comparative

• How do both stories begin?

  Othello and Gatsby are both 'innocent' characters who are outsiders in society regardless of how successful they have been.
• How do the women influence Gatsby and Othello's lifestyle?

  After marrying Desdemona, Othello reaches a pinnacle point in his respectability. His skin colour is overlooked as much as it can. Gatsby creates the wealthy lifestyle to impress Daisy and have her want to be with him so they can live the lifestyle he dreams of living with her
• What do Shakespeare and Fitzgerald want to show with the protagonists?

  Both protagonists create the chaotic events around them through letting themselves be manipulated, they want the reader to understand that multiple characters can be to blame for the outcome.
• Appearance vs. Reality in Othello and The Great Gatsby

  Iago shows the theme of appearance vs reality due to his appearance being the belief of him being "honest" ultimately resulting in the successful manipulation of Othello which is the reality

  Gatsby has a false perception of Daisy being the "green light" which will lead him to the lifestyle he desires, however Daisy doesn't meet up to Gatsby's expectations and isn't who he has thought her up to be.
• Jay Gatsby and Dishonesty


  Gatsby himself created a new persona and lies to others about his heritage to obtain his alleged "high class" lifestyle.

  At Gatsby's parties, he has nearly everyone in West and East egg attend, yet after his death it revealed he didn't have genuine friends like it was perceived, just people who used him for his hospitality.
• Connections between Gatsby and Othello


  The Great Gatsby's main theme in the story is Gatsby's perception of Daisy's mood perfection yet she cannot live up to these expectations.

  In Othello, Iago is extremely clever and deceitful which causes him to distort reality for other individuals that is later revealed to be false.

  Both Othello and Gatsby are blinded by false realities and do not realise there is an alternative truth when coming to terms with the truth, it is too late and ends in failure (death)
• Jealousy in Othello and Great Gatsby

  In Othello the theme of jealousy is Othello's belief of Desdemona's infidelity which causes Othello to kill Desdemona to get revenge and Iago's jealousy consists of his Cassio being appointed Lieutenant

  In the Great Gatsby, George Wilson gets jealous due to the realisation that his wife Myrtle is cheating with who he believes is Gatsby causing Wilson to kill Gatsby to get revenge.

  Both Wilson and Othello murdered individuals they thought was involved in infidelity with their significant other and then killed them selves
• Women in Othello and The Great Gatsby

  the female characters in both texts are defined mostly by their relationships with men, meaning that they are defined first and foremost as wives to husbands or mistresses to adulterers. Women are also, in both texts, ultimately subservient to and victims of men.
• Deception


  Gatsby deceives everyone in the east and west egg by making them believe he is a wealthy man from old money, he creates false perceptions of himself to make himself fit into the society he desires. Iago deceives Othello and Rodrigo by making them believe he has their best interests in heart, Iago gains the trust of individuals in order to manipulate them to get what he wants and to get revenge.