Julia Sicard

January 5, 2017
History and Lit. Through Film
Historical Film Analysis of The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby is a film that tells the summer story surrounding a group of people
living in Long Island during the year 1922. Nick Carraway, the narrator, tells the story through
his writings. He tells the tale of his rich neighbor, Jay Gatsby, and Gatsbys love for his cousin,
Daisy Buchanan. Through Daisy and Gatsby, Nick meets various other characters, such as Meyer
Wolfsheim and Jordan Baker. The film takes place during the Roaring Twenties, a time of
economic prosperity, the growing independence of women, new optimistic and risky attitudes,
and corruption. The Great Gatsby includes various characters, scenes, and acts of
cinematography that portray how the historical and social occurrences of the time influenced the
film.
In the very beginning of the movie, there is an expository scene where Nick talks about
the booming stock market at the time. The United States economy was extremely prosperous in
the years following World War I, and many hopeful men such as Nick Carraway traveled to Wall
Street in hopes of utilizing the growing market. Nick arrives in New York and there is a scene
that shows him scuffling into a building alongside hundreds of other men. The shot starts at an
extreme high angle, subconsciously suggesting the unnatural boost in the stock market. The shot
shifts into normal high angle shot so the viewer is able to see the great number of people just like
Nick. The angle implies that Nick is weak and vulnerable among the crowd of hopefuls. During
this time period, many people tried to take advantage of the nations prosperity. After the war, the
United States used their supply of natural resources to mass produce goods. With the new use of

credit, supply and and demand for these goods skyrocketed (What Were the Causes). As a result,
the market was growing at an extreme rate. Nick exemplifies the many hopefuls during this time
period by traveling to New York all the way from the Midwest in order to try his luck on Wall
Street.
While some people like Nick attempted to make money through Wall Street, the film
includes some of the ways that others struck it rich illegally. The sale, manufacture, and
transportation of alcohol was banned when the 18th Amendment was ratified in 1919
(History.com). This opened the door to a range of criminal activities such as bootlegging, which
Gatsby was involved in. Smuggling, money laundering, and bribery were common criminal
activities during this time (History.com). The main character that represents illegal activity is
Meyer Wolfsheim, who Nick meets one afternoon while going out to lunch with Gatsby. The pair
go to a barber shop where Nick is introduced to Wolfsheim, who instantly portrayed as a
suspicious character through the way the light hits him. The light comes from the bottom of his
face, giving him an eerie glow. This subtle lighting trick follows Wolfsheim and is especially
effective during the numerous extreme close up shots on him during the lunch. There is a close
up shot of Nicks face when he first shakes Wolfsheims hand, and his expression is
uncomfortable. After Gatsby and Wolfsheim open the door into the restaurant, Nick follows them
into the dark, which symbolizes the shady activities that happened behind closed doors during
this time period. Criminal activity was just one of the many radical changes that developed in the
United States during the Roaring Twenties.
The Great Gatsby also portrayed the newfound independence and power that women of
the Roaring Twenties developed. In 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment gave women the right to
vote, and as a result, a new woman was born (Benner). She was modern and independent; she

represented freedom. Jordan Bakers athleticism and independent attitude represents the strong
and evolving role of women during the time after the war. She is a professional golfer, which in a
previous decade, would have been unheard of. Yet, in the 1920s, Jordan Baker is openly
successful and athletic, and even intimidates Nick a little. In the scene where Nick first meets
Daisy and her friend Jordan Baker, the viewers can clearly see the unique style that women from
the 1920s had, specifically the short bob haircuts that both ladies have. The first view of Daisy is
an extreme close up short shot that shows off her haircut and makeup that suits the time period.
The Great Gatsby does an excellent job portraying the attitudes and styles of women during the
1920s.
Through certain cinematography techniques, characters, and scenes, The Great Gatsby
accurately depicts the story of a young man and his friends during the Roaring Twenties with the
accurate representation of historical and social times during the Roaring Twenties. The film
appeals to a variety of viewers for its drama, mystery, romance, and historical aspects. Various
camera and lighting tricks are used to portray hope, vulnerability, and suspicion. The attitudes
and appearances of the characters are also used to accurately show the historical time period and
context of the film.

Works Cited
Benner, Louise. "Women in the 1920s." NCpedia. State Library of North Carolina, n.d. Web. 11
Jan. 2017.
History.com Staff. "Mafia in the United States." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009.
Web. 11 Jan. 2017.
"What Were the Causes of the Economic Boom?" BBC News. BBC, 2014. Web. 11 Jan. 2017.