Many classical pieces of literature do not become famous until after their author has far deceased. For F. Scott Fitzgerald this is more true. Kenneth Eble was assiduous to Fitzgerald's work saying, “It took critics a long time to recognize that a writer like Fitzgerald could be more than superficially romantic, an even longer time to realize that he was, as a novelist, intuitively historical” (Eble, 3). While Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby” pervades under many high school student’s repertoire today, the novel was not truly recognized as a classic until 73 years after it was published and 58 years after Fitzgerald had died. Since then, Hollywood has taken the reigns on the glamorization of this classical text. Producers have brought Fitzgerald’s
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Scott Fitzgerald. Another one of the major reasons behind the argument that F. Scott Fitzgerald would prefer the new version of the film is that Fitzgerald was a known moralist (O'Hearn). Like any author, Fitzgerald uses writing to highlight not only history but also lessons he has learned. According to John Kuehl, Fitzgerald is quoted saying, “I guess I am too much a moralist at heart, and really want to preach at people in some acceptable form, rather than to entertain them" (Kuehl, 11). The older version of the film is merely for entertainment. However, the attempt at entertainment (older version of the film) through accentuating the “Daisy, Gatsby” love story in fact leads the audience to interpret the film as a thin love story of Daisy and Gatsby. Not only is the love story between Daisy and Gatsby staid in the older version of the film but also the lack of narration from Nick Carraway eliminates Fitzgerald's true intentions for theme of the story. In all actuality, the story of Daisy and Gatsby is just a catalyst for the overall theme that F. Scott Fitzgerald creates that greed and immorality of the 20s leads to emptiness. In the newer version of the film this left inviolate, as Nick’s narration gives the audience the point of view that F. Scott Fitzgerald wished for his readers to see. The attention to detail between the scene at which that Nick first becomes drunk between the book and the new version of movie puts forth the kind of contrast of morality and theme of greed leading to emptiness that Fitzgerald wished to convey. Nick is an important character in this theme and Fitzgerald would not approve of the lack of importance he receives in the older movie. Fitzgerald truly teaches the lesson that greed and immorality leads to emptiness through not only the character of Nick but also Gatsby. The death of Gatsby perfectly embodies the consequence of greed.
Scott Fitzgerald. Another one of the major reasons behind the argument that F. Scott Fitzgerald would prefer the new version of the film is that Fitzgerald was a known moralist (O'Hearn). Like any author, Fitzgerald uses writing to highlight not only history but also lessons he has learned. According to John Kuehl, Fitzgerald is quoted saying, “I guess I am too much a moralist at heart, and really want to preach at people in some acceptable form, rather than to entertain them" (Kuehl, 11). The older version of the film is merely for entertainment. However, the attempt at entertainment (older version of the film) through accentuating the “Daisy, Gatsby” love story in fact leads the audience to interpret the film as a thin love story of Daisy and Gatsby. Not only is the love story between Daisy and Gatsby staid in the older version of the film but also the lack of narration from Nick Carraway eliminates Fitzgerald's true intentions for theme of the story. In all actuality, the story of Daisy and Gatsby is just a catalyst for the overall theme that F. Scott Fitzgerald creates that greed and immorality of the 20s leads to emptiness. In the newer version of the film this left inviolate, as Nick’s narration gives the audience the point of view that F. Scott Fitzgerald wished for his readers to see. The attention to detail between the scene at which that Nick first becomes drunk between the book and the new version of movie puts forth the kind of contrast of morality and theme of greed leading to emptiness that Fitzgerald wished to convey. Nick is an important character in this theme and Fitzgerald would not approve of the lack of importance he receives in the older movie. Fitzgerald truly teaches the lesson that greed and immorality leads to emptiness through not only the character of Nick but also Gatsby. The death of Gatsby perfectly embodies the consequence of greed.