The author believes that F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing continues to influence new writers. This is evident in the passage, which highlights how contemporary authors like Zadie Smith and Junot Diaz draw inspiration from Fitzgerald's work. The mention of Anna-Marie McLemore's reimagined version of The Great Gatsby further demonstrates the lasting impact of Fitzgerald’s themes and writing style on modern literature. The exploration of the American Dream in McLemore’s work shows that Fitzgerald's themes remain relevant and resonant, prompting new interpretations and adaptations that reflect contemporary perspectives.
Greater Than Gatsby: The Struggles and Travails of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jared Levy 2023
His Impact and Legacy
Although he lived a relatively short and tumultuous life, Fitzgerald left a large impact on American literature. His works continue to be celebrated for their beautiful writing, sharp observations of society, and timeless themes of love, loss, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Many lists place him as one of the top American writers, and his influence on American literature and popular culture is still felt today.
Fitzgerald’s corpus lives on in the many adaptations, films, and other works of art that have been inspired by his writing. Recently, the movie Genius, which came out in 2016, features Fitzgerald as a character. The film features the Australian actor Guy Pierce as Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald’s influence can be seen in the works of contemporary writers such as Zadie Smith and Junot Diaz.
“The Great Gatsby deals so much in the American dream and its myths about self-made men,” writes Anna-Marie McLemore, a queer Latinx writer who was also inspired by Fitzgerald’s works. McLemore recently published a reimagined version of The Great Gatsby titled Self-Made Boys, in which both its protagonist and its narrator are trans. “I wanted to write about the American dream for what it is, a hope so many of us have but that, for so long, didn’t belong to so many of us, and often still doesn’t.”
Whether you come across his writing in the classroom, at the bookstore, or elsewhere, within Fitzgerald’s words are lasting images of beauty and lingering stories touching the human heart. His words are a gift we come back to time and time again from his generation onward to the present.
The author believes…
The Great Gatsby is under-appreciated.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's writing continues to influence new writers.
F. Scott Fitzgerald did not get a chance to be famous because he died early.
people should pay more attention to contemporary writers than F. Scott Fitzgerald.
1 answer