The Great Gatsby and Goodfellas are two classics in their respective categories. Goodfellas takes place from the 1950s to the 1980s and revolves around the criminal underworld of New York City. The movie goes in-depth into the world of gangster life while examining topics of crime, brutality, loyalty, and the moral difficulties that come with a life of crime. In contrast, The Great Gatsby takes place on the North Shore of Long Island during the Jazz Age of the 1920s.

The main character Henry Hill was raised in the criminal underworld whereas Gatsby joined it later in his life. Henry struggles with moral dilemmas including a reoccurring problem with drugs and a toxic relationship with his wife. But with Gatsby, he does all of his illegal activities just to get close to his love Daisy. That is what drove him to join the “gangsters,” and Henry Hill never knew any different than that lifestyle. Now I don’t personally see how Gatsby could fit in with the lifestyle of Henry Hill but I do think there are a lot of similarities in personally between the two.