Most of us read The Great Gatsby in our sophomore Humanities class. Both Gatsby and Citizen Kane,produced about twenty years apart, focus on a man who some might say is the epitome of success. What similarities and differences do you see? Are these works celebrations or critiques of these men, or somewhere in between? Or something else? Do they tell us anything about the American Dream?
Gatsby and Citizen Kane are both works that celebrate being a white, rich man in 1900’s America, which overshadowed and oppressed the voices of minorities, as there wasn’t any representation of America in their perspectives in this type of media. Gatsby and Kane are very similar, as they both enjoyed the luxuries that are offered to them because they are rich, white men. They also struggled with loneliness, even though they were constantly surrounded by people, because they wanted to be loved. You can see themes of being lonely and rich portrayed through mise en scene of their palaces in both films. What makes them different are the ways they portrayed themselves. Gatsby was very reserved and didn’t like attention, unlike Kane. Kane wanted all of the attention he could get, because he based his value on how much others loved him. Many times during his film, he mentioned that he’ll help minorities and the poor, but not once do we see him helping anyone in the film. He also had a white savior complex, unlike Gatsby. We see this being portrayed through low angles filmed of him at his speeches, making him seem powerful, the same way how the rich are seen as in society. It was easy for Gatsby and Kane to attain their success, as some parts of it were handed to them, showing the audience that they can’t reach this American Dream unless they have the same privilege as Kane and Gatsby. This version of representation of the American Dream is damaging towards minorities, especially towards those who came to America for more opportunities to succeed. Films like these in the media furthered the oppression of the voices of POC, which is an issue we are still dealing with today.
ReplyDeleteMarisa M
ReplyDeleteAlthough Jay Gatsby and Charles Foster Kane Kane have many similarities thematically, their main characters become extremely different once we take a look underneath the surface. Let's begin with the similarities. Both are extremely wealthy and have achieved incredible amounts of financial and societal success, but both fail to achieve happiness at the end of their respective stories. Both characters live incredibly lavish lifestyles, but both are loners who live their days mostly alone and with themselves. And the similarities could go on.
ReplyDeleteBut where the difference between them begins to show is in how they seek happiness and love. While Kane has this wish to simply purchase love and joy by paying for his wife Susan Alexander Kane to perform at concerts all over the country, Gatsby doesn't wish to purchase love, but rather uses his money and wealth to find ways to approach the love of his life, Daisy. What this shows is that both characters have very different characters and approaches to finding happiness. Kane is very dishonest and selfish with his pursuit. He is very dishonest with his wife, lying to her by saying that all the concerts he is putting up are for her benefit, when in reality, he is just doing them to make himself feel better. He is selfish in this regard, as all he wishes is to have her to do everything for him, not the other way around. He only wants happiness for himself, without realizing that such a pursuit is completely impossible. On the complete other side of the spectrum however, Gatsby is not lavishly showcasing his wealth for his benefit, but is doing it so that he could find time to spend with Daisy and to make her feel better, without ever expecting anything in return. Kane was selfish and dishonest, only doing everything for himself despite pretending to do it for Susan. Gatsby, on the other hand, was selflessly and honestly trying to get Daisy to be by his side by making her as happy as possible. This dichotomy between the two characters shows the difference in philosophies between the two leads.
Additionally, whereas Kane expected Susan to perform for him and do his bidding in return for his wealth, Gatsby is trying to use his wealth to woo Daisy by making her happy, regardless of whether she would return the favor. In other words, Kane's supposed generosity came at a cost, but in Gatsby's world, it didn't come at a price. Kane would only support Susan as long as she would perform for him, and if she rebelled, he would become enraged, as shown in the movie. Contrast that to Gatsby, who held massive parties and tried to make the best of all the time he spent with Daisy by making her happy and being a kind human being, despite her not ever committing her love to him.
Overall, the main takeaway from these two men is that although they seem very similar on paper, they have very different ways of seeking love and happiness. Unfortunately, both have tragic demises, but the main point is that Gatsby died due to a devastating misunderstanding, and not of his own hubris, unlike Kane. Charles Foster Kane died as a result of his own selfishness and his own impossible desires. The main message of the two men are very different, despite initially appearing similar.
ReplyDeleteThere are many similarities between Charles Foster Kane and Jay Gatsby. They both came into large amounts of money that completely altered the course of their lives, and they both lived a life of extravagance. The are both the epitome of the american dream but I believe what lies beneath their success is where they are truly similar. Both F Scott Fitzgerald and Orson Welles created a character that demonstrates that the American dream is not always what it’s cracked up to be. Jay Gatsby and Charles Foster Kane are both constantly in search of something deeper than success and money. They are portrayed as incredibly successful men who can’t seem to find a deeper meaning within their lives. Because of this they are always shown chasing something that they can never quite reach. I think that the true similarities between the two characters are displayed in this chase for happiness that they cannot find in money and success. Although Charles Kane acted as though he was in love with his second wife he treated her terribly despite how desperate he was for love in his life. Similarly, Jay Gatsby got so wrapped up in the ideology of Daisy Buchanan that he never realized that everything he was doing for her was not what she wanted or a practical foundation for a relationship. In the end both of these men end up losing what they wanted left with only success and money demonstrating that the American dream is not always enough.
Cara Kannensohn
ReplyDeleteJay Gatsby and Charles Foster Kane have similarities but are different in their own respective ways. Both Gatsby and Kane were able to become rich by any means necessary whether it was Kane working his way up in the newspaper industry, or Jay Gatsby working a bootleg business selling illegal alcohol. However, their reasons for inheriting wealth are different in some aspects. Even though both Kane and Gatsby worked towards riches because they wanted to be loved, Jay Gatsby was motivated to acquire money in exchange for the love of Daisy Buchannan, when Charles Kane gained wealth and popularity because he wanted to be loved by people in general. The characters themselves are somewhat different, with Kane being outspoken and always wanting people around him, and Gatsby being very mysterious at his parties, never showing himself leaving people wondering who he truly really is. With that being said, both men are very confident in themselves, believing no one can beat them in their given situations. For example, Charles Kane believed that he would still win the election against Jim W. Gettys regardless of his scandal with “singer” Susan Alexander. The scene where Kane yells his name with pride at Gettys shows that he is full of belief in himself, which can be seen as arrogance or cockiness. In Gatsby’s case, he also becomes too full of himself when in a confrontation with Tom Buchanan, husband of his love interest Daisy Buchanan, about who Daisy will choose. In this moment of the book, he becomes too sure of himself, which ends up leading to his failure with Daisy. The two are similar because in the end, they are both driven by one goal, love. This determination to be loved can connect directly to one’s American Dream. Although both of these men obtain wealth, they don’t achieve their goal of love or happiness. Jay Gatsby and Charles Foster Kane can both show us that the American Dream is not the same for everyone, and even the richest of people do not find true happiness.
ReplyDeleteIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, Gatsby and Kane are similar in that they both unsuccessfully attempt to use their wealth to gain the affection of those around them; therefore, both stories show that money cannot buy everything that people desire.
ReplyDeleteFirst, both Gatsby and Kane try to use their great wealth to gain the affection of their love interests. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is profoundly in love with Daisy Buchanan. In his attempt to woo her, he uses his money to buy a mansion near her house and host extravagant parties to which he invites Daisy. By using his money and displaying the persona of a wealthy man, Gatsby believes that he can regain the affection of his former lover. In Citizen Kane, Charles Kane also attempts to use his money to buy the fondness of his love interest. Kane, after marrying amateur singer Susan Alexander, uses his money to construct an opera house for his new wife, and uses his newspaper, which is closely tied to his wealth, to spread publicity about her performances. Later on, he constructs an opulent and expensive palace, called Xanadu, for the couple to live in. In both of these instances, Kane assumes that his lavish spending for the supposed benefit of Susan Alexander will deepen her love for him.
Both Gatsby and Kane are unable to gain the true affection of their love interests. Despite Gatsby’s displays of his wealth through, for example, his mansion and extravagant shirt collection, he is never able to win back Daisy, as she stays with Tom Buchanan, her husband. Therefore, while Gatsby’s money affords him material comforts, it is not powerful enough to grant him what he truly desires: the affection of Daisy. Similarly, Kane’s expensive attempts to buy the love of Susan Alexander end in disaster. Susan Alexander wants to leave behind her opera career that Kane funds, but the latter forces her to continue singing. Orson Welles shows this element of coercion when he depicts Susan Alexander with Kane’s shadow cast over her in a high angle. Kane’s money, though it was meant to win his wife’s love, keeps her trapped in a role she desperately wants to leave. Susan Alexander’s feeling of hopelessness culminates in her suicide attempt. Clearly, Kane’s attempt to gain his wife’s affection with money is unsuccessful because it only leads to arguments and her depression. Later in the film, Kane’s attempt to gain Susan Alexander’s love by buying her Xanadu also fails. Due to the expansive loneliness of the palace, Kane and Susan Alexander begin to grow farther apart. This separation is accentuated by the deep shot near the end of the film depicting Susan Alexander completing a jigsaw puzzle while Charles Kane argues with her from the far side of the vast throne room. Later on, Susan Alexander, feeling no personal warmth from her husband, leaves Kane behind. These scenes show that Kane is unable to gain his wife’s love through money; instead, living in Xanadu, which is a manifestation of Kane’s money, creates a divide between them to the point that they do not even converse in close quarters and that they break up their relationship altogether. Charles Kane’s money allows him to influence public opinion with his newspaper and construct extravagant buildings, but it falls short in securing him the affection he desires.
In The Great Gatsby and Citizen Kane, Gatsby and Kane are very similar as both stories dive into the loneliness of “an extremely wealthy man” craving for a connection but swamped in the rivers of work, luxury, and unbearable emptiness. Jay Gatsby, as well as any other American, dreamt for the angelic life. Similar to Charles Foster Kane, Gatsby was a rich, powerful, and respected man. Gatsby could have anything and everything that could be bought. Yet, his possessions were obsolete because he didn’t have the most essential and most profound part of man’s life; love. Gatsby held enormous social gatherings at his immaculate mansion, but he didn’t usually socialize. The parties seemed to bring the mansion to life; the only life it sees, as Gatsby lives alone and lonely. Even though the guests come to his parties and try to engage with Gatsby, he always is detached from the crowd. The only ray of sunshine in Jay Gatsby’s life is Daisy Buchanan who he has loved for a very long time. Daisy Buchanan completed Gatsby’s dream of a perfect life. If only he could have Daisy, his wealthy life could then be rich. Much like Charles Kane, love is the only element that could fill the lingering emptiness within his soul.
ReplyDeleteCharles Foster Kane possessed everything, materialistically, one’s heart desires. But, in a different aspect, Charles Foster Kane had nothing. He married for love. That’s why he did everything. That’s all he ever really wanted was love. He just didn’t have any to give. Love; the single thing Charles wanted, and needed, but could never grasp because he was incapable of loving someone else. He was seemingly capable of almost anything- except love, for he was never taught how to love. The one thing he loved- his parents - abandoned him. The intangible bond that is crucial between a mother and her son was attempted by Charles, but was not returned by his mother. The rejection of Charles’ love created a sense of fear and incapability to love- which had shadowed him the rest of his life. Like Daisy, Susan Alexander simply played an idea of someone in Kane’s idealistic life. Gatsby nor Kane fully won over or ended up with their true love interest and ended up dying completely alone.
Similarly, in both stories Daisy and Susan feel very disconnected from their lives and end up unhappy. Daisy, much like Susan Alexander, always convinced herself that she knew what she really wanted out of life. Daisy, being married to Tom Buchanan, had more than enough money and all the luxuries anyone could imagine, but she seemed discontent with what she had. Daisy knows she cannot have both. Even though her marriage with Tom does not consist of love, it is stable. Daisy, conscious of this stability, stays with what she feels secure, ignoring the bond she has formed with Gatsby. Similar to Susan Alexander, when Daisy Buchanan finally achieves what she thought she needed in her life, she returns to what she had before. But for Daisy, she returned to aristocracy and Susan returned to a more subtle, ordinary lifestyle where she could blend with society as Susan Alexander, not as an aristocrat. We do not know if Susan ends up happier with another man later in her life nor do we know if Daisy ended up leaving Tom for a more simple and engaging life, but we do know that both women are better off without Gatsby or Kane. Both stories truly revolve around their love interests as Daisy and Susan bring out every good and bad element Gatsby and Kane possess.
Jay Gatsby and Charles Kane are similar in that they are both loved because of their façade but fail to love others because of their pleonexia; they are different because they attempt to remedy their derelictions in wildly different manners. Both Gatsby and Kane share a primordial drive for power that subsumes all other facets of their lives. From romantic partners to business associates, the two moguls seek not to love others but to be loved above all else. In Citizen Kane, Susan tells Charles that no matter how much wealth he can offer her it is meaningless because above all else she wants to do as she pleases and to feel he respects and loves her. Kane Reacts in sheer rage to the mere suggestion that his domain stops at another person. It is as if Susan is a statue or object herself to Kane and because all of his endeavors are ordered toward domination of the will, he inexorably cannot give to Susan the one largess she truly needs: love. Similarly, Gatsby attempts to woe Daisy by presenting to her a seemingly endless array of vanities but in the end, it only leads to her tears. Daisy realizes that while Gatsby will give things, his ability to give himself, that is to lose his façade and face her as he really is, is limited. However, both men react incredibly differently. While Gatsby sacrifices his life for the woman, he loves and finally truly loves her beyond his façade and desire for wealth, Kane traps himself within his ever-growing castle. Toward the end of the film, he is given one final opportunity to make it up to Susan but instead of begging and doing anything for her he merely states, “You can’t do this to me.” The line that pushes Susan away is that of ultimate narcissism. The camera finally addresses both Charles and Susan as equal while in most other scenes Charles dominated. Kane is weak in this moment because he realizes he never cared about others, he cared about himself. For his greed, he died alone and unloved; it profits a man nothing to gain the whole world but lose his soul along the way.
ReplyDeleteJay Gatsby and Charles Foster Kane have very similar goals of having people love them through materialistic things but have different reasoning for achieving this goal. Charles Kane spends an enormous amount of money trying to make Susan love him from building an opera house to their palace they call home, Xanadu. However, Susan realizes that Charles only want her to him, but does not actually respect or care about her as person. This destroy Charles because all he all he wants is for someone to love him back, but Charles only knows things or even people can be bought over to be add to his “collection” so he can be seen as some big shot that is liked by everyone to prove how great Charles Foster Kane is. Jay Gatsby is similar situation because he wants his ex-girlfriend, Daisy, to love him again, and tries to do some by having big elaborate parties, hoping that one day she would show up to one. But in Gatsby case, he truly does love Daisy and would sacrifice anything and everything he has to be with her again. This differs the two because Gatsby does not care about his wealth or image, but just Daisy and reconnecting with her. While Charles, only cares about his wealth and image, but not care specifically who loves him, just that he is loved. In the end, Charles died alone in Xanadu with his all his meaningless trinkets, statues, and other objects he bought, while having pushed everyone he tried to make love him away because of his greed and self-centeredness, try and prove himself as a great man.
ReplyDeleteJay Gatsby and Charles Foster Kane have many similarities in their depictions. They are both portrayed as characters living some sort of dream of fame and fortune, yet also as twisted personalities. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby’s romantic pursuit of Daisy Buchanan is very obsessive and unrealistic, showing how Gatsby’s larger than life personality and lifestyle has made him lose touch with reality. Kane seems similarly at a loss for what real life is like, as he pushes Susan to extreme measures to become a star with little regard for her personal well being. Kane also seems to be losing his sanity towards the film, as especially highlighted when Susan leaves and Kane proceeds to destroy everything in her room. Both of these characters are initially portrayed to be living glorious and enviable lives, but the cracks and flaws begin to show in both as their stories progress. In this way, they both serve to show that there is definitely some form of shallow glory in their lives, but that otherwise living such a wealthy and high profile life is not nearly as pleasant as many make it out to be. Another shared character trait between both characters is that the reader/viewer never really understands how the character is actually feeling. In both stories, Kane and Gatsby never have any part of the narrative given from their perspective - in Gatsby’s case, it is entirely from Nick’s perspective, and in Kane’s case, it is from the perspective of several of the people who observed him in his life. This form of storytelling causes the reader to never fully know if they are getting the entire picture of the character - is there more humanity inside that isn’t perceived, or are they even more twisted than they appear? Overall, these characters are very similar because of their lifestyles and personas.
ReplyDeleteBoth Orson Welles and F. Scott Fitzgerald created similar stories that circulated around the theme of two men who tried to fill up the hole in their heart by immersing themselves in the typical “American dream” culture of wealth and fame. In Charles Kane’s instance, the hole in his heart was caused by the lack of love he received as a child; Jay Gatsby’s hole was caused by the love he wanted to obtain, but never could. More specifically, Charles Kane was given away by his parents at a young age. The feeling of abandonment and lack of love/connection with his new caregivers as a child carried over to adulthood. As Charles began to develop and mature, he tried to cover up those feelings/holes by obsessing over the “American dream”: wealth and fame. By taking ownership of a newspaper company, buying great big mansions and running for governor, Charles lost himself while trying to distance himself from the hole in his heart. In the end, Charles’ attempt to fill his soul led to his demise where he lost everything. In fact, it could be inferred that Kane’s multitude of earthly possessions actually made the hole bigger, and served only to remind him of it. The only thing that actually made him feel comforted was a distant memory of his childhood which reminded him of the time when he still lived with his parents. Rosebud. Thus, Charles got caught into a vicious cycle of trying to run away from the hole, only to make it bigger.
ReplyDeleteIn a sense, Jay Gatsby did the exact same thing that Charles Kane did. Gatsby had a hole in his heart because he could not attain the love of the woman he wanted. Thus, he immersed himself in riches and fame in order to gain the approval and attention of the woman he wanted. This ambition led to his own demise, just like Charles Kane, where Gatsby ended up losing everything he had. Both stories depict the tragedy of two men, trying to escape their problems, only to make them worse.
The Great Gatsby and Citizen Kane both are stories based around a rich man and love. Both Jay and Charles live in luxurious houses, but had different stories on how they obtained their wealth. Both characters didn’t grow up rich, but neither were dirt poor. Charles enjoyed his life while Jay wanted to be rich. Jay wanted to find a wealthy man to take him under his wing while the opposite happened to Charles. Charles had a happy childhood until his parents gave him up to a wealth man. A similarity in both stories is that they had to leave their parents in order to obtain their wealth. Charles was given away without consent, and Jay worked a near yachts in hope that one of the owners would raise him. Both characters are portrayed as mysterious due to the isolation of their residencies. Whenever the camera is on Charles. It is aiming up on him to show his importance. In the novel, the scene where Jay is first brought to page, Nick talks about walking up stairs in order to find Jay giving his character a feeling of being on top. I would say both of these stories are both celebrations and critiques of these men. Both stories do a good job of telling the viewer what multiple characters think about Jay and Kane. Each fictions have characters that show the negatives and positives of both characters. Lastly, both stories portray the American dream because they show people making the most of their opportunities in terms of obtaining wealth. Jack Spiegle
ReplyDeleteChloe Katz
ReplyDeleteThere are many parallels between Charles Kane and Jay Gatsby, as depicted by critiques of their lust for power and wealth, their facade of wanting love and their never ending quest for satisfaction. Throughout Citizen Kane, Charles Kane gains more and more power throughout society, however every time he gains power, he simply craves more. This struggle climaxed when Kane lost the election for governor due to the scandal of cheating with his first wife. The scandal was the first time he was not viewed favorably in the public eye, and because of this, he lost hope and was visibly despondent. These actions parallel Gatsby’s desire to prove his wealth and success by hosting massive parties at his house, and his cool, collected mannerisms with his guests. Both characters want to simply be admired, as they attempt to present a one-sided character to everyone in their lives of success and happiness, although they are both longing for something unattainable. Both of their sources for their endless pursuit of contentment stem from their inability to love and form connections. For Kane, this was seen through the lense of his abusive relationship with his second wife, where he was desperate to prove her stardom to the world as their relationship deteriorated. Gatsby’s facade of finding love was portrayed through his romance with Daisy, and that even after they reconnected he only wanted to prove his status to her- boasting about his parties and flashing his shirt collection- and was never satisfied with just her love. Both stories, The Great Gatsby and Citizen Kane delve into their main characters to portray a facade of happiness that covers their insecurities and unattainable desires that stem from their inability to find love.
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ReplyDeleteJay Gatsby and Charles Foster Kane are similar in their quests for love, their goals, riches, and downfalls. There are obviously differences woven in their stories, but a lot of key similarities, as highlighted above, can be seen and paralleled. Jay Gatsby longs for Daisy even though she is married, and despite their clear connection, he cannot attain her. Similar to Charles Foster Kane, even though attaining his (second) love, Susan Alexander, can't seem to keep her in the end. This is also foreshadowed by his failure with his first marriage in the eyes of love, as he is caught having an affair. Both had goals to succeed, and became extremely rich, to the point where they do excessive things with their money. They both use their riches to try and impress or maintain the happiness of their love interest. Gatsby, fueling his climb to success and riches all to be able to impress and obtain Daisy, and Kane, using his money to make Susan's dream come true to be an opera singer and keep her appearing in headlines. They both make these efforts so that they can have love, but nevertheless, even if their efforts temporarily succeed, leave them with nothing in the end. They both lose their love and their life. Both of these figures are successful and rich, but struggle with being lonely. They both use their money for love, but in ways that differ. Kane's way is using his money to make Susan happy, and more importantly, to keep her around and keep her loving him, so he does not have to feel lonely. She says before she leaves him that he only cares about himself, and that none of his efforts were really out of love for her. With Gatsby, he uses his money for himself to then have the mere opportunity to fall in love with Daisy. They originally couldn't be together because Gatsby went to war, but he was also poor. He ends up living in a mansion (right across the bay from Daisy, clear in his efforts) and becomes extremely wealthy, which successfully catches the eye and interest of Daisy. Daisy ends up In the middle of things and Gatsby ends up being blamed for Myrtle's death and killed for it, so the two never have the chance to truly reunite. They have differing approaches and motivations throughout their quests, but in the end they both end up failing (and dying). There are strong similarities between Kane and Gatsby, but their own differences tell unique stories.
ReplyDeleteCharles Kane and Jay Gatsby have many similarities originating from their misbelief that they could use their wealth to control love and that with wealth, proper values are not needed. Gatsby hopes to win over the love of his life, Daisy. It is his most important pursuit, and he feels heartbroken without her. He uses his wealth to throw over-the-top parties, hoping she will come and be impressed. He tries to woo her with his mansion, and she is amazed by all of his clothes. Similarly, Kane strives to impress everyone and buys a newspaper to impact public opinion. Kane does not want any negative public perception about himself, and he tries to force Susan into opera singing. When critics write truthfully about her imperfections, Kane gets upset, even firing his own best friend. While Gatsby tries to win over Daisy, he does not worry about who he affects, such as when his car hits Myrtle, and he drives away. Gatsby also inserts himself into Daisy and Tom’s relationship even though they are married. Kane’s actions are selfish, as he only does something for his own benefit. An example of his selfishness is when his wife, Susan, tries to leave him, and he says, “you can’t do this to me.” This quote shows how instead of saying, “please don’t do this” he makes it about himself and how she is hurting him, even though Susan leaves Kane because of how he has hurt her. The creators of these characters criticize the American Dream because the goal is to gain wealth, which is what Gatsby and Kane have done, however, they are no longer happy. Gatsby and Kane have many similarities using their wealth to control love and lack proper values. Their stories challenge the American Dream for being focused on wealth and not happiness, and they cause the audience to ponder the question, is it their wealth alone, or wealth plus improper values that contribute to their unhappiness?
ReplyDeleteBoth Citizen Kane and The Great Gatsby highlight how wealth does not always lead to true happiness. The American Dream is often related to having the opportunity to find happiness. Whether it is success through a job, marriage, or owning a nice home with a family and a dog, everyone has their own idea of the American Dream. Kane and Gatsby find themselves searching to fulfill their American Dream of wanting to be loved by spending money. Both have all materialistic things any man could ever want, but they are both missing the feeling of love. They try to fill this void by buying various things; Gatsby buys a house to be close to his love Daisy, and Kane frequently spends money on Susan trying to make her love him more. Just because they have the money to spend on materialistic things, however, does not mean they are guaranteed to be loved. Gatsby eventually realizes that he can not be with Daisy because of Tom, and Kane finds it hard to truly love Susan because of his rough childhood. Kane had loved his mother, but she never showed the same love back. This neglect was very hard on a young Charles making it difficult for him to truly commit to love again. It's quite ironic how the last time Kane was happy, in his childhood, he had his least amount of money. This is shown throughout the film with the references to rosebud his sled, and the snow globe where it seems as if time is frozen. This was a simpler time for Kane that he realizes he can't get back. With Gatsby, the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is a constant reminder of how close he is to fulfilling his dream of getting Daisy back, yet he never actually attains it. Both novels use such symbols to further the point that Gatsby and Kane will always be searching for ultimate happiness. While Gatsby and Kane are clearly respected and regarded as successful by many, the end of their lives is tragic, as they die alone without the love they so desperately desired.
ReplyDeleteJay Gatsby and Charles Foster Kane are both rich white men who find financial success, and although their stories line up in areas, Gatsby's story paints him in a much fairer light, showing how Gatsby was more favored in the public eye, and depicts the double-edged sword of the American Dream. Both of their stories are both told from outside perspectives, which add to their mystery and general aura of confusion. These similarities seem to end here, as Gatsby is praised and adored by Nick Carroway, his narrator, yet Kane is critiqued and often negatively remembered by his many narrators. The way that the men are painted in differing lights by their narrators shows how, although their narrators could be biased, they were seen, and more importantly remembered, differently. Kane wanted to be loved by everyone. He ran for governor, married for love, and spent so much of his time and energy pining for the love from others. Kane’s story is told so the audience can understand why he did what he did. Although he was shown in a positive light at time, it also showed his pettiness and anger toward Susan Alexander Kane, as he yells at her when she expresses her displeasure with performing. He stands by, watching her suffer, and when she leaves, he is the villain of the story. Gatsby is less of the villain in his story, painted more as a shady, mysterious man, who is the pinnacle of success to Nick. The narration of each story dictates how the men are remembered. For both being strong, wealthy white men, Kane’s story is much more sad, much more tragic, and much more negative. Although Kane and Gatsby are dead at the end of their stories, their deaths mean different things. Gatsby’s death was “too soon” when he was supposed to be in his prime. Kane died long after he peaked, and he got to life a long and fruitful life. So who achieved the “American Dream”? They both achieved wealth, and power, but remembrance is more important than either. If Gatsby was remembered more positively than Kane, then clearly his impact was greater, and he achieved what Kane wanted: to be loved. This juxtaposition of ideas clearly shows how the American Dream can mean different things to different people.
ReplyDeleteI think that the works of Citizen Kane and The Great Gatsby, aren’t necessarily critiques of the men themselves, but the society that created them, and what they represent. In both cases the two men have two separate sides, just like the houses they live in, an outside exterior or façade, and the interior which represents the true emptiness of their lives. The two men both try to represent on the outside, the epitome of a “successful man” with their perfectly manicured lives. The problem that this society and class ideology created was that neither of these men knew how to give everything to someone, or how to seek true happiness. To this societal standard, being “successful” meant to be wealthy, not to be happy. Charles Foster Kane’s story is centered around finding the significance of the word “rosebud” to his life, but its significance is that it represented a time in which he was truly happy. I think this defines his relationship with his wealth well, essentially it took away his happiness in the long run. Kane had moments where he was relatively happy, but he never learned how to make others happy without using his wealth, and those are the true gifts. In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby uses his material wealth to try to win the hand of married Daisy Buchanan, but in the end the things he gave her had no actual value, because they weren’t things that cost him anything of importance or sacrifice. This highlights Gatsby’s failure to understand others and how to make them happy, just like Kane when he moves with Susan to Xanadu, or when things fall apart with his first wife. One of the problems that society has ingrained in their personalities is the values of capitalism. It represents the idea that money and material wealth are the most important things to happiness. Both of these stories represent that you can’t buy wealth, and then it follows a story that shows what happens when you try. The result of this capitalism ideology is that the main characters lead empty, meaningless, consumer-driven lives, which isn’t a fault of the men themselves, but the society that formed their façades.
ReplyDeleteThere are many similarities between Charles Foster Kane and Jay Gatsby, who are both portrayed as successful men that are unhappy. Kane inherited his money and made more through the newspaper, while Gatsby dealt in underhanded, illegal sales. This is an important difference because their differences should change how people view them, but everyone thinks Kane is a bad person, while Gatsby is not revealed to be anything but normal until the very end. The differences between the two peoples’ characters show how they are perceived. Kane was not very liked throughout his life because of his selfishness and desire to be seen as the best. On the other, people seemingly loved Gatsby because they all attended his parties and had fun. However, it turned out they were using him and did not care for Gatsby, so they did not come to his funeral. The way other people react to Kane and Gatsby’s life and death is an important commentary on a certain type of people. In terms of Kane, the film teaches the viewer how money cannot buy you love, friendship, or happiness. The story of Charles Foster Kane portrays this fact beautifully through how everyone views Kane postmortem. In addition, Gatsby is unhappy because he wants Daisy’s love. However, his means for winning Daisy back teach the audience exactly how money cannot win most people over and tunnel vision, like Gatsby had for Daisy, can have dangerous consequences. Although Kane and Gatsby both have wealth and power, two of the main traits every person wants, they are clearly miserable in their own lives. This fact of the two men’s emotional state throughout all of their respective stories shows how each story is intended as a critique of their lifestyles.
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