The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a novel by the American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. First published on April 10, 1925, it is set in Long Island's North Shore and New York City during the summer of 1922.

The novel chronicles an era that Fitzgerald himself dubbed the "Jazz Age." Following the shock and chaos of World War I, American society enjoyed unprecedented levels of prosperity during the "roaring" 1920s as the economy soared. At the same time, Prohibition, the ban on the sale and manufacture of alcohol as mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment, made millionaires out of bootleggers and led to an increase in organized crime. Although Fitzgerald, like Nick Carraway in his novel, idolized the riches and glamor of the age, he was uncomfortable with the unrestrained materialism and the lack of morality that went with it.

Reception
The book The Great Gatsby originally was far less successful then F. Scott Fitzgerald’s other books such as This Side of Paradise and The Beautiful and the Damned. However 35 years later The Great Gatsby became extremely popular and no longer being the failure F. Scott Fitzgerald considered it to be before his death. The reason behind the unpopularity during the books release was because at the time and even now advertisements for books are far rarer then advertisements for Television or Movies. Therefore the majority of the advertising used for a novel is word of mouth. The Great Gatsby had a similar viewpoint, writing style, and over plot point as his other novels, because of this the current generation considered it the same old same old and the book became mostly forgotten. During World War II however the government began a program known as Armed Services Editions. Armed Services Editions were books given to soldiers on duty in World War II; The Great Gatsby was one of the books to receive and Armed Services Edition. With the Armed Services Editions a new generation was able to read and enjoy The Great Gatsby. Through further word of mouth this book received a huge fan base 35 years after its release, soaring to become considered by many reviewers one of the Top 100 books of all time.

Opera Reception
The Opera created for The Great Gatsby in 1999 was creating receiving a very positive reception. Many reviewers praised the organized structure of dramatic parallels and musical interconnections. Alex Ross from The New Yorker says “[the opera] in purely musical terms, [is] a considerable achievement”. Justin Davidson from Newsday told the public “I find the music continually rewarding... The extended ensemble scenes are intricate and richly textured.” I feel The Great Gatsby is a very good candidate for a contemporary opera as it has everything a good opera needs, for example: There is a love interest, betrayal, portrayal, anger, self-reflection, and death. In addition I feel The Great Gatsby would have a good connection to the 20’s music which will keep the audience interested in the story and the music while both would be perfectly interrelating.

Script -- Project by Ethan Kelly
INTERIOR - FANCY HOTEL – DAY Daisy, Tom, Gatsby, Nick, Jordon are in a fancy hotel room. It's very hot outside and they have got the room to try to cool down, but the mood is very awkward. Jordan and Nick sit on the sofa at either end, with Daisy between them. Gatsby and Tom are sitting in chairs, facing each other , at either side of the sofa. They are arguing in the hotel room. GATSBY But both Daisy and I have loved each other all this time, Old Sport, but you didn't know about it. TOM (Tom taps his fingers together then leans back in this chair) Oh, that's all (Tom pauses, then explodes and stands up) You're Crazy! I can't speak about what happened five year ago because that was before I met Daisy and I'll be damned if I see how you got within a mile of her unless you brought the groceries to the back door. But all the rest of that is a god dam lie. Daisy loved me when she married me and she loves me now. GATSBY (shaking his head, calmly saying) No TOM She does, though. The trouble is that sometimes she gets foolish ideas in her head and she doesn't know what she's doing. And what's more is, I love Daisy too. Once in a while I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back and in my heart I always love her. DAISY You're revolting! (then turns to Nick) Do you know why we left Chicago? I'm surprised that they didn't treat you to the story of that little spree. (Gatsby walks over and stands beside Daisy) TOM Daisy that's all over now. (he says earnestly) That's all over now. GATSBY (urgently) Just tell him the truth that you never loved him and it will be all wiped out forever DAISY (uncertainly) Why-how could I love him-possibly?? GATSY (repeats himself, emphasizing his words ) You never loved him Daisy looks to Jordan as if wanting her help, realizing it was too late to stop what was happening. DAISY (reluctantly) I never loved him. TOM (demandingly and confidently) Not at Kapiolani? DAISY (quietly) No TOM Not that day I carried you down from the Punch Bowl to keep your shoes dry? (a pause, then tender but gruff like Tom) Daisy? DAISY (coldly) Please don't. Then she looks to Gatsby. DAISY There Jay. She tries to light a cigarette. She is trembling. She throws the cigarette and the match on the carpet. DAISY (she cries) Oh you want too much. I love you know, isn't that enough? I can't help what's past. DAISY (sobbing helplessly) I loved him once but I loved you too. Gatsby opens and closes his eyes. He can't believe what he just heard. GATSBY You loved me too? TOM (fiercely,aggressively) Even that's a lie. She didn't know you were alive. Why- there's things between me and Daisy that you'll never know. Things neither of us will ever forget. Gatsby seems hurt, wounded like an animal bit him. He starts to panic a bit. GATSBY (insists) I'd like to speak to Daisy alone. She's all exited now …. DAISY (pitifully) Even alone I can't say I never loved Tom. It wouldn't be true. TOM (proudly) Of course it wouldn't Daisy looks to Tom. DAISY As if it mattered to you TOM Of course it matters. I'm going to take better care of you now. GATSBY (panicking) You don't understand. You're not taking care of her anymore. TOM I'm not? (then he laughs) Why is that? GATSBY She's leaving you. TOM Nonsense DAISY (it's hard for her to say) I am though. TOM (with certainty) She's not leaving me! Tom leans in over Gatsby. TOM Certainly not for a common swindler who'd have to steal the ring to put on her finger. DAISY (cries) I won't stand for this, oh please, let's get out. TOM (loudly) Who are you anyhow? You're one of that bunch that hangs around with Meyer Wolfsheim. That much I happen to know. I've made a little investigation into your affairs and I'll carry it further tomorrow. GATSY (steadily) You can suit yourself about that ,Old Sport TOM (quickly) I found out what your drugstores were. He and this Wolfsheim bought up a bunch of side street drugstores here and in Chicago. And sold grain alcohol over the counter. That's one his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him and I wasn't far wrong. GATSBY (politely) What about it? I guess your friend Walter Chase wasn't too proud to come in on it. TOM And you left him in the lurch didn't you. You let him go to jail for a month over in New Jersey. God, you ought to hear Walter on the subject of you. GATSBY He came to us dead broke. He was very glad to pick up some money, Old Sport. TOM (loudly) Don't call me Old Sport! Walter could have you up on the betting, but Wolfsheim scared him into shutting his mouth. Gatsby doesn't say anything. He seems kind of scared. TOM The drugstore business was just small change, but you've got something on now that Walter's afraid to tell me about. Daisy is terrified between Gatsby and Tom. There was an evil look on Gatsby's face. Then it vanished. Then Gatsby tries to deny everything that Tom said to Daisy. GATSBY I was in the drugstore business, but the thing about Walter isn't true. I don't know anything about what business Walter is in. Daisy draws further and further into herself. Gatsby is giving up. Gatsby realizes that he has lost his dream. Daisy look lost. DAISY (begs) I want to go. Please Tom, I can't stand this anymore. Daisy is feeling frightened and scared and has lost all her courage. TOM (commands Daisy) You two start on home Daisy, in Mr. Gatsby's car. Daisy looks at Tom TOM (arrogantly) Go on Daisy, he won't annoy you. I think he realizes this presumptuous little flirtation is over. Daisy and Gatsby left leave very quickly without a word. By Ethan