Great Gatsby Criticism Essay

In Marilyn Roberts’ criticism of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby she compares the main character Jay Gatsby to another main character of another novel and movie, Tony Guarino of Scarface. Marilyn Roberts states in her criticism that the writers of Scarface used Jay Gatsby as a model to represent the rise of their own protagonist, Tony Guarino. Scarface is much like The Great Gatsby, a classic rag to riches stories by means of not so legal practices. Affluence, power, and lives of luxuriant ease are what these two men portray. With money and power these men also need high-status women in their lives. For Jay Gatsby the woman he chases after is Daisy Buchannan, the wife of Tom Buchannan. In the world of Tony Guarino the woman in his life is named Poppy. Influence from The Great Gatsby is shown here and throughout the two stories, the name Poppy is a flower like Daisy’s name also is a flower. Poppy and Daisy are also much alike asides from both their names originating from a flower. Both Poppy and Daisy are shallow, self-absorbed, and deceitful. Another comparison brought up is that both women are in their own relationships not with Tony or Jay. Jay Gatsby and Tony Guarino are determined to take these women out of their relationships so that they can be together with them. Tony uses his wealth to try and win over Poppy buying her clothes and even a home, Jay also uses his immense wealth to try and win Daisy over which is not successful. To show their characters immense wealth the writers of both Scarface and The Great Gatsby used shirts as symbols. These shirts are used as symbols to represent the American Dream, limitless freedom, wealth, and ambition. The men also use the shirts to try and win over their love interests. In The Great Gatsby, Jay pulls out his shirts collection to show Daisy, â€Å"They’re such beautiful shirts,† she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. â€Å"It makes me sad because I’ve never seen such–such beautiful shirts before. â€Å"(Fitzgerald). Jay does this to show off his wealth, throwing expensive and high quality shirts onto the floor. The writers of Scarface made their own rendition of the scene. While touring Tony’s house Poppy seems unimpressed but when Tony takes her to his bedroom he pulls out his shirt collection and throws them on the floor, Poppy eases up when shown the shirts. Both men are also considered as gangsters in Roberts’ criticism. Jay runs an illegal alcohol bootlegging ring and Tony runs a drug cartel. Along with Gatsby’s death Tony is also killed for pursuing the woman he thinks he loves and not by a fellow gangster. Tony’s death like Gatsby’s is rooted in jealousy. Jay Gatsby is killed by a jealous husband (Wilson) thfdafa at thought Jay killed his wife (Myrtle).