This research paper delves into the acclaimed work of literary realism, "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and its cinematic adaptation by Baz Luhrmann in 2013. Rather than debating fidelity or artistic superiority between literature and cinema, the focus is on exploring adaptations as autonomous artworks.
The paper specifically concentrates on the narration in both modalities, recognizing its pivotal role in shaping the plot, events, and audience reception. The narrowed scope centers on the examination of elements of unreliable narration in "The Great Gatsby" and how they are transposed onto the screen in the 2013 adaptation.
The methodology involves traversing cinematic and literary studies, beginning with a definition of narration, followed by an analysis of narration in the novel, an introduction to unreliable narration, and a subsequent exploration of unreliable elements in both, the book and the film. The study aims to conclude with a summary, evaluation of findings, and consideration of potential limitations encountered during the analysis.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Defining Narration
2.1 The Narration in The Great Gatsby
3 Defining Unreliable Narration
3.1 Elements of Unreliability in the Narration of The Great Gatsby
4 Narration in Film Adaptations
4.1 Unreliable Narration in Film Adaptations
4.2 The Narration and its Elements of Unreliability in the film The Great Gatsby by Baz Luhrmann
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper investigates the manifestation of unreliable narration in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby and its 2013 cinematic adaptation directed by Baz Luhrmann, exploring how narrative authority is constructed and manipulated in both literature and film.
- Examination of the narrative structure in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel.
- Theoretical analysis of unreliable narration within literary and cinematic contexts.
- Comparative study of how narrative unreliability is transposed from page to screen.
- Analysis of Baz Luhrmann's 2013 film adaptation as an autonomous artwork.
- Evaluation of how audio-visual elements contribute to the destabilization of the narrator's credibility.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Elements of Unreliability in the Narration of The Great Gatsby
Having introduced a theoretical frame to unreliable narration in literary works, we will now investigate how some elements of the narration in the novel apply to Nünning´s intratextual criteria of unreliable narration.
As stated above (s. 2.1), in the first paragraphs of the novel the narrator provides the readers with information about himself and his background. The novel begins with the following lines:
“In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. ‘Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.’.” (Fitzgerald 1925: 1).
These first lines establish Nick as thoughtful, thorough, privileged, and judgmental, and despite contemplating his dad’s advice, we observe that he often fails to put it into practice throughout the novel. Since during the story, he often pauses to analyze the events and the characters, offering his personal interpretations and judgements. In fact, it is through his eyes that we see all the other characters, e.g.: “Two shining arrogant eyes had established dominance over his face and gave him the appearance of always leaning aggressively forward (ibid.: 3). This is Nick’s impressions of Daisy’s husband: Tom Buchanan; and about Daisy, for example, he comments instead: “Her face was sad and lovely with bright things in it” (ibid.: 4). Throughout the narration he relentlessly observes and judges both main and secondary characters.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the research scope, focusing on the comparative analysis of narration in the novel and the 2013 film adaptation.
2 Defining Narration: This section provides a theoretical definition of narration as a communicative process and introduces the narrative system of The Great Gatsby.
2.1 The Narration in The Great Gatsby: This chapter analyzes Nick Carraway’s role as a retrospective first-person narrator and the temporal structure of the novel.
3 Defining Unreliable Narration: This chapter defines the concept of unreliable narration and establishes the intratextual criteria used for the study.
3.1 Elements of Unreliability in the Narration of The Great Gatsby: This section applies theoretical criteria to identify specific instances of unreliability in Nick Carraway’s account.
4 Narration in Film Adaptations: This chapter examines the theoretical challenges and techniques involved in transposing literary narratives into audio-visual media.
4.1 Unreliable Narration in Film Adaptations: This section establishes how unreliability is constructed in cinematic terms through visual and auditory cues.
4.2 The Narration and its Elements of Unreliability in the film The Great Gatsby by Baz Luhrmann: This chapter explores the specific framing of Nick in the 2013 film, including his mental state and the use of cinematic techniques to signal unreliability.
5 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, confirming that unreliable narration is a core element successfully transposed from the novel to the film adaptation.
Keywords
Unreliable Narration, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Baz Luhrmann, Adaptation, Narrative Theory, Nick Carraway, Modernism, Cinema, Focalization, Filmic Adaptation, Subjectivity, Intratextual Criteria, Visual Style, Narrative Discourse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the analysis of unreliable narration and how it manifests in both the original novel The Great Gatsby and Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film adaptation.
What are the central themes examined in this work?
Key themes include narrative authority, the subjectivity of the narrator (Nick Carraway), the adaptation process from literature to film, and the criteria for determining narrative unreliability.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to determine the elements of unreliable narration in the source text and investigate how these elements are transposed into the cinematic modality of the 2013 adaptation.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author utilizes literary and cinematic theory, specifically applying Ansgar Nünning’s intratextual criteria for unreliable narration and Gérard Genette’s concepts of focalization and narrative discourse.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the definition of narration and unreliability, detailed textual analysis of the novel, theoretical frameworks for film adaptation, and specific analysis of cinematic devices in Luhrmann’s film.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is best characterized by terms like Unreliable Narration, Narrative Theory, Adaptation, Subjectivity, and Filmic Narration.
How does the 2013 film adaptation frame Nick Carraway differently than the book?
The film explicitly depicts Nick as a patient in a sanatorium, visually establishing his "destabilized" mental state at the beginning and end, which emphasizes his unreliability.
Why are the first 15 minutes of the film crucial according to the author?
They serve to set up the framing narrative of Nick’s therapy and introduce the audience to his perspective, explicitly connecting his writing to his mental recovery.
What role do audio-visual elements play in signaling unreliability in the film?
Elements such as dreamy visual styles, slow motion, specific camera movements, and music enhance the emotionality and subjectivity, which blurs the lines between reality and the narrator's imagination.
- Quote paper
- Vittoria Guarino (Author), 2023, Unreliable Narration in The Great Gatsby. In Literature and on Screen, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1419391
