Which book by F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered his masterpiece and a critique of the American Dream?
The Great Gatsby
"The Great Gatsby," published in 1925, is often praised as one of the greatest achievements in American literature and a sharp portrait of the American Dream and its failings. What makes this novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald so captivating is its ability to capture the essence of the Jazz Age with its excesses, disillusionments, and deceptive glamour. Gatsby, the protagonist, pursues his American dream to his downfall, symbolizing the futile pursuit of an idealization that can never be achieved. Fitzgerald enriches his narrative with poignant social critique and a deep exploration of themes such as love, hope, and the impossibility of reinvention. Despite an initially lukewarm reception, "The Great Gatsby" was eventually recognized as a masterpiece, illustrating Fitzgerald's genius for probing the depths of the human soul and the illusions of American society.