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January 16, 2025, marked the centennial of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s acclaimed novel The Great Gatsby. The New York Public Library commemorated this milestone with a grand celebration that included a special performance of the Broadway musical adaptation based on the novel. Additionally, Simon and Schuster has introduced a new audiobook version featuring an introduction from acclaimed author Jesmyn Ward.
The core theme of self-reinvention in The Great Gatsby remains relevant even today. The concepts of living a facade and the moral decay associated with wealth are still strikingly pertinent. This begs the question: how did this work become such a pivotal figure in American literature, even securing a place on high school reading lists? Was its commercial success immediate, and what elements of Gatsby stand the test of time while others seem outdated?
Originally, Fitzgerald titled his work Trimalchio in West Egg. The decision to change the title was wise, as the reference to Trimalchio—an extravagant figure from Petronius’ Satyricon, combined with the fictional setting of West Egg, adds a layer of obscurity that detracted from Gatsby’s powerful symbolism. Now, Gatsby stands as a cultural icon in his own right, illustrating the dangers of opulence without requiring further classical references.
According to a 2014 NPR interview, literary critic Maureen Corrigan, author of So We Read On: How The Great Gatsby Came to Be and Why It Endures, sheds light on the novel’s evolution in popularity. Despite a lukewarm initial reception, with some critics dismissing it as mediocre, others, including influential Modernist poets like T. S. Eliot, praised it. After Fitzgerald’s passing in 1940, while Gatsby was still in print, it had not yet gained the status it holds today. It experienced a resurgence when it was included in U.S. Armed Services Editions distributed to military personnel during World War II, with over 123,000 copies circulated.
Post-war, Gatsby transitioned from a once overlooked text to a celebrated classic, featuring prominently on high school syllabi across the country. Constance Grady noted that Gatsby aligns perfectly with the New Criticism approach favored by many English educators that encourages close textual analysis and appreciation of literary devices. However, it is vital to consider the historical context of the novel, particularly regarding the biases present in its narrative.
While The Great Gatsby may critique white supremacist ideology, it nonetheless incorporates racist language throughout. The character Tom Buchanan openly engages with white supremacist literature and makes derogatory comments that Daisy scornfully mocks. This complexity can be interpreted as a denouncement of Tom’s racism. However, one must acknowledge that Fitzgerald himself had expressed racist and anti-Semitic beliefs in his personal life, adding layers to the novel’s reception and interpretation.
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bookriot.com