How does one define a hero? is he someone who rescues single mothers from burning buildings? Is he someone who chases his dream no matter the consequences? Is he someone who reaches ultimate fulfillment with his life? Is he merely the main character in a piece of literature? F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" and Sam Mendes' "American Beauty" both explore these questions in a variety of different ways and it becomes clear how their vastly different backgrounds have influenced them and shaped their works.

In "American Beauty", Mendes uses symbolism in the colour red when showing us Lester Burnham's life. Lester claims, "...I have lost something. I'm not exactly sure what it is but I remember I didn't always feel this... sedated." Following this, Lester sets out to regain what he's "lost" and when, in the final scenes, he "finds" it, Mendes clearly wants us to view Lester as a hero and uses symbolism to convice us. Mendes allown the colour red to symbolise beauty from Lesters......

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Title: What Makes A Hero? A Comparison Between The Great Gatsby And American Beauty, With Reference To Author's Context And The Corruption Of The American Dream.
Approximate Word Count: 859
Approximate Pages: 4 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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