The Great Gatsby is so far-fetched that it is more like a fairy-tale than a Realist Novel. With reference to appropriately selected parts of the novel, and relevant external contextual information on the nature of fairy tale and the Realist Novel, give your response to the above view.

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The Great Gatsby is so far-fetched that it is more like a fairy-tale than a Realist Novel. With reference to appropriately selected parts of the novel, and relevant external contextual information on the nature of fairy tale and the Realist Novel, give your response to the above view.

Many critics claim that The Great Gatsby is so far-fetched that it is more like a fairy-tale than a Realist Novel. I would agree with this judgement, because the narrative is too exaggerated with regards to both characters and settings to be called a realist novel. A fairy tale can be defined as a traditional, simple, formulaic, orally transmitted tale which is childlike in its nature and appeal. On the other hand, a realist novel is defined as an approach that attempts to describe life without idealisation or romantic subjectivity. The two genres are diametrically opposed. In examining how The Great Gatsby is like a fairy tale, a good place to start is considering the romance between Gatsby and Daisy.

The critic Robert Emmet Long believed that Gatsby is a fairy-tale hero for the middle class, and he used the romance in The Great Gatsby to prove his point. Fairy tales usually have a romance element, and The Great Gatsby is no exception. There is nobility in a "prince's" (Gatsby's) efforts to win over a "princess" (Daisy). For example, Gatsby's mansion is compared to a palace or castle, which is customary of fairy-tales: “it was a factual imitation of some Hotel de Ville in Normandy, with a tower on one side, spanking new under a thin beard of raw ivy.” Even Gatsby’s house is far-fetched, so therefore The Great Gatsby is so far-fetched that it is more like a fairy-tale than a Realist Novel.

Fairy tale romance usually depicts two star crossed lovers who are separated by class or geographical distance, such as Cinderella who was separated from the Prince because of her poverty. Gatsby’s fairy-tale like desire for Daisy is exhibited by his fascination with the green light: "You always have a green light that burns all night at the end of your dock." Gatsby, just like Cinderella, is too poor for Daisy but he amasses a fortune in order to gain her love. He may not have a fairy godmother, but his ability to become so wealthy so quickly could be miraculous in itself. This is the fairy-tale equivalent of a peasant becoming prince to win his princess. This is a bit far-fetched and extreme, proving that The Great Gatsby is so far-fetched that it is more like a fairy-tale than a Realist Novel.

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Further support for this proposition can be found when we consider that The Great Gatsby has the fairy tale trait of presenting a battle of good vs. evil. In fairy-tales, there is a seemingly perfect character (Gatsby) that combats an evil character (Tom). This is similar to the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. For example, in their story Snow White the princess escapes the clutches of the evil stepmother and is saved by the prince. Tom represents evil: he cheats on Daisy and turns Gatsby in, getting him killed. There is evidence in the text that he abuses Daisy: ...

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