1. It depicts the greatest example of the American Dream.
Jay Gatsby came from nothing and worked his absolute hardest to finally live the life of luxury. He went from rags to riches, unknown to well known. He portrayed the ultimate success story in wealth. Gatsby was a self-made success story.
2. It doesn't have a typical happy ending.
In the end, despite all the wealth Gatsby had, he didn't get the girl. (Spoiler Alert!) Daisy stays with her husband, Tom, and Gatsby ends up being murdered by George for covering for Daisy in the murder of Myrtle. This really is the ultimate reason why this book speaks to so many, it shows that you do not always get the outcome you want in life, not everything ends happily, and that is reality.
3. It hits every important aspect of the roaring 20’s spot on.
Everything from the booze, the parties, the fashion, the separation of the East and West Egg, the music: The Great Gatsby hits all those points. It's a full on history lesson without the boring lecture.
4. It's your source for a majority of the Twitter and Tumblr quotes posted...and they're quotes that should get you thinking.
I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. How many times have we posted or seen this one before ladies? Or what about this one? “And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
5.) It uses the literary device of symbolism effortlessly.
The most famous literary symbol would have to be the green light across the dock. Gatsby uses the light as a symbol of his goal to win over Daisy again. He looks through the darkness at the light to remind him of Daisy
6. It has been talked about for over 90 years.
If it was not such a great piece of literature, it still would not be so well known and talked about today, and Hollywood would not have wasted their time making a movie version.