The Great Gatsby And The Taming Of The Shrew

Both Shakespeare and Fitzgerald make clear their theme of appearance versus reality when the unfortunate outcome of both these characters is revealed in the end. Shakespeare's Lucentio is able to win Bianca only to find out that she was not as fair and virtuous as he had thought she was. Similarily, Fitzgerald's Gatsby spends his entire life perfecting the image of Daisy from what he knew of her, failing to realize her real qualities as a person. Gatsby is unable to achieve Daisy with a painful realization at the end that she had moved on with her life, and was actually in love with Tom. This is clear when Daisy states "I love tom too." and Gatsby appears confused, almost crushed by the words. Lucentio spends his time trying to achieve Bianca only to find out at the end that she was the real shrew all along. This becomes evident when the Petruchio, Hortensio, and Lucentio place a bet on their wives and their level of obedience, Bianca's witty remark of "the more you a fool for laying on my duty" show that Bianca was not at all like what Lucentio had dreamed her up to be. It is this failure to realize the difference between appearance and reality that lead to the 'downfall' of both characters because none of their lover live up to the expectations they had meticuously created. .
             Just as the misconception of love is used as a catalyst to reveal the deeper theme of the difference between appearance and reality, both authors use money as a catalyst to reveal the inner theme of power and corruption of the wealthy. Shakespeare introduces us to to the character of Christopher Sly in his induction as a representative for the lower class in Elizabethan society. Christopher Sly in the beginning is found lying in a deep sleep on the street when he is discovered by a wealthy Lord. "How like a swine he lies,"; the Lord's words on first seeing Christopher Sly make his degrating opinion towards the poor evident.