The Great Gatsby vs. Iron Man

The Great Gatsby vs. Iron Man: Shouldering the Burden of Another’s Demise

In the realm of both literature and film, the theme of sacrifice is portrayed through empathetic characters who captivate audiences due to their sacrifices, especially those who take the blame for someone else’s wrongdoings, namely death. These characters are present in both the novel “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald and a superhero of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jay Gatsby, the charming millionaire from the 1920s, and Tony Stark, the genius that handles the avengers. Despite living in two different eras, both characters bear the weight of another’s demise even though they are not responsible. 

Jay Gatsby

Jay Gatsby is the embodiment of “the American Dream.” He is an iconic character because of his wealth and the reason behind attaining it; his love for Daisy. The moment that highlights his selflessness is when Daisy, driving Gatsby’s car, accidentally hits and kills Myrtle Wilson. Due to his undying love for Daisy, Gatsby takes the blame upon himself to protect Daisy from the consequences of her own actions. The author uses the theme of sacrifice to how unrealistic the American Dream is. Gatsby goes to great lengths to gain wealth for Daisy, deceptively, in an attempt to achieve the American Dream by being both rich and having a wife that he loves but ended up leading to a tragic fate.

Tony Stark

Tony Stark is one of the most well-known superheroes in modern times. In contrast to Gatsby, Stark undergoes character development as he eventually sacrifices himself because he felt a sense of guilt for his actions. He began as a self-centered genius and turned into an empathetic hero due to the circumstances around him. Initially, he only gains motivation from personal gain and success and cares little about the world around him. Though, when his creation of Ultron leads to the loss of the lives of many, he feels responsible for fixing this despite not being directly responsible. He starts holding himself accountable for much of the damage caused by the Avengers. Stark ends up making the ultimate sacrifice in “Avengers: Endgame,” where he puts his life on the line from the greater good. His evolution to a hero can be shown as a positive display of responsibility, though it also shows the negative aspects of it. An excessive sense of guilt and the need to make compromises led to him sacrificing himself in the end which isn’t necessarily the best solution. 

In both cases, extreme sacrifice, though portrayed heroically, led to negative consequences. It takes a toll on the well-being of both characters and eventually led to them both passing. Sacrifice may seem like the noble option, but it’s essential to draw a limit to it. Culture has repeatedly romanticized taking blame for others’ wrongdoings in both literature and film for many decades. But, there are more balanced ways to address responsibility. Always being the “good” character and taking the weight off of other’s shoulders leads to them taking this act for granted. Being selfish to an extent is beneficial as you need to both care for yourself, and let others learn their own lessons through the course of life.