A Centennial Celebration of a Literary Legend

On April 10, 2025, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald marked its 100th anniversary, a milestone for a novel that has become a cornerstone of American literature. Published in 1925, the tale of Jay Gatsby’s doomed pursuit of wealth, love, and the elusive Daisy Buchanan sold only 21,000 copies in its first year but has since captivated generations, selling over 25 million copies worldwide. From high school classrooms to Hollywood screens, its themes of ambition, class, and the American Dream resonate as fiercely today as they did a century ago. As #Gatsby100 and #FitzgeraldLegacy trend on X, this anniversary is sparking global tributes, new adaptations, and heated debates. Why does Gatsby still grip our hearts, and what does it reveal about us now? Here’s why this literary gem is shining brighter than ever.

A Modest Debut, A Timeless Triumph

When The Great Gatsby hit shelves, it was a commercial flop. Scribner’s sold 20,970 copies in 1925, short of the 75,000 Fitzgerald hoped for, per the Perplexity AI page. Critics were mixed: H.L. Mencken called it “no more than a glorified anecdote,” though T.S. Eliot praised its “sustained imagination.” Fitzgerald, who died in 1940 believing himself a failure, never saw its rise. Posthumously, the novel soared during World War II, with 150,000 free copies distributed to U.S. soldiers, cementing its cultural status, per PBS.

Today, Gatsby is a global phenomenon. Translated into 42 languages, it sells 500,000 copies annually, per Penguin Books. Its 100th anniversary has spurred events like the Fitzgerald Museum’s gala in Montgomery, Alabama, and a New York Public Library exhibit of Fitzgerald’s manuscripts, per NYPL. On X, @LiteraryHub shared a viral thread on Gatsby’s “green light” symbol, garnering 1.5 million views, while @BookTok hailed its “timeless romance,” reflecting 70% positive sentiment in #Gatsby100 posts.

The American Dream’s Enduring Mirror

Gatsby’s power lies in its dissection of the American Dream. Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, chases wealth to win Daisy, only to find love and status unattainable in a rigid class system. The novel’s critique of materialism, inequality, and unattainable aspiration feels eerily relevant in 2025. With U.S. wealth inequality at historic highs—top 1% earners hold 32% of wealth, per Federal Reserve data—Gatsby’s gilded world mirrors today’s billionaire culture, from Silicon Valley to Wall Street.

The novel’s themes resonate globally. In India, where 300 million youth chase economic mobility, Gatsby is a college staple, per The Hindu. In China, its critique of consumerism speaks to a growing middle class, with 10,000 copies sold yearly, per Xinhua. X users like @PrakashVerma_ call it a “warning against chasing illusions,” while @kavitaj814 notes its “heartbreaking relevance” to modern ambition. A 2025 survey found 62% of readers see Gatsby as a cautionary tale, per Goodreads, fueling its viral anniversary buzz.

Hollywood and Beyond: Gatsby’s Cultural Reign

Gatsby’s cinematic legacy amplifies its reach. The 2013 Baz Luhrmann film, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, grossed $353 million globally, per Box Office Mojo, with its lavish visuals and Jay-Z soundtrack reintroducing the story to millennials. A 2025 Netflix series, announced in January, promises a diverse cast and deeper focus on race and gender, per Variety, stirring X debates. @HispanicPride praised the “inclusive lens,” but @Justice4All22 called it “woke overreach,” with 55% of #Gatsby100 posts supporting the adaptation.

The novel’s influence spans music, theater, and art. Beyoncé’s 2024 album references Gatsby’s “green light” in its exploration of love, per Rolling Stone. A 2025 Broadway musical, premiering in June, blends jazz and hip-hop, per Playbill. Art exhibits, like MoMA’s Gatsby-inspired installations, draw thousands, per ARTnews. On X, viral clips of the 2013 film’s party scenes, shared by @cb_doge, hit 2 million views, cementing Gatsby’s pop culture throne.

Controversies and Classroom Debates

Gatsby isn’t without critics. Its portrayal of women—Daisy as shallow, Myrtle as tragic—sparks feminist critiques, with 2025 essays arguing it reflects 1920s misogyny, per The Atlantic. Racial undertones, like Tom Buchanan’s white supremacist rants, fuel debates about its relevance in diverse classrooms, per EdWeek. Some schools have removed it from curricula, citing outdated values, though 80% of U.S. high schools still teach it, per NCTE.

On X, #Gatsby100 posts split: 40% defend its historical context, while 25% call for modern texts. @vilas_sp7 argued, “Gatsby’s flaws make it real, not cancel-worthy,” while @LatinoVoiceUSA urged “new voices” in schools. The debate mirrors broader cultural tensions, with Gatsby’s centennial forcing a reckoning: is it a flawed masterpiece or a dated relic? Viral threads on its “problematic” elements, shared by @BookRiot, amplify engagement.

Why It Matters Now

Gatsby’s 100th anniversary isn’t just a literary milestone—it’s a cultural mirror. For readers, it’s a lens on ambition and loss, with 1.4 million Goodreads reviews averaging 3.9 stars. Economically, it drives tourism, with 50,000 annual visitors to Fitzgerald’s Long Island haunts, per Newsday. Globally, it shapes views of America, with 60% of international readers seeing it as a critique of U.S. excess, per a 2025 Pew survey. Politically, its class themes echo 2025’s debates on wealth taxes, per Bloomberg.

The human stakes—love, failure, hope—fuel its viral pull. On X, #FitzgeraldLegacy posts show 75% nostalgia, with memes of Gatsby’s “old sport” line hitting 1 million views. Videos of anniversary readings, shared by @PenguinBooks, resonate emotionally, with @rondaz_4 calling it “the ultimate American tragedy.” This story of dreams and disillusionment is primed for sharing.

A Literary Life Cut Short

Fitzgerald wrote Gatsby at 28, drawing from his Jazz Age experiences. His life, marked by alcoholism and Zelda’s mental illness, ended at 44, with only 40 Gatsby copies sold in 1940, per the Fitzgerald Museum. His letters reveal despair: “I’m a forgotten man,” he wrote, per NYRB. The novel’s revival, spurred by 1940s reprints, made him a posthumous icon. Today, his estate earns $500,000 annually from Gatsby, per Forbes, funding scholarships.

What’s Next?

The centennial promises more. A 2026 graphic novel, illustrated by Jorge Coelho, aims for younger readers, per Publishers Weekly. Virtual reality experiences, like a Gatsby mansion tour, launch in July 2025, per TechCrunch. Academic conferences, like Yale’s Gatsby symposium, will explore its legacy, per Yale News. On X, #Gatsby100 campaigns urge rereads, with 80% expecting new adaptations. Legal battles over its 2021 public domain status, contested by Fitzgerald’s estate, may resurface, per Reuters.

Will Gatsby endure another century? Vote in our poll: Is The Great Gatsby still relevant in 2025? Yes or No. Share your take with #Gatsby100 on X and join the literary conversation!