The Impact of The Great Gatsby on Modern Literature
05.12.2023 // By Tome Tailor
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby has left an indelible mark on literature since its publication in 1925. Often hailed as one of the greatest American novels, the themes, language, and style that Fitzgerald used continue to influence modern literature in various ways. In this blog post, we will explore the impact of The Great Gatsby on modern literature.
Table of Contents
- Influence in Modern Literary Fiction
- Symbolism and Themes
- The American Dream
- Legacy of The Great Gatsby
Influence in Modern Literary Fiction
Fitzgerald’s narrative structure, featuring a first-person narrator who is both a part of and distinct from the story, can be seen in many contemporary novels. One such example is Donna Tartt’s The Secret History (View on Amazon), in which the protagonist’s personal experiences and relationships are intertwined with the novel’s larger themes.
Furthermore, Fitzgerald’s masterful use of language helped to establish The Great Gatsby as a benchmark for creating mood and setting. Contemporary writers often look to Fitzgerald’s lyrical prose for inspiration in crafting their own rich, atmospheric novels.
Symbolism and Themes
The Great Gatsby employs a variety of symbols to explore themes such as wealth, power, and the hollowness of the upper class. One iconic symbol is the green light on Daisy’s dock, which represents Gatsby’s hopes and dreams for the future. This kind of symbolism has become a hallmark of modern literature, permeating works such as Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha (View on Amazon), in which the titular character’s eyes symbolize both her innocence and her growing awareness of the world around her.
Moreover, Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the Jazz Age, with its flappers and extravagant parties, has come to represent the excess, glamour, and moral deterioration of the 1920s. Modern authors continue to explore similar themes in their work, be it the materialism and narcissism of the 1980s, as seen in Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho (View on Amazon), or the shallow celebrity culture of today.
The American Dream
The Great Gatsby is often seen as a cautionary tale against the pursuit of the American Dream, with its protagonist, Jay Gatsby, epitomizing the relentless hunger for wealth and status. The novel’s cynical tone has influenced later works that similarly deconstruct the myth of the American Dream, such as John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (View on Amazon) and Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections (View on Amazon).
By examining the toxic effects of Gatsby’s pursuit of happiness through wealth, Fitzgerald created a powerful narrative that has continued to resonate with modern audiences. Accordingly, the disillusionment with the American Dream has become a staple in contemporary literature.
Legacy of The Great Gatsby
Despite initially receiving mixed reviews and relatively modest sales, The Great Gatsby has since become one of the most revered and widely-read novels in the American literary canon. Its enduring influence is evident not only in the countless stage and screen adaptations but also in the ways modern authors continue to draw from Fitzgerald’s innovative techniques and themes.
The legacy of The Great Gatsby is a testament to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s creative genius and a reminder of the enduring power of literature to captivate readers and inspire new generations of writers.