Compare And Contrast The Great Gatsby

The novel, as well as the film, The Great Gatsby, narrates the empowering story of the American Dream while combining a shocking-yet real life conclusion. The story line paints the picture of America being the land of endless opportunities associated with hard work, while also showing that the greedy and careless actions of others can have a disastrous impact on another’s life. In both versions of The Great Gatsby viewers’ are thrown into an illusion of success masked by wealth, greed, violence, and love. Within this illusion, the reckless Tom and Daisy Buchanan are introduced; these characters will possess significant differences between the novel and film on how they impact the people around them. However, to fully comprehend the impact of

Tom and Daisy's careless actions one must “beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past” (Fitzgerald 154) before the tragic events took the lives of two significant characters.
“They were careless people, Tom and Daisy-they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness…” is a quote perfectly used to describe the Buchanan’s lifestyle in both the novel and film version of The Great Gatsby.

In both versions, Tom and Daisy Buchanan undoubtedly possess characteristics of being irresponsible, careless, and untrustworthy in numerous situations. In these multiple conflicts and morally wrong situations, the Buchanan’s have countless chances to change themselves into more reliable and caring people; however, they never take responsibility for their actions. For instance, in both versions the couple has a toddler daughter, Pammy, together; however, very rarely do they speak of or take care of their daughter themselves. Instead, they hire a maid to care for child; this demonstrates that they are both irresponsible. Another example of their poor characteristics is how they both cheat on each other without thinking about their spouse’s emotions. These actions of theirs are rather minor compared to the damage they cause in neighboring lives; however, it is a very important concept to understand that their actions were repeatedly practiced without any consequences. It is essential to understand that the careless attitudes they possessed were always going to hurt someone

else.
While the story line in both versions of the story are very similar, the liability of their actions differ.

The biggest difference in these characters is how their flaws subconsciously affect the individuals around them. As previously described the Buchanan’s lived a life that was rather reckless and led to death of both Myrtle Wilson and Jay Gatsby. Myrtle Wilson was a desperate women constantly seeking to improve her life by wealth, who also happened to engage in an affair with Tom Buchanan. However, this relationship ultimately ended her life; and led to the death of Mr. Gatsby. In both versions of The Great Gatsby, Daisy and Gatsby leave a hotel suite after having a fight with Tom about their affair. Daisy decides to drive them home thinking that it will calm her nerves. As she goes by the Wilson’s garage Myrtle runs in front of the car and is hit and killed. After Myrtle's death viewers begin to see differences in the

storyline.
One of the biggest differences in the two versions is how Mr. Wilson learns who owns the yellow car that killed his wife. In the novel, shortly after arriving at the garage Tom tells Wilson that he, “just got here a minute ago, From New York...that yellow care I was driving this afternoon wasn’t mine…” (Fitzgerald 123-124). In fact, in the novel, Wilson does not learn the truth until he aggressively shows up at Tom’s door and forces his way upstairs. Tom fearing that Wilson might actually kill him told Wilson that the car belonged to Gatsby (Fitzgerald 152). This scene in the novel differs tremendously from the part in the film; in fact, this scene is not shown in the film because the events took place at an earlier time. In the film, Tom immediately tells a depressed Wilson that the car belongs to “crooked” Jay Gatsby. Tom even goes as far as to say that “something ought to be done about a fella like that” (The Great Gatsby). While these differences may not seem that important they plan an important role in realizing that both Myrtle Wilson and Jay Gatsby’s death could have been avoided if the Buchanan’s lived in a honorable way.
The storyline of The Great Gatsby illustrates the empowering picture of American being home to countless opportunities outlined by hard work, while also demonstrating that neighboring life’s can have a devastating impact on another’s life. In both versions of The Great Gatsby viewers are introduced to two reckless characters; Tom and Daisy Buchanan. These characters possess significant differences between the novel and film version. In the novel, Tom and Daisy are careless individuals that unintentionally impact the individuals around them. However, in the film, the Buchanans’ act in such reckless ways that the end results are directly linked to them. In comparing the two versions of The Great Gatsby viewers’ will notice numerous differences as well as similarities; but, perhaps the biggest difference is the message behind the characters of Tom and Daisy Buchanan.