The Great Gatsby and America today share an astounding number of similarities. For example, materialism is pervasive in both eras as people believe that wealth is the barometer of success. Unfortunately, greed is an inherent part of humans, so materialism will be a perennial part of society. This example alone is a key reason why The Great Gatsby remains relevant in today’s world. Another similarity includes the absence of social connections. In the novel, the only true friend of Nick is Gatsby, everyone else with whom he is associated is an acquaintance. Today, people add “friends” on facebook instead of forging a relationship in the real world. In both societies, people fail to create intimate relationships and instead create a superficial
