In 2025, The Great Gatsby turns 100 years old—marking a full century since F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jazz Age masterpiece was first published. What began as a modestly received novel in 1925 has become one of the most iconic pieces of American literature, studied by students, analyzed by scholars, and celebrated across generations. Its legacy has transcended the page to influence film, fashion, music, and the very way we think about the American Dream.

A century later, The Great Gatsby isn’t just still relevant—it’s everywhere.

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From Flop to Phenomenon

It’s almost ironic that a novel now considered quintessentially American struggled to find its footing in Fitzgerald’s lifetime. When The Great Gatsby debuted, it sold poorly and received mixed reviews. Fitzgerald died in 1940 believing it was a failure.

And yet, by the 1950s, the novel was rediscovered—thanks largely to WWII soldiers reading Armed Services Editions—and has since risen to canonical status. Today, it’s one of the most assigned novels in American high schools, a mainstay of literary criticism, and a story that continues to be reimagined through new cultural lenses.

The American Dream—Then and Now

At the heart of Gatsby’s appeal is its unflinching look at the American Dream. Jay Gatsby is both the ultimate self-made man and the ultimate cautionary tale. He builds his fortune, crafts a persona, and throws dazzling parties—not for personal gain, but to win back the love of Daisy Buchanan. His dream is grand, but ultimately hollow.

Over the past hundred years, this theme has struck a chord with readers navigating changing definitions of success. The Roaring Twenties may have been about bootleg gin and jazz, but today’s audiences see parallels in influencer culture, hustle mentalities, and the performative nature of social media.

Gatsby’s desperate reinvention feels eerily familiar in an era of curated Instagram lives and digital identities. The novel asks: What happens when the dream you’re chasing isn’t real? Or worse—what if it is real, but not for you?

 Gatsby in Literature: A Blueprint for Disillusionment

The novel’s influence on literature cannot be overstated. Writers from Joan Didion to Bret Easton Ellis to Tayari Jones have echoed Gatsby’s themes of longing, class, and fractured identity. Its concise form—just over 47,000 words—makes it deceptively simple, but Fitzgerald’s use of symbolism, unreliable narration, and lyrical prose set a standard for American fiction.

Since its copyright expired in 2021, a wave of Gatsby-inspired retellings has further cemented its literary legacy. Novels like The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (a queer, magical take from Jordan Baker’s perspective) show how the story still resonates—and how it can evolve to reflect voices previously silenced in Fitzgerald’s world.

Gatsby on Screen: Lights, Camera, Tragedy

Film adaptations of The Great Gatsby have mirrored the shifting aesthetics and moods of their time. From the lost silent film of 1926 to the glamorous 1974 version starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, Gatsby’s story has been interpreted—and reinterpreted—through decades of cinematic language.

The most famous adaptation in recent memory is Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 take, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Known for its extravagant visuals, anachronistic soundtrack, and maximalist style, Luhrmann’s Gatsby introduced the story to a new generation. Its visuals became instantly meme-worthy—especially the now-iconic image of DiCaprio toasting with a champagne glass—and its soundtrack (with Lana Del Rey’s haunting “Young and Beautiful”) captured the novel’s romantic melancholy.

Whether you loved it or found it too flashy, there’s no denying the impact: after the film’s release, sales of The Great Gatsby surged, cementing its role as both literary staple and pop culture icon.

Gatsby Goes Viral: Fashion, Parties, and Memes

Over the last century, The Great Gatsby has transformed from a novel into an aesthetic. “Gatsby parties” with flapper dresses, jazz music, and champagne towers have become common themes for weddings, New Year’s Eve bashes, and even corporate galas. The Art Deco style associated with the 1920s has become synonymous with luxury and elegance—fueled in no small part by the novel’s enduring glamor.

Yet there’s irony in this glamorization. Gatsby’s parties were always more about illusion than joy. His guests didn’t know him, and he remained a mystery even to those closest to him. Still, the aesthetic lives on, stripped of its sadness, and dressed in sequins and glitter.

On social media, Gatsby’s legacy continues to evolve. The novel is quoted across platforms, its most famous lines turned into tattoos, wall art, or meme captions. The image of Gatsby reaching toward the green light remains one of the most enduring visual metaphors in American literature.

A Legacy Reimagined

One of the most exciting developments in Gatsby’s centennial era is how diverse voices are reclaiming and expanding the story. Queer retellings, feminist interpretations, and works exploring the experiences of Black and immigrant characters in the 1920s give fresh life to Fitzgerald’s framework.

Why does Gatsby still resonate, even when its world—1920s Long Island, with its old money and prohibition-era speakeasies—feels so far removed from today?

Because the questions it asks are still the ones we ask: Can we reinvent ourselves? Can we ever go back? Is the dream real—or are we just chasing shadows?

The Green Light Still Glows

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby, it’s clear that the novel’s influence goes far beyond literature. It has shaped how we talk about ambition, nostalgia, identity, and heartbreak. It has fueled films, inspired fashion, and sparked important cultural conversations.

Gatsby’s story is, in many ways, the story of America itself: dazzling on the outside, complicated underneath, and constantly searching for meaning in the pursuit of more.

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

A hundred years later, we’re still rowing—with Gatsby’s green light flickering in the distance.