Similarities Between The Great Gatsby And Othello

In the world we live in today, we are granted the ability to follow our desires and to create a legacy. Many people will do anything to achieve greatness and will do anything to get there. However, the pursuit of acceptance and love can lead to tragedy. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, we see a man reestablish his identity, which earns him a mansion in West Egg and a shot at the woman of his dreams. He ultimately sacrifices everything for an unrealistic expectation of love. Similarly, in William Shakespeare novel Othello, we learn that jealousy and manipulation lead to the tragic downfall of Othello. Othello’s gullibility undermines his marriage with Desdemona and results in both of their deaths. Heroic ambitions can plant the seeds

of tragedy when the need to be accepted or loved means everything. Gatsby and Othello are both outsiders who try too hard to be accepted into society, and as a result, they tragically end unsatisfied.

Jay Gatsby’s mind believes in a world of idealism that circled around Daisy Buchanan, who he felt was a super woman. Gatsby is adamant that Daisy Buchanan is the same woman he envisioned in his dreams. Nick Carraway suggests that, “There must have been moments even that afternoon when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams--not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything. He had thrown himself into it with a creative passion, adding to it all the time, decking it out with every bright feather that drifted his way” (Gatsby 95). Nick is quick to realize that although Gatsby won’t admit he’s wrong, and Daisy could not ever live up to the hype. All Gatsby sees is an astounding and beautiful woman who is perfect. Gatsby’s love and desire for Daisy is a gamble he can’t win, he’s setting himself up for failure if he furthers this comportment. Although Daisy was his past he still feels that they could reconcile regardless of her social status and marriage. His idealistic mind runs the world the way he wants to. Gatsby had felt his return can usurp the marriage of the Buchanan’s. Ironically, Gatsby idealistically wanted Daisy to admit she loved him. In fact,

Gatsby wanted Daisy to say boldly to her Husband Tom, “I never loved you.” (Gatsby, 109) Gatsby had felt his resurgence was legitimate enough. He was blind to realize this probability was impossible because Daisy was married and already had a family. His ideal thoughts has him caught up in the situation where he’s hovering over a wife and mother. Gatsby’s anticipations is begging for a major downfall, his excessive one sided love is rising higher every moment he’s with her. Daisy was clearly not what Gatsby had anticipated and she showed her true self after his death. After she killed Myrtle Wilson, she had allowed Gatsby to take the blame which was ultimately his the consequences of his tragic fall. Subsequently, after Gatsby passed away, Nick learns that Daisy and Tom “had gone away early that afternoon, and taken baggage with them” (Gatsby 164). It's evident that Gatsby’s love was taken for granted, and Daisy didn’t care enough to stay in town. Gatsby’s wealth couldn’t buy him love even though he tried very hard to obtain his dream of marrying Daisy. Gatsby’s American Dream regardless could not be obtained because of the truth of Daisy that blocks his fantasy. Gatsby saw magnificent features in Daisy which ultimately made him decide to reinvent himself by a societal upgrade just for Daisy’s love.
Othello is a well-established man who had the desire to take the heart of the beloved Desdemona. In Othello, race is an issue throughout the story because Othello is a black man. Othello and Desdemona keep their relationship and marries secretly by knowing she should avoid her father Brabantio’s bitter disapproval. Brabantio eventually would find out and not surprisingly would learn that “She has deceived her father.” (1.3.288) Desdemona had felt her father would only have harsh objection to the marriage of her and Othello. She felt she would be honoring her father by doing what is right for her and protecting her father from everlasting pain. Othello and Desdemona’s desire to be together left their marriage to be shameless of society’s observations. Love is a feeling that confines your heart to do ambivalent things that are out of your control. Othello faces great troubles upon hearing from the familiar Iago that his wife has been cheating on him. With sufficient proof formulated by Iago himself allows Othello to believe that “Tis is true. All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven; Tis gone.” (3.3. 446) Othello’s extremely gullible and he allows mischief to get in his head. Othello had a passion for loving his wife until a propelling plot twist had allowed Othello to wind up creating a vengeful tactic towards his wife Desdemona. Othello’s love would grow into hate. Consequently, Othello would murder Desdemona and order Cassio’s death. Othello would soon realize the foolish mistake he made by allowing hatred in his ears and by taking affirmative action. Othello had felt similarly to the Indian base since he “threw a pearl away, richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes”. (5.5.343-344) Desdemona was the only person who would accept Othello for who he is as a black man. Othello gives us the notion of his ignorance over a precious gem being Desdemona. Othello became jealous and covetous by false judgements that would overshadow his own judgements.

To be loved and accepted into a society from a place we don’t belong, we would do anything to fit it. In both the texts The Great Gatsby and Othello we see unhealthy dreams and obsessive desire. Gatsby has the desire to love Daisy Buchannan to fulfill his American Dream while Othello has the desire to get revenge over his wife Desdemona. They both live in false realities and when the truth comes, it’s too late for them to recuperate and they fail miserably. Ironically, both Gatsby and Othello are deceived by the ones they love which ultimately leads to their downfalls. A legacy can be built through infamy or admiration, we have the opportunity to be aware of our surroundings and accept reality. If you fail to look at reality in the face and understand what’s possible and what’s not; you’ll ultimately fail with regrets and leave a legacy of shame to the world.