American Literature

American Literature

The Vitality of the Illusion

In The Great Gatsby, things are not always as they appear. Gatsby’s books are real—but unread. Nick
has “an unaffected scorn” for everything Gatsby “represent[s]” (5)—but admires the man himself. As
we have discussed, even Gatsby’s smile of “eternal reassurance” (39) can also be understood as
manipulative, something Nick must “[hold] out against” (56).
It is ironic that a novel so full of paradoxes has spawned so many visual adaptations. How can a
movie or graphic novel show both sides of Gatsby’s smile? Yet there are two graphic novels and at
least five movies of The Great Gatsby. Your final assignment for this unit is to write about how one
visual adaptation represents one scene from the novel. What details from the novel does the
adaptation emphasize? What details does it suppress? What reading (interpretation) of the novel is the
movie or graphic novel putting forward? Do you share that reading? Why or why not?
You will respond to this prompt in a traditional thesis-driven essay. Your essay should include:
1. An introduction in which you briefly explain which scene you have chosen and why it is of
interest. You must also introduce the adaptation you will be examining.
○ This will lead up to a thesis statement answering the question, “What reading of
this scene does the adaptation put forward, do you share it, and why?”
○ I recommend that you write this paragraph last.
2. A paragraph in which you establish context by offering a brief summary of the scene in
question.
3. A section (1-3 paragraphs) in which you explain what you think the adaptation is “saying”
about the scene (what reading it is giving). In this section, you must describe and analyze
what you see (or hear) to support your argument.
4. A section (1-3 paragraphs) in which you discuss to what extent you agree with the
adaptation. In this section, you must quote and analyze textual evidence to support your
argument.
5. A conclusion in which you suggest why our reading of this scene matters. What does it
contribute to our understanding of the novel as whole, or its themes?

Chapter 2 where Nick describes Valley of Ashes, Chapter 4 where Gatsby convinced a cop to not
give him a ticket. Chapter 8 where Wilson looks