Comparing The Great Gatsby And Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard

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In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard, the ideas of illusions, loss, and disillusionment are spread throughout both the novel and the film. These ideas provide intelligent insight into the consequences of trying to pursue unrealistic goals and aspirations. Both works portray vivid characters who are consumed by their illusions, who in the end, only face the harsh reality of their unfulfilled dreams. Norma Desmond’s decline into ultimate madness as she only focuses on her past fame, and Jay Gatsby’s tragic demise in his chase of unattainable love, symbolize the dangers of living in a world full of fantasy. In both works, the exploration of the ideas of illusions, loss, and disillusionment shows the dangers of chasing unrealistic desires, the extreme impact …show more content…

In both works, the extreme impact of illusions on the characters becomes apparent as they continue to chase these unrealistic goals. Their continuous chase distorts their perception of reality, leading to tragic consequences. For example, Jay Gatsby’s obsession with impressing Daisy Buchanan drives him to live an elaborate facade of wealth and success, hiding the emptiness of his existence. Fitzgerald writes, "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther" (Fitzgerald 138). Gatsby's relentless hunt for this idealistic, fantasy life, despite it being obviously unachievable, indicates his inability to grasp the reality of the situation. In a similar way, Norma Desmond's delusion of being an admired movie star blinds her from the harsh realities of her faded career and crumbling mansion. This is shown when she declares, “That's a lie! They want me, they want me! I get letters every day!" The Wilderness of the

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