This month marks 100 years since F. Scott Fitzgerald’s glittering American novel, The Great Gatsby, was published. An enduringly popular book, it continues to hold a mirror up to today’s world. Published in 1925, it paints a vivid picture of the roaring twenties and the elusive American Dream and is a portrait of excess and disillusionment in an era marked by societal upheaval, technological innovation, and cultural transformation. Set at a time of great change, it serves as a reminder of the way every generation believes they are on the cusp on monumental societal advance, and the worries and wonders that brings.
Love is timeless, and the novel follows Gatsby’s doomed pursuit of Daisy Buchanan, a deeply self-absorbed high-society beauty whom he had a passionate affair prior to World War I, during which he was a soldier. On his return, and still in love with Daisy, he discovers that she has married Tom Buchanan, a wealthy but boorish man, and he is determined to win her back. In order to do so, Gatsby amasses his own fortune by illicit boot-legging in the thick of the Prohibition era—before following Daisy to the Buchanan estate on Long Island.
It’s a tragedy set against the opulent backdrop of the wealthy elite in which, aside from the neutral narrator —Buchanan’s cousin, perhaps the only truly decent figure in the novel is Gatsby himself, a man sinking in a world of greed, corruption and lavish parties whilst hopelessly trying to recreate his romantic past. The rest of the characters are unappealing bunch, a cast that highlights a tension at the novel’s heart between Gatsby’s naïve romanticism and the humble communities in the American West, and the cynicism of the East Coast, embodied in the heartless self-seeking Buchanans and Gatsby’s hangers-on. Might this put us in mind of the similarities between rural Gozo west and the high-rises of Sliema?
Today, Fitzgerald’s themes continue to resonate deeply with readers: the pursuit of wealth, love, and ‘finding oneself’ still shapes our lives today. And by spanning the heady heights of idealism and the perils and pitfalls of materialism, The Great Gatsby offers insights into the complexities of human nature which are no less relevant today.
Gatsby’s extravagant lifestyle symbolizes the American Dream, and the idea that anyone, regardless of background, can achieve success through hard work and determination. However, Gatsby achieved his success through illegal and immoral means: his corruption – any corruption – is a reflection of social decay. The book is a scathing critique of class and privilege and a poignant commentary on inequality. It reminds us that the ‘success’ of many of the world’s richest and powerful men in the twenty-first century is still built on the misery and manipulation of others less fortunate.
And despite the lavish luxury and consumerism on the shore of Long Island, Fitzgerald paints a cautionary tale as he highlights that the pursuit of wealth for its own sake can leave us feeling empty and disillusioned. He portrays the American Dream as nothing but a pack of cards: although Gatsby’s material success is impressive, it is hollow and ultimately unfulfilling. Appearances can be deceptive: for all his wealth, he cannot buy Daisy’s love, and his tragic death underscores the futility of chasing an idealized existence. It’s a theme that echoes in our present-day culture of consumerism and celebrity worship.
The modern-day equivalent of Gatsby’s showy opulence is perhaps the lavish lifestyles portrayed on influencers’ Instagram, in which the line between fantasy and reality is blurred. Here the measure of one’s self-worth is defined by the number of followers, likes, and ephemeral digital markers. Gatsby’s demise despite his apparent success offers a poignant warning against the dangers of defining oneself by external accomplishments and superficial appearances in a world of constant self-promotion and curated identities.
And whilst The Great Gatsby offers hope that we can all transcend our backgrounds and remake ourselves, it also urges us to question our ambitions and pursuit of hollow ideals and consider what truly gives life meaning. Now, when the gap between the wealthy elite and the workers remains stark, we can celebrate that there are us alternative options for a life well-lived beyond the accumulation of cash and conspicuous consumption, the seeking of fulfilment from within.
Although anxiety and mental health issues have increased hand-in-hand with the development of modern technology and social media, we should be encouraged by the research that shows Gen Z are increasingly valuing their relationships and work-life balance as a measure of success.
