All stories have the same blueprint structure with the same type of ending whether it be good triumphs over evil, rags to riches, the voyage and the return, tragedy, or rebirth. The thing that sets these stories apart is the message they intend to in our minds. “ The power of a story to shift and show itself to anew is part of what attracts people to it, at different ages, in different moods, with different concerns” (Auxier 7). These messages are given by the characters in the story that all have their own reasoning but in the end have one meaning behind it. Some messages give specified personal messages rather than a broad stated such as the stories The Wizard of Oz and The Great Gatsby. Blinded by the ignorance of desires, the characters …show more content…
from The Wizard of Oz and The Great Gatsby journey from ignorance to knowledge of their own self-worth. Despite the fact that it was written in the early twentieth century, The Wizard of Oz continues to speak to audiences through its exemplary characters and meaningful color scheme.
The narrative begins with Dorothy, who lives on a farm in a black and white setting presuming the absence of vitality and the insufficiency of a place that was in poverty at the time. However, when Dorothy is picked up by a twister and wakes up in the Land of Oz, she finds herself in a completely opposite environment full of life, beauty, and color filled with new found opportunities. On her quest to Emerald City, Dorothy is presented with a few characters who are The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, and The Scarecrow who all feel like they need something more to complete them and they all seek out the “all powerful” wizard to obtain the things they want. The items they yearn for were a brain, a heart, and courage. Three things that we learn to utilize with experiences we go through. The characters eventually realize that they have always had what they have been longing for after the many obstacles they came through on their journey. In the end, Dorothy says, “If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn't …show more content…
there, I never really lost it to begin with” (Baum 219). Dorothy says at the end, revealing her epiphany that you always have something better in you and should not have to look for something that will give that entity to you. The colors represented in the narrative were the “yellow brick road” pertaining to gold which is associated with courage, wisdom, wealth, and prosperity along with the mirror image of what the black and white world lacks. The color green like the Emerald City and the witch which is a color that represents associated with money which in society is commonly sought after and once a plethora is obtained represents success and achievement. These subliminal representations of color help illustrate the wizard of Oz on a bigger scale giving the concealed reasoning that the empowerment of desire is foolish and leads to unhappiness. Similarly, The Great Gatsby was written in the early 1920s in the almost exact time period as The Wizard of Oz but is told from a completely dissimilar point of view giving us the opposite side of the spectrum.
“ Its attitude is one of disillusionment and detachment; Fitzgerald is still able to evoke the glitter of the 1920s but he is no longer dazzled by it; he sees its underlying emptiness and impoverishment” (Trendell 23)The story is narrated from the point of view of Nick, one of Gatsby’s friends. The problematic and hopeless romantic, Gatsby, sets out to fulfill his dream in acquiring Daisy, his lifelong love, through his many tactics and ideas. Gatsby is introduced extending his arms mysteriously toward a green light in the direction of the water. Later, Gatsby is shown to be the host of many parties for the rich and Nick is invited to one of these parties where Gatsby and Nick meet. When Gatsby later confesses his love for Daisy he explains she was a loved one who was separated from him and hopes to get her again explained when he says, “I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool”(Fitzgerald 56). There are several obstacles that Gatsby must overcome and the biggest one that is Daisy’s current fiancé but that still does not get in the way of him trying to recover Daisy’s old feelings. His attempts are made through money and wealth because he tries to buy her love back instead of letting it happen naturally.
As stated earlier, the color green is mentioned through the mysterious light and through the large quantity of money that Gatsby used throughout the story. Although Gatsby has attained “success” through social standards with his enormous amount of money, his success is to get his love back. A party usually represents fun and enjoyment, but masks the solitude and desponding feeling that the host, Gatsby, feels throughout the parties. “I felt a haunting loneliness sometimes, and felt it in others--young clerks in the dusk, wasting the most poignant moments of night and life”(Fitzgerald 126). In spite of the fact that Gatsby lives in a relatively wealthy society, the money can’t buy his own happiness, his empowerment to Daisy takes over any joy money can bring him. Both The Wizard of Oz and The Great Gatsby emit the same message with two completely different storylines, but the two still have the similar goal of trying to get back what they both had. Both share two different variations of the American Dream which exemplifies possibility to become something more or something better to live a more joyful life. They contrast in the way that they tell the story from an imaginative point of view from the eyes of the poor and a realistic point of view from one who is rich. The color representations in both stories such as gold and green both have an identical meaning with the idea of wealth and prosperity and these two colors both give a “pathway” to get to what they desire most( Scott-Kemmis). The novel The Great Gatsby produces the idea that even through wealth and prosperity there may not be happiness if you empower something above it, while The Wizard of Oz tells the same yet different meaning in you don’t need anything to complete you because you have had it all along. The connecting meaning is that if you empower a certain object, trait, or person you believe you cannot obtain then you will be ignorant in the sense that without that specific desired thing you cannot be happy, you cannot be complete; you cannot be the person that you want to be even though you have been complete all along. In conclusion, both The Wizard of Oz and The Great Gatsby share the tale of the unawareness that desire leaves behind in us which is a hard learning curve but leads to a higher state of mind and good realizations. Both tell the classic tale of a person who sought after something they had without knowing, and they both learn through experiences along their adventure. People they meet help them realize what they now acknowledge about themselves and with the help of others there’s no reason why we cannot do the same so go out and find yourself. “Once this goal is achieved, preserving it becomes the only important thing in life. The only way to gain reputation and wealth, especially if you have a poor social background, is to reinvent oneself”(Sinisa 4). Learn something about yourself you have never known before. Go on your own adventure into individuality.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, “The Great Gatsby”, and Baz Luhrmann’s film, “The Great Gatsby”, both have similarities and contrasts between the two of them. The Great Gatsby is a novel and film taken place in the 1920s filled with wild parties, mysterious people, The American Dream, and most of all, love. There are several things that can be compared between the novel and film; such as the characters and the setting. There are also contrasts between the two as well; which is mainly involving the character Nick.
The two were young lovers who were unable to be together because of differences in social status. Gatsby spends his life after Daisy acquiring material wealth and social standing to try and reestablish a place in Daisy’s life. Once Gatsby gains material wealth he moves to the West Egg where the only thing separating he and Daisy is a body of water. It is through the eyes of Nick Carraway, the narrator of the novel, that the reader gains insight into the mysterious Jay Gatsby. In Nick’s description of his first encounter with Gatsby he says, “But I didn't call to him, for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone—he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.” The reader soon discovers that the green light is at the end of Daisy’s dock, signifying Gatsby’s desperation and desire to get her back. Gatsby’s obsessive nature drives him to throw parties in hopes that his belonged love will attend. The parties further reveal the ungrasping mysteriousness of Gatsby that lead to speculations about his past. Although the suspicions are there, Gatsby himself never denies the rumors told about him. In Nick’s examination of Gatsby he says, “He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life. It faced, or seemed to face, the whole external world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. It understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself.” This persona Gatsby portrays shows how he is viewed by others, and further signifies his hope and imagination
In Baum’s inventive and creative storyline of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, he uses a hidden trait that only some people can pick out. The symbol is using details throughout the story to represent different wealth and the path to a better life. The view of this story can be interpreted completely different between a child and an adult’s mind. In the story Dorothy gets her silver shoes when she successfully kills the Wicked Witch of the East. The two viewpoints are represented through kids believing that Dorothy is rewarded with beautiful shoes on the path to find Oz. In Novels for Students, they express how one person viewed Baum’s
The central focus of the story is the enigma of Gatsby, his past life, and his perusal of Daisy. Desperate to rekindle their former love, Gatsby works tirelessly to achieve the pinnacle of the American dream, settles in a large, posh house, throws lavish parties, and seems on excellent terms with the world at large. That, however, is not what makes him truly happy. All he did, he did in pursuit of Daisy, and initially it appears to work. She insists that she still loves him ardently. However, when pressed, she chooses Tom once more, and Gatsby is shattered. Nick says that, “If that was true, he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream,” (161). In the end, Gatsby’s dream turns on him, betraying him to the caprice of the world. He had sincerely believed in the American Dream, and believed it would help him secure Daisy’s love. When both failed him, he was left with a lavish but empty house, and to Gatsby, his wealth and prosperity were nothing without someone to share them with. The final nail in the coffin is Gatsby’s funeral, where it becomes clear what his immense wealth gained him in terms of the human affection he was truly after. Nick Carraway jumps through all sorts of hoops and harasses many people in order to get them to go to Gatsby’s funeral, to no avail. When it came time for the burial,
...s. The Scarecrow represents farmers, agricultural workers, ignorant of many city things but honest and able to understand things with a little education. The Tin Man, He represents the industrial worker whose heart has been torn out by the evils of factory work and industrialism. W.J. Bryan embodied the role of the cowardly lion. Bryan was a very loud and booming public speaker but was viewed as a coward because he did not support the Spanish-American war. OZ is the US. The emerald city is Washington D.C. filled with greenbacks and the wizard is the president. Dorothy and her “party” follow the yellow brick way, or gold standard, to find the wizard and fix her problem. When all along they way to fix her problem of how to get back home was to tap her ruby red shoes which were silver thus in the original book thus representing the Populists push for a silver standard.
Hugh Hefner once said, “I looked back on the roaring Twenties, with its jazz, 'Great Gatsby' and the pre-Code films as a party I had somehow managed to miss.” The parties of the Roaring Twenties were used to symbolize wealth and power in a society that was focused more on materialism and gossip than the important things in life, like family, security, and friends. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, portrays the characters of Tom and Daisy Buchanan as the epitome of the era. The reader sees these characters acting selfishly and trying to meddle with others’ lives. On the other hand, Nick Carraway, the narrator, acts more to help others and act honestly. Initially the reader sees Carraway’s views towards Jay Gatsby as negative as Gatsby’s actions are perceived as being like the Buchanan’s. As the novel moves forward, the reader notices a change in Carraway’s attitude towards Gatsby. Carraway sees Gatsby for whom he truly is, and that is a loving person who only became rich to win Daisy’s heart. But in this the reader also sees how corrupt and hurtful Gatsby’s actions were to the love of his life. Gatsby’s relationship with Daisy reveals that just as Gatsby’s dream of wooing Daisy is corrupted by illegalities and dishonesty, the “American Dream” of friendship and individualism has disintegrated into the simple pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasure.
Gatsby downfall came when he sacrificed his morality to attain wealth. Gatsby realises that the illusion of his dream with Daisy, demands wealth to become priority, and thus wealth becomes the desire overriding his need for her [Daisy’s] love. Gatsby claims to others that he has inherited his wealth, but Nick discovers "[h]is parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people" (Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, pg 104) and that Gatsby has lied about his past. In a society that relies on luxuries, Gatsby throws parties to attract Daisy’s attention. Also, Gatsby expresses that same need to keep busy, just as Daisy does, in a society of the elite. Nick describes Gatsby as "never quite still, there was always a tapping foot somewhere or the impatient opening and closing of a hand" (Fitzgerald, pg 68). Gatsby fills his house "full of interesting people...who do interesting things" (Fitzgerald, pg 96). Gatsby's dream is doomed to failure in that he has lost the fundamental necessities to experience love, such as honesty and moral integrity.
At the hotel gathering, Gatsby struggles to persuade Daisy to confront her husband and she responds with “Oh, you want too much! . . . I did love him once--but I loved you too” (Fitzgerald 132). Daisy desperately tries to satisfy Gatsby but his imagination blocks his mind to such a degree that it eliminates his chances of learning how to comprehend reality. After Myrtle’s murder, Nick advises Gatsby to leave town but instead he realizes that “[Gatsby] wouldn’t consider it. He couldn’t possibly leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do. He was clutching at some last hope and I couldn’t bear to shake him free” (Fitzgerald 148). No matter how hard Nick attempts to help him make the better choice, Gatsby continues to skew his priorities like a juvenile. Unfortunately for Gatsby, Daisy stays with Tom, a more secure and experienced adult, leaving Gatsby alone. As Gatsby’s life loses his vitality, he obviously needs learn how to act like an adult and survive in the world; but unable to accomplish this, Wilson kills him soon
“He [Gatsby] stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way… I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.” (Fitzgerald 20) Gatsby reaches for Daisy, but like the light, can never actually take her. Nick Carraway moves to the West Egg, and is a neighbor to the mysterious Jay Gatsby. Nick learns about Gatsby’s love for Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby is eventually murdered and fails to fulfill his dream of being with Daisy. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the pursuit of dreams. Jay Gatsby tries to achieve his dream of being with Daisy, but ultimately fails.
Although being apart from Daisy for nearly five years (Fitzgerald 92), Gatsby does not fail to pursue his dream of being with her. The letter Gatsby receives from Daisy while at Oxford, motivates him to work harder and attain the wealth that will satisfy Daisy’s needs. With the thought of finally being good enough for her, Gatsby moves back to West Egg, “so that Daisy would be just across the bay” (Fitzgerald 76) and believes he can ultimately live up to her standards. Jay remains unseen upon his arrival in New York, but throws glamorous parties in hopes of Daisy attending one (Fitzgerald 77). Furthermore, Gatsby’s sincere emotions towards Daisy are seen after the accident in which Daisy kills Mrs. Wilson. Although it was the end for her and Gatsby, "He couldn't possibly leave Daisy until he knew what she was going to do. He was clutching at some last hope ... " (Fitzgerald 141). Daisy couldn't face the fact that she might go to jail and knew Gatsby would take her blame out of love and compassion for her. Taking the blame would be the last great thing Gatsby could do for Daisy (Fitzgerald 137). Familiarizing himself with Gatsby’s emotions, Nick cannot help but “[admire] Gatsby’s resolute commitment to success, love, and dreams” (Pauly). It is through Gatsby’s refusal to sacrifice his continuous dream, one can see
Gatsby follows Daisy to New York and buys his house in West Egg “so that Daisy would be just across the bay” (Fitzgerald 79). Daisy does not know he is there, but he wants to be as close to her as possible and sometimes stares at the green light at the end of her dock (Fitzgerald 21). Also, Gatsby throws elaborate, expensive parties almost every weekend for people he doesn’t know or talk to. Jordan reveals the reason he throws these parties is because “he half expected her [Daisy] to wander into one of his parties, some night” (Fitzgerald 79). At these parties, he asks people about Daisy, always trying to find a way to get close to her. He is willing to try anything he can think of for the chance to see Daisy again. After Gatsby and Daisy return from the town, Gatsby refuses to leave Daisy alone with Tom. Despite Nick reassuring him that Daisy is safe and Gatsby should go home, Gatsby insists that he wants “to wait here until Daisy goes to bed” (Fitzgerald 145). He continues to try to protect Daisy, even though he is not welcome. Everything Gatsby has done for the last five years has been an attempt for him to get closer to Daisy. He invades on her life because he still loves her, even though she has clearly moved on. Because Gatsby buys a house across the bay from Daisy, throws elaborate parties hoping she will come, and waits outside her house all night, he is obviously
Gatsby’s willingness to protect Daisy even after her rejection shows how deeply he likes her and how he isn’t willing to give up his American Dream even when there seems like there’s no hope. Throughout chapter seven of the book, the readers are taken on a journey, through the first person narrative of Nick, in order to find out Daisy’s decision. On this journey, there are several tone shifts ranging from tension to melancholy with several others sprinkled in between. F. Scott Fitzgerald influences the readers to feel these emotions and makes several impacts on the chapter in his novel “The Great Gatsby” by using the rhetoric of diction, imagery, and selection of detail.
The Great Gatsby is narrated by Nick Carraway who recently traveled to New York City to embark on his new career. Fortunately, Nick’s cousin, Daisy Buchanan, lives in New York and is the wife of Tom Buchanan who also happens to be Nick’s former friend in college. Nick moves into to his new home and meets a popular, mysterious, and successful neighbor, Gatsby, who hosts extravagant parties every Saturday night. Nick and Gatsby begin to develop a strong friendship. Gatsby is essentially living the American Dream. Throughout the book, the reader learns that Gatsby grew up in a poor family and went off to serve in World War II. Nick learns that Gatsby and Daisy have an intimate history, and Gatsby still holds on to those feelings. In an attempt to win Daisy back, Nick invites Daisy over for tea with Gatsby. They rekindle their love for one another, and a love affair begins. Tom, Daisy’s husband, has been having an affair with Myrtle Wilson. Even though she has her own husband, Tom and Myrtle continue their relationship. Tom becomes aware of the love Gatsby feels for Daisy, and, after being presented with the two ultimatums, Daisy chooses wealth over true love by choosing Tom. Daisy accidentally killed Myrtle while drivin...
Their romance was short, a summer fling too brief for any faults to yet reveal themselves, but Gatsby latched on to this idealized love. What he knew of Daisy from their short time together left him convinced that she was “the incarnation of all his elaborate fantasies, his vision of the American Dream” (Lid 179). And, thus, he cannot forget her. He cannot let her go. The novel is set nearly five years (without any interaction) after their summer together, but she is still what Gatsby lives for. Daisy is still his everything. The direction in which Gatz has developed Gatsby’s persona following their meeting is reflective of this. The Gatsby of the novel’s timeframe is an elusive, extravagantly rich socialite who lives in a grand seaside mansion and hosts exuberant weekly parties, a description which can entirely be related back to Daisy. His weekly parties were hosted with the impossible, idealistic expectancy that she would just wander in some night. Of the mansion, it is noted that, “Gatsby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay”; he looks toward her house so often that the green light at the end of her dock becomes a recurring symbol in the novel, of Gatsby’s idealistic and unwavering hope (Fitzgerald 78). Even his affluence can be attributed to Daisy’s influence, at
after making his millions he tirelessly longed for the return of his true love, Daisy Buchanan. He threw party after party knowing that this is all the people of his generation wanted to do to recover from the mental torture of war. Finally with the help of his old sport, Nick Carraway. He got to reunite with Daisy and rekindle their passionate love for one another this love was not the love Gatsby had in mind due to his fantasy of true love being his actual goal over his love with Daisy. Fitzgerald shows the reader the idea of an escape for veterans and idealising a situation the is impossible.