A recent article on wsws.org analyzes the enduring appeal of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s *The Great Gatsby* 100 years after its publication, attributing it to the novel’s portrayal of a critical turning point in American history and its exploration of enduring social and personal themes. The article argues that *The Great Gatsby* reflects the moral and social decay of the Roaring Twenties, a period of unprecedented wealth and materialism following World War I. It highlights the contrast between the ostentatious parties and lavish lifestyles of the wealthy elite and the underlying spiritual emptiness and disillusionment of the era.
The analysis suggests that Gatsby’s relentless pursuit of wealth and social status, ultimately driven by his desire to recapture a lost love, embodies the flawed American Dream. The story critiques the shallowness and moral compromises inherent in the pursuit of material success. The article emphasizes the character of Jay Gatsby, the self-made millionaire, is symbolic of the destructive illusions inherent in American capitalism, and that his tragic fate illustrates the impossibility of escaping one’s past or transcending social barriers.
Further, the article suggests that the novel’s examination of class, love, and the corrupting influence of wealth are timeless themes which continue to resonate with readers today. It argues that the novel provides a potent critique of American society and the distorted values that underpin it. The article connects the themes in the novel to modern society, implying that the wealth inequality and social decay represented in the novel remain prescient concerns in modern American society.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/08/29/avfm-a29.html