Both works are extremely popular among the generations of teenagers, but for different reasons. "Gossip Girl" is commonly binged-watched repeatedly on Netflix whereas "The Great Gatsby" is forced upon most high school juniors to read for an English requirement.
1. The person behind the "Gossip Girl" website could not buy themselves into the social elite known as the Upper East Side.
It was said that society's elite was given to these kids as a “birthright." This is why "Gossip Girl" kept her anonymity. 'She' became famous — or infamous depending on who you were — through her unknown identity. This lack of ability to buy yourself into fame and fortune is precisely why Gatsby moved to West Egg because it is filled with people of new wealth, rather than those who live in East Egg who were born into wealth.
2. Daisy Buchanan, who was characterized as pure through the symbolism of all of the white she wore, cheats on her husband.
Similarly, Blair Waldorf marries Prince Louis and cheats on him with Chuck Bass. Nate cheats on Blair with Serena. Chuck cheated on Blair with numerous women whenever he wanted a way out. See a pattern of infidelity here?
3. Both parties engage in illegal behaviors, especially those including alcohol
The characters in "Gossip Girl" participate in activities which include heavy amounts of underage drinking and illegal drugs, whereas the characters in "The Great Gatsby" bootleg alcohol and drink during times of prohibition.
4. Settings
Although "The Great Gatsby" was fictional, the two worlds were divided by the valley of ashes, yielding East Egg and West Egg. In "Gossip Girl," the two “worlds” were divided into the Upper East Side and the Upper West Side.
5. The pasts come back to haunt them
In "Gossip Girl", this is a no-brainer. Almost everything a character goes through occurs because of their past with someone. It’s all a series of chain events. In "The Great Gatsby," Jay Gatsby and Daisy’s past came to light when Tom realized that Gatsby is in love with his wife and that his wife is in turn, in love with him back.
6. An Outsider trying to fit in
Nick Carraway is introduced to this world and is desperately trying to fit into this life that his cousin’s had built, but with no success. Sound familiar? Jenny Humphrey was introduced to the Upper East Side and even ruled the Met steps for a while until she finally realized that it’s not her place, and it wasn’t meant for her, returning back to her home outside of the city.
7. The East Egg citizens versus the West egg citizens display polar opposite qualities, much like the difference in characteristics of the older and younger generation of "Gossip Girl."
Ever notice how elegant Lily Bass/Van Der Woodsen/ Humphrey (not sure which surname to use) and Eleanor Waldorf are? But how insensitive and ruthless they can act towards their daughters? Or how flashy Serena Van Der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf are through their outfits, attitudes, and scandals? These characteristics belong to the members of East Egg and West Egg respectively.
8. The idea of having that one great love.
As previously mentioned before, Daisy cheats on Tom with Gatsby. And that they were both in love. When Gatsby lost Daisy to Tom he made it his goal to win her back, the only way to do that was to become a man of wealth and make himself well known. Before Blair cheats on Louis with Chuck, Chuck made it his mission to get her back (although he kept saying all he wanted was for her to be happy — guess he knew she was most happy with him). Regardless, both men did not give up on the pursuit of their love, even if the end result was different for the two men.
9. Jordan Baker has a bit of a big mouth even if it’s unintentional.
She tells Nick all about his new neighbor — Gatsby — and how he is still in love with Daisy. Maybe she just wants everyone to be happy and chooses to see the best in others much like Serena Van Der Woodsen does. Serena is a carefree soul who just wants everyone to be happy. This will then have her spilling her friend’s secrets if it means them being happy or gaining something from it in the end.
10. Your lies will always catch up to you in the end.
How many of Chuck’s lies and schemes came back to nip him in the butt? When Serena lied about her identity for a “fresh start” her friends found her and forced her to come home. Serena lies about why she really left for boarding school. Blair lied about a teacher sleeping with a student just because she didn’t like the teacher anymore. Gatsby lies about being wealthy when he first meets Daisy. Tom lies and hides his affair with Myrtle. Moral of the story: lies will eventually catch up to you and it will not end well.
So is "Gossip Girl" really the new age "Great Gatsby?"
Or is all of this just a giant coincidence?
