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Motifs Analysis:The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby
Link to the scene:The Green light scene

The Great Gatsby was written by F.Scott Fitzgerald in 1925, it follows the summer of 1922 in Long Island. It was converted into a film most recently in 2013; not the first time but quite possibly the best. This production was directed Baz Luhrmann who has directed other successful films based on classic writing, such as Romeo and Juliet With stars such a Leonardo DiCaprio playing the main role of Jay Gatsby it was inevitable to do well and it bought $351 Million to the box office, winning 27 major awards.

The most significant motif in The great Gatsby is of course the green light at the end of Daisy's dock, it is by far the most significant symbol in the novel and film. The green light to Gatsby represents his everlasting dream, Daisy. The American dream at this time would have been to achieve wealth and success, however Gatsby already had this with a grand house which sits opposite Daisy's. For Gatsby's dream to be complete he needs Daisy, for he is hopelessly in love with her. The green light represents Daisy as it seems close enough to touch however it is an "unattainable dream". It can be seen alternatively on a positive level as it could be a symbol of guidance towards Daisy in a dark time. Gatsby is a titular character as he does not realise that he shouldn't be be wasting his life trying to win Daisy back as five years have passed and she has a new life as well as a husband. However Gatsby does not see it like this, he refuses to give up and devotes his entire life to winning her back.

The green light is shown in different manners using several different techniques to show Gatsby's undying hope for his and Daisy's romance to re-kindle. The idea that the green light at the end of Daisy's dock represents how close or far Gatsby is to Daisy is illustrated to the audience by variation of the intensity and position of the green light. For example when the green light is shining bright and

close to Gatsby's home this signifies how he is close to winning her back. The green light could also signify for Daisy's love for Gatsby as 'love is evergreen' or undying. An alternative interpretation would be that 'green means go' in the modern day, this may be a metaphor from Daisy tell Gatsby that she wants to be pursued by Gatsby and build a new relationship with him however she is doing this subtly so her husband does not know of their love and has shown to be quite an angry and violent man, resulting in a rocky relationship which in turn, could point Daisy back towards the patient and loving Gatsby.

Yet another alternative interpretation of the green light could be how it represents how special Daisy is to Gatsby as like an expensive emerald stone, she is worth a lot, a 'true gem'. Although it could inferred as Gatsby is still the poor boy he once was and therefore he can't have Daisy. The line ' you won't find him, this house and everything in it. A disguise.' This suggests his money and success is purely just a mask covering who he was in a bid to win Daisy back. The line 'rich girls don't marry poor boys' in the film back this point up. Even Gatsby himself admits the life he built for himself was not just for him but for Daisy as he knew she would come back to him however he knew he had to build a life that was suitable for her. This idea is later reinforced when Gatsby is speaking about his life 'my life old sport, has got to be like this *points to a green shooting star*' This could portray the green light not only symbolises many things for Daisy but also Jay's life, his wealth and success. If he does not have Daisy, what does he really have?

In this shot, we can see Gatsby reaching out to touch the green light, this highlights to the audience how close Gatsby feels to the light. The light to Gatsby is Daisy, the green light signifies how close or far Gatsby is from Daisy. The shot being held over Gatsby's shoulder creates a sense of empathy for the audience as this shot puts us in his position as we start to understand the symbolism behind this motif. Also in this shot we can see Gatsby's expensive emerald ring, however the light is shining more bright than this gemstone. This could symbolise how his need for Daisy's love outshines all his wealth and success.

The green light features in the film when Daisy has her cousin Nick Carraway to visit, although the first scene of the green light is at the beginning of the opening sequence which shows it's importance. The cousins are in the garden and this is when the green light is first captured. In this scene Nick and Daisy separate in opposite directions, both moving out of the shot, this creates a sense of them moving away so the audience can see the green light. When Daisy say's 'fast' the camera speed quickens as it glides through the gardens, however when it reaches the green light it slows down, this highlights the importance of this symbol to the audience and encourages them to consider what its importance may be. The camera glides around the green light and an effect is used to make it seem almost as though it is shining in the audiences eyes; beautiful to look at but at the same time almost uncomfortable, reflecting Gatsby and Daisy's relationship. Smooth, romanticised music plays when the shot playing is gliding over the lake between Daisy and Gatsby's house. This creates a sense that something has happened between these two households as it is almost as though the green light is gliding across and leading the audience to Gatsby's house.

The significance of the green light however changes, when Gatsby's dream is crushed. This is the turning point for the green light, it stops being just Gatsby's lone symbol and takes on a universal role. Instead of signifying Daisy and the life he built for her it now signifies the unreachable dream that lives inside of people, it portrays everyones internal struggle. This juxtaposes it's first appearance as it then signified love however after Gatsby's death the green light highlights how everything is not quite the perfect image and everyone has a struggle despite the mask of no imperfections.

To conclude, the green light is captured in the opening sequence which highlights the importance of this motif however throughout the film the symbolism changes dramatically, taking a transition from an optimistic and hopeful dream to the dire reality that exists. At first the green light is seen to be purely just a symbol of Daisy's and Gatsby's relationship or lack of, it is the attainable dream of Gatsby building a life to win Daisy back. The green light seems to be as close to Daisy as Gatsby can get, this is why he is seen reaching out as if he can almost touch it. However throughout the film this is seen to change, the green light take a sinister turning and is seen to represent an internal struggle in everyone and is no longer the intimate unknown communication between Gatsby and Daisy, it takes on the role of becoming a symbol for other people instead of just Gatsby and Daisy. This could be the shattering knowledge of their relationship coming out into the open and how it changed both their lives for the worst.

updated:What's the purpose of a film's opening sequence?

What's the point of an opening sequence?
The opening sequence of a film has many purposes, such as to establish mood and introduce visually a character to the audience. Other uses are to initiate the setting, plot, characters and narrative.

The opening sequence of a film is personal to each individual film, the opening should grab the audiences attention and create a sense of excitement about what is to come next in the film. The opening sequence could be what you remember most fondly about the film even if the rest of the film is terrible. Opening sequences can be iconic for recognising the film are they introduce the style of the film, an example of one of the best known opening sequences, perhaps not the best however, are the openings to James Bond. Perhaps it's the visual styling and sound that makes it globally instantly recognisable.

The sudden white dots blinking across the screen have become undoubtedly recognisable branding for the James Bond franchise. The classic silhouette of Bond introduces the character as well as imitating the excitement of the audience. Another exemplary example is Clockwork orange, the unsettling music comes in first setting the mood for the entire film as the music is un-nerving and is seminal of despicable things to later happen. The opening shot is a close up of a young male adult staring into the camera with an evil facial expression and heavily breathing, this suggests to the audience that he is a prominent character throughout the film and also that his character is dark and immoral. The style of the film is also first shown through this shot with the character wearing a bowler hat, white shirt and false eyelashes on the bottom left lash line, this illustrates clearly to the audience that it is an eccentric film. The introductory of the Social Network

however juxtaposes these two styles of opening sequences by the use of fast paced, witty and intelligent dialogue however visually not much is happening in the shot, for the first six seconds it is a dark screen but then fades into a mid shot of the main character and a young woman in a busy collage bar. The first six seconds directly highlight Mark Zuckerberg's intelligence and heightening his social awkwardness. The scene is set and the main character has been introduced all within eight seconds of the opening sequence. The main contrast between The social Network and James Bond and Clockwork Orange is the verisimilitude created through the opening sequence of The Social Network as both Clockwork Orange and James Bond do not have a sense of reality throughout their sequences.

                                                                        Inception Analysis 

The 2010 thriller blockbuster 'Inception' follows Dom Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, a thief with the rare ability to enter people's dreams and take their secrets from their subconscious mind. His unusual skill has made him a hot topic in the world of corporate espionage however it has cost him everything he loves in his personal life. Through this he gets a shot at redemption however it is offered through a seemingly impossible task that has not been done so far, he has to plant and idea in someones subconscious mind, however someone is anticipating his every move.

The opening shot, which is a an extreme close up, immediately begins with an incredibly tense music score, tension is being built even before the audience has met the protagonist. As this unnerving sound draws to a halt the audience can hear hyperbolic waves clashing against the rocks. This sound creates a sense of verisimilitude and suggests that this shot is in present day. The main character Dom Cobb is shown ( the protagonist) laying face down in the sand on a beach with the wave crashing against him, this wakes him up and here we get the first clear view of the main characters face, the audience can inference from his awakening on the sand that he seems to have been washed ashore. The sound of children playing and laughing can be heard over the waves crashing against the rocks and shore, when the children are shown they seem to be moving in almost a slow motion manner which suggests they are just a figment of imagination. This highlights to the audience that because they are a figment of his imagination that they are his children and he may have lost this connection with them due to past events. However this does not phase Cobb as he lays his head down again after looking up at the children showing he himself knows they are just a figment of his imagination. To some this may suggest his children have passed away so he knows they aren't there, although some may argue this would startle him however it does not which may convey his mentally weak state during this time.

The next scene shows a gun facing down on to Cobb's back, then they lift up his jacket, which is weltered and soaked, checking for weapons, Cobb has a gun tucked into his trousers. This gives the audience an insight to the plot as it coveys he could possibly be dangerous, it makes people think about why he would need a gun. Before all we know is that he has been washed ashore and has children, Although when the gun is pointing on his back a foregrounding of later danger to come is portrayed. The next frame shows what the audience assumes is a soldier or guard shouting to another man in a different language. The man pictured whom he is shouting to then runs somewhere to what appears to be to tell someone, perhaps this conveys that they know who he is or the alternative interpretation of that he intruding on private land however by Cobb's disorientation we can inference this may have not be deliberate, another interpretation is he may have been washed ashore by someone; maybe left in the sea by someone deliberate. The guards suggest to the audience that it is private land Cobb's has washed up upon, this may suggest that whom ever property he has washed up upon in involved in he story line as they are presented at the start of the opening sequence which is often used to present all characters that play an important role in the plot. As the camera moves upwards to show the other guard the audience are shown the setting, it is a beach with rocky cliffs and what appears to be either a house or a private building shown on the top right corner of the screen. This scene connotes danger and we wonder what type of character Cobb's is.

 This sequence captivates the audience through the use of wondering why Cobb's has been washed upon the shore.The director could have chosen to this to create a sense of mystery about the main character. Although the scene where we can hear children laughing and playing makes the audience think about his background, through this sequence the audience questions his personality by his un-emotive responses. Without giving away any major plot details the audience is immersed into the plot and remains excited wanting to find out more.