Comparing The Great Gatsby (2013) Movie Adaptation with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Novel

The Great Gatsby, both as F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel and as a movie, has captivated audiences for decades with its tale of wealth, love, loss, and the American Dream. The 2013 film adaptation, directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the mysterious Jay Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan, and Tobey Maguire as the narrator Nick Carraway, offers a vibrant and visually stunning retelling of the classic story. However, like many adaptations, there are both similarities and significant differences between the book and its film version.

This comparison will focus on the differences in tone, plot, themes, character development, and the overall representation of the American Dream. We will explore how Baz Luhrmann’s film approaches the source material, both in terms of its visual interpretation and narrative changes, while maintaining some of the core messages of Fitzgerald’s novel.

1. The Tone and Style: From Literary Subtlety to Visual Extravagance

One of the most striking differences between The Great Gatsby novel and its 2013 film adaptation is the tone and style. Fitzgerald’s novel is filled with subtle observations and understated dialogue, creating a reflective and melancholic mood. Through Nick Carraway’s narration, the novel explores themes of disillusionment, love, and the decay of the American Dream in a quiet and introspective manner. The tone is nostalgic and tragic, focused on the fleeting nature of the world the characters inhabit.

In contrast, Baz Luhrmann’s film is anything but subtle. Known for his opulent, visually dynamic style, Luhrmann brings a high-energy, spectacle-driven approach to the film. The movie opens with a modern twist, with Jay-Z’s music accompanying scenes that showcase the roaring 1920s, setting a vibrant, decadent tone. The film is full of flashy visual effects, with extravagant party scenes, dynamic camera angles, and modern music that contrasts with the period setting of the novel.

While the movie’s visual spectacle may attract viewers with its entertainment value, it risks overshadowing the more profound, quieter elements of Fitzgerald’s work. The novel's subtle commentary on the emptiness behind the wealth and grandeur is sometimes lost in the sensory overload of the movie's lavish visuals.

For viewers who appreciate films with strong visual and emotional energy or those who enjoy movies that blend historical setting with modern elements, The Great Gatsby 2013 offers a distinct experience, but it shifts the tone from introspective melancholy to outward extravagance.

2. The Narrator: Nick Carraway’s Role in the Novel and Film

Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, plays a crucial role in both the book and the movie, but his character is represented differently in the two mediums. In the novel, Nick’s narrative voice serves as a reflective and often unreliable lens through which the reader learns about Gatsby’s life, desires, and eventual downfall. Nick is critical of the wealthy characters, including Tom and Daisy, but remains complicit in their moral corruption.

In the 2013 movie, however, Nick is depicted more actively involved in the story. The film opens with Nick attending therapy in a sanitarium, recounting his experiences with Gatsby, which is a deviation from the novel. This framing device modernizes the story, adding a psychological angle that suggests Nick is struggling to cope with the trauma of his time with Gatsby. While this choice deepens Nick’s character in some ways, it also shifts the focus away from the novel’s central themes of disillusionment and the critique of the American Dream, emphasizing Nick's emotional journey more than his role as an observer and commentator on the other characters' actions.

For viewers who enjoy films that delve into a character’s emotional development or those who appreciate a deeper exploration of the narrator’s psychology, the film’s approach to Nick Carraway provides a more modern, dynamic portrayal compared to the novel’s subtle, reflective style.

3. The American Dream: Decay or Glamour?

At the heart of both the book and the film is a critique of the American Dream and the illusion of success that drives the characters. In Fitzgerald’s novel, the American Dream is portrayed as a hollow pursuit, symbolized by Gatsby’s wealth and his unattainable love for Daisy. Gatsby’s belief that he can recreate the past and win Daisy’s heart, despite the vast social divides between them, is emblematic of the dream’s disillusionment.

In the film, however, while the critique of the American Dream is still present, the lavish visuals and the music give it a more glamorous feel. The grand parties, vibrant colors, and the mix of contemporary music with the period setting create a sense of spectacle that makes the world of Gatsby seem more alluring and captivating. This can be seen as a deliberate decision by Luhrmann to present the American Dream in a more seductive, almost romanticized light, before ultimately revealing its emptiness and consequences.

The novel critiques the superficiality of wealth and success, but the film's dynamic approach emphasizes the allure of wealth and spectacle before the inevitable collapse, making the critique feel less focused and more overshadowed by the visual grandeur.

For viewers who are drawn to films that critique social ideals through spectacle and visual metaphor, The Great Gatsby 2013 presents a more immediate, impactful exploration of the American Dream, albeit with a more glamorous take on the story’s themes.

4. Character Development: Daisy and Gatsby’s Relationship

The relationship between Gatsby and Daisy is central to the novel and film, but their development and the portrayal of their love differ in the two versions. In the novel, Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy is not just about love, but about idealism and the pursuit of an unattainable dream. Daisy, while charming and beautiful, is a product of the world she inhabits—one that prioritizes wealth and status over emotional depth. Gatsby’s longing for Daisy is ultimately a longing for an ideal that can never be realized.

In the film, while Daisy (played by Carey Mulligan) still represents this unattainable ideal, the portrayal is more emotionally charged. The chemistry between Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Daisy is palpable, and their love story is given more romantic emphasis. The film brings a sense of yearning and passion to their relationship, but it also shifts the focus to the tragedy of their love rather than the critique of the class divide. Daisy is presented as a more sympathetic figure in the film, with her choices seeming less about her personal flaws and more about the pressures of her social situation.

For viewers interested in films that emphasize the emotional aspects of a love story or those who enjoy a more romantic take on classic literature, The Great Gatsby 2013 offers a more intense and visually appealing portrayal of Gatsby and Daisy’s doomed love compared to the more critical and subtle examination found in Fitzgerald’s novel.

5. Conclusion: Comparing Two Versions of Gatsby’s Dream

In conclusion, The Great Gatsby 2013 movie adaptation differs significantly from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel in its visual style, emotional tone, and the treatment of its characters. While the novel offers a more reflective, critical view of the American Dream and the complexities of love, the film focuses on the spectacle, romance, and emotional drama, sometimes at the expense of the novel’s subtler critiques. Baz Luhrmann’s vibrant visual direction and contemporary music inject a modern sensibility into the story, making it accessible and visually appealing to a new generation of viewers. However, for those looking for the deep philosophical exploration of wealth, class, and the failures of the American Dream found in the original novel, the film may feel somewhat shallow.

For viewers who enjoy visually captivating films that explore themes of love, wealth, and social divide, The Great Gatsby (2013) provides a grand, romantic interpretation of the classic text. For those who appreciate the deeper, more critical examination of the American Dream or films that focus on character-driven narratives, the novel remains a timeless masterpiece.