (Moulin Rouge!), transforms Gatsby’s world into a visually spectacular, fast-paced, and almost surreal experience. The lavish parties are exaggerated with modern music (hip-hop, electronic beats) rather than 1920s jazz, creating a heightened, stylized version of the Jazz Age.

Nick’s Role as a Narrator: 

In the novel, Nick Carraway is simply a reflective observer. The movie, however, frames him as a patient in a sanitarium, writing Gatsby’s story as therapy, which is not in the book. This adds a psychological dimension but shifts the focus slightly.

Over-Dramatization:

 Some scenes, like Gatsby’s nervous reunion with Daisy and the climactic confrontation at the Plaza Hotel, are more dramatic and emotional than in the book. Gatsby’s rage and desperation are emphasized more onscreen.

Final Verdict

Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby is mostly faithful to the novel’s structure, themes, and characters but takes stylistic liberties to make it visually engaging for modern audiences. While some purists may find it too extravagant, the film effectively captures the novel’s spirit, tragedy, and critique of the American Dream in a bold and cinematic way.

4) Write a brief note on the symbolic significance of 'Green Light' and 'Billboard of The Eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckelberg'

1. The Green Light

The green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock symbolizes Gatsby’s hopes and dreams, particularly his obsession with reclaiming the past and winning Daisy back. It represents the unattainable American Dream, always just out of reach. The light also reflects the illusion of success—Gatsby believes that wealth and status can bring him happiness, but in reality, they cannot bridge the gap between him and Daisy. In the final scene, Nick Carraway’s reflection that “Gatsby believed in the green light” underscores its role as a symbol of both aspiration and disillusionment.

2. The Billboard of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg

The faded billboard with the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg, overlooking the Valley of Ashes, serves as a symbol of moral decay and the loss of spiritual values in the 1920s. The unblinking eyes, which once advertised an oculist, take on a godlike presence, watching over the corruption and moral emptiness of characters like Tom Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson, and even Gatsby. George Wilson, in his grief, sees the eyes as the judgment of God, highlighting the novel’s critique of a society driven by greed and excess without ethical responsibility.

Both symbols reinforce The Great Gatsby’s themes of illusion vs. reality, moral decline, and the unattainability of the American Dream.

5) Write a brief note on the theme of 'The American Dream' and 'Class Conflict' in the novel.

Themes in The Great Gatsby

1. The American Dream

In The Great Gatsby, the American Dream is portrayed as corrupt, elusive, and ultimately unattainable. Gatsby embodies this dream—he rises from poverty to immense wealth, believing that success will bring him love and happiness. However, his dream is built on illusion, as Daisy, his ultimate goal, remains beyond his grasp. The green light symbolizes this unreachable ideal, and Gatsby’s tragic end reflects Fitzgerald’s critique of the American Dream as a hollow pursuit that prioritizes materialism over true fulfillment.

2. Class Conflict

The novel highlights deep divisions between social classes:

Old Money (East Egg): Represented by Tom and Daisy Buchanan, who inherit wealth and look down on self-made men like Gatsby. Their privilege allows them to act recklessly without facing consequences.

New Money (West Egg): Gatsby, who accumulates wealth but is never fully accepted by the elite. His flashy lifestyle contrasts with the refined tastes of old money, showing the barriers wealth alone cannot break.

The Lower Class (Valley of Ashes): George and Myrtle Wilson live in poverty, caught between the desires of the upper class. Their tragic fates show the brutal consequences of class struggle, where the rich exploit and discard those beneath them.

Fitzgerald uses these themes to criticize a society where wealth determines fate, and the American Dream is a mirage, offering hope but leading to inevitable disillusionment.