Parallelism in the Great Gatsby

[Nlangdon27]

I have to do a presentation on the Great Gatsby. It will a comparison between the movie and the book over a certain technique; in my case, it will be the parallel of Gatsby and Daisy (as a couple) and Tom and Myrtle (as a couple). I've been thinking about this and attempting to wrap my head around it and it's a bit difficult. Could I focus on one specific aspect that is similar or different between the two couples then compare how the book handles it and how the movie handles it? Any other ideas? Thanks!

[Charliepants]

You could focus on how adultery is portrayed, both in the relationship between Tom and Myrtle and the one between Gatsby and Daisy. The fact that Tom cheats on Daisy with Myrtle is seen as something dirty and immoral, however Daisy's love for Gatsby is justified by the fact that they used to be together before. I don't know, might be worth looking into. Good luck!

[Utah IB Student]

I would agree with "Charliepants." Look at the portrayal of adultery as well as the unhappiness in the marriages (Myrtle-George, Tom-Daisy). One reason that Gatsby and Daisy's love for each other seems to be less immoral is that Tom Buchanan is arrogant and a bully. Gatsby, though he didn't make his money through legal means, we never see that side of him.

[MARemon]

I might suggest a focus on why Fitzgerald killed off Myrtle and why Daisy leaves Gatsby and doesn't attend his funeral. (Why did the opposite half of the couple have to die for both?)