The Great Gatsby is considered a great American novel for several key reasons:
Embodiment of the American Dream: The novel captures the allure and pitfalls of the American Dream through Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire who rises from poverty in pursuit of love and success. This story of reinvention and aspiration is deeply woven into American identity2.
Reflection of American Society: Fitzgerald exposes the era’s social and moral decay, highlighting class divisions, racial disparities, and the corrupting influence of wealth-issues that remain relevant in American culture today25.
Portrait of the Jazz Age: The book vividly depicts the extravagance and excitement of the 1920s, making it a time capsule of the Roaring Twenties and a commentary on its excesses25.
Universal Themes and Enduring Relevance: While rooted in its time, the novel’s exploration of longing, disillusionment, and the passage of time resonates across generations, allowing each new reader to find fresh meaning25.
Masterful Prose: Fitzgerald’s writing is celebrated for its beauty and precision, with many critics and readers praising the novel’s evocative language and memorable lines2.
Over time, these qualities have helped The Great Gatsby become a central text in the American literary canon, studied and admired for its insight into both the nation’s ideals and its realities36.