Introduction
In the modern world, the question of the interaction of classical literature and modern cultural perception arises. In it, cinema becomes an intermediary between the text and the reader-viewer. However, the problem is that it is not always possible to clearly define the boundaries between a film adaptation and, for example, a film based on a work or an interpretation. This problem can be considered using the example of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel “The Great Gatsby” and the 2013 film of the same name directed by Baz Luhrmann. Changes to the images of heroes, such as Wolfsheim or Jordan, are intended to avoid potential accusations of racism from critics and to emphasize the hero’s side of the story necessary to the plot.
Casting Accuracy
The actor and actress choices in the film did not fit the characters as F. Scott Fitzgerald writes them in his novel “The Great Gatsby”. Most often, these are external details, such as the color of hair or clothes, and sometimes a change in the character’s race. This is done to avoid racism or to create a contrast between the characters. In addition, some plotlines may be omitted from the film to focus on the story’s essential elements. For this reason, the character does not manage to reveal himself in a specific role, which the book presents as secondary.
Inaccuracies from the Novel
The first character that did not match the one in the book is Wolfshim. Director Luhrmann chose Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan for his role, although Wolfshim’s character is based on the infamous Jewish gangster Arnold Rothstein (Fitzgerald 57). However, fidelity to the text in this case would probably mean anti-Semitism, since Fitzgerald describes Wolfshim as “a small, flat-nosed Jew with two tufts of hair flowing in each nostril” (Fitzgerald 121). Bachchan’s choice preserves the character’s distinction, complicating the stereotype that Fitzgerald used. Using an Indian actor for the role of Wolfshim avoids racist stereotypes.
Another character, which is inaccurately portrayed in the film, is Jordan Baker. In the adaptation, she appears with Daisy, and the heroines are immediately set in external contrast. Jordan appears in a pantsuit, and Daisy in a dress (The Great Gatsby 02:26:54). In Fitzgerald’s book, they both wore white dresses. Jordan’s clothing changes highlight the difference between her and Daisy (Fitzgerald 138).
Another detail is the golf club Jordan is playing with in the same episode (The Great Gatsby 41:09). The viewer may guess that Jordan is an athlete and a golfer. This fact allows us to consider the heroine as a girl of the new age – independent and self-sufficient, mastering the male spheres. Against this background, Daisy appears to be a traditional girl whose goal in life is to get married and have a child. The only thing missing from the film is the romantic line between Jordan and Nick, which Fitzgerald hints at (Fitzgerald 58). Due to this omission, their relationship is simplified and presented only in a friendly light.
Conclusion
Therefore, alterations in the representation of heroes, such as Wolfsheim or Jordan, are aimed at averting potential charges of racism from detractors and highlighting the aspect of the hero required for the story. In general, we can say that the movie images in the 2013 film by Baz Luhrmann are a successful embodiment of the literary prototype. Due to the specifics of cinematography, they are simplified and, in some ways, concretized, slightly moving away from the original. However, these images can be called whole and complete.
Works Cited
Fitzgerald, Scott. The Great Gatsby (Masterpiece Library Edition). Peter Pauper Press, 2023.
The Great Gatsby. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, performances by Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, director’s cut, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2013.