F. Scott Fitzgerald created a very complex rich and relatable character when he gave life to Jay Gatsby and, in doing so, has left us with a character that continues to reach and relate to millions of Americans to this day. Throughout the novel, readers are intimately invited into the home and life of Gatsby. We see a man who starts his life poor and ends it, in a monetary sense, rich beyond belief. Gatsby worked hard throughout his life to become successful but got caught up in the past and was ultimately unable to achieve happiness.
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http://theweek.com/article/index/238117/watch-the-hyperactive-new-trailer-fornbspthe-great-gatsby
Cue in Leonardo DiCaprio. When the new film version of The Great Gatsby was released many believed picking DiCaprio was a good fit for the role of Gatsby because of his accomplished acting past and similar physical features to Gatsby, but upon further examination DiCaprio has much more in common with Gatsby than meets the eye. DiCaprio is currently worth close to 200 million dollars and that is comparable to the level of wealth that Gatsby was on in his time period. Both men are in their thirties and through that time period in their respective lives, neither man was ever married.
Digging further back, readers are given information that in The Great Gatsby, Gatsby came from a simple and humble beginning with a father that cared a great deal for him, but was unable to provide the best childhood for him. Similarly, DiCaprio’s parents were divorced when he was one year old and DiCaprio was raised in what can be considered a poor family. Both men were able to harness their skills and attain financial success.
Despite the success of both men, Gatsby let his passions get the best of him and put every dollar possible into trying to make them come true. Unfortunately one of the biggest lessons we learn from Gatsby’s life is that money can’t buy time, and time is the most valuable currency possible. Although DiCaprio is still relatively young, it would appear that he is still missing something in his personal life. But hopefully he’ll learn from the many lessons The Great Gatsby presented and learn to find fulfillment in his life because if there’s anything we have learned from this novel, money and power can’t buy true happiness.
– Stephen W.
Sources
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/may/02/entertainment/la-et-mg-leonardo-dicaprio-marriage-great-
gatsby-20130502
http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/leonardo-dicaprio.html
American Lit 309 Fall 13 
Stephen,
I really like that you choose to write about Leo DiCaprio’s Gatsby versus Gatsby in the novel. I have never done research on DiCaprio’s life, so it is interesting to me that he had a similar upbringing to Gatsby. It makes me wonder if the directors of the film chose DiCaprio partly because of this? It would be sure to help him in his role if he could partially identify with the life of the character, especially when playing as difficult of a role as Jay Gatsby.