It is a great work, one of the most important novels of the 20th century. Its acceptance by critics and readers is almost unanimous.

Gatsby embodies the American Dream, the ideal of personal success, social and professional advancement, and wealth, in conditions of freedom, regardless of origin, education, or religion. This framework also includes romantic success. The American Dream has an individualistic and materialistic basis, although some aspects could be considered idealistic. Gatsby fulfills the American Dream in just three years (Summer 1919-Summer 1922): he becomes extremely wealthy, buys a large mansion with "blue gardens," has a butler, servants, and a Rolls-Royce, and throws legendary parties. He made his money as a bootlegger and has dealings with underworld figures, but this does not tarnish his reputation in the eyes of the reader - on the contrary, it adds to his charm.

However, what makes him a great - almost mythical - hero and an exemplary lover for every era is his obsessive, relentless, absolute, conquering, romantic love for Daisy, a love that is both awkwardly and idealistically adolescent and dynamically and unwaveringly masculine. It is noteworthy that Gatsby emerges as a morally superior character to Daisy, who ultimately proves to be nothing more than a "beautiful fool" with a whispery coquettish voice, a "voice full of money." Gatsby has no illusions, he knows well that Daisy falls short of his dreams - "not through any fault of her own, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion that surpassed Daisy, surpassed everything. He had thrown himself into this delusion with creative passion, constantly enriching it, adorning it with every bright feather he could find on his path. There is no fire or frost that can be compared to what nests in the wild heart of a man."