Applying Todorov's narrative structure to The Great Gatsby

Although I think the film does apply to Todorov's theory, the very beginning of the film is different.
It starts off with Tobey Maguire's character Nick Carraway staying in a sanatorium to treat his alcoholism. He then begins to tell his story of his memories and friendship with Gatsby, he essentially narrates the film

1. He starts off telling the story by explaining the character and his entrance into Gatsby's world. Starting off in New York in a small house next door to The Great Gatsby's mansion. He has a job as a bond salesman and is a short journey away from his cousin Daisy's house, who he goes to visit regularly once living on Long Island. He becomes very curious about his mysterious next door neighbour. He then discovers the man is named Jay Gatsby and he is famous for holding the most extravagant parties on the whole of the island.

2. Nick then discovers that Tom, Daisy's husband is having an affair with a woman on the outskirts of the city and is taken aback. Him and Tom go to see Tom's mistress which results in a blowout between her and Tom. 

Nick also discovers that although Gatsby throws the most famous parties, no one has ever seen him and people just arrive at his house, enjoy the party and leave at the end of the night. Nick however, receives an invitation to Gatsby's party, and soon discovers it is because Jay Gatsby is in love with Daisy and is trying to get closer to Nick in order to see Daisy. 

3. When Nick recognises that everything is not as simple as he first thought he is torn between what he thinks is morally right and what he wants to do. He chooses to help his new friend Gatsby try and reconnect with Daisy and he doesn't see eye to eye with Tom after learning of his affair. 

This narrative is not similar to Todorov's structure as Nick, the character whose story the audience is following, is not trying to stop all of these problems, he is actually trying to change everything and help Gatsby. This film also appears to have an ensemble cast, which makes it hard to follow the story and therefore Nicks story is told through his actual character.

4. Instead of trying to repair the damage caused by both Daisy and Tom's affairs, the story goes against Todorov's theory as Nick decides to let things continue as he holds a close bond with Gatsby. He decides to help Daisy leave Jay so he can escape with Daisy and they can be together, although he knows that this is not morally right, and it starts to cause stress with Nick.



5. As all of the secrets finally come to surface, it causes conflicts between all of the characters and Tom's mistress is killed in a car crash caused by Daisy in Gatsby's car. Tom's mistresses husband then goes after Gatsby thinking he is the one that killed his wife. He then kills Gatsby, before killing himself. This causes all of the plans and secrets to be left floating and Nick is left being the only one who knows the full truth about Jay Gatsby.

This film definitely doesn't fit in with Todorov's narrative structure as the equilibrium is never regained at the end, it is left in turmoil instead.