F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece, The Great Gatsby, was met with mixed reviews upon its release a century ago. However, it wasn’t until small paperbacks of the book were distributed to US servicemen during World War II that it gained widespread popularity. Perhaps it was their desire for escape and connection with a world beyond their own that resonated with Gatsby’s elusive yet captivating figure.
Fast-forward to the present day, and Fitzgerald’s tale of nostalgia, love, class, and America remains eerily relevant. The wealth gap persists, and social media has amplified our envy and social climbing. We can now observe decadent lifestyles via celebrities and influencers, making Gatsby’s lonely ending all too relatable in today’s age of tall poppy syndrome and cancel culture.
Fitzgerald’s portrayal of men who have grown rich by dubious means is no longer unimaginable, especially when it comes to powerful figures with racist and misogynistic tendencies. His phrase about the Buchanans, “they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness,” has been widely shared on social media.
However, it’s not just the darker themes that remain relevant; Fitzgerald’s exploration of love, class, and identity also continues to captivate readers. Taylor Swift, for instance, has mentioned the novel in her songs, highlighting its enduring appeal. A reimagining of The Great Gatsby from the perspective of the women served least in the novel – the party “moths,” onanistic mistresses, and beautiful heiresses – offers a fresh insight into the timeless themes of the classic work.
By flipping the characters’ genders and giving airtime to marginalized voices, this reimagining creates a new way to engage with Fitzgerald’s literary masterwork. The result is a syncopated jazz of notes, reinterpreted into a new melody that speaks to our modern concerns and desires.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/apr/10/great-gatsby-f-scott-fitzgerald-today