what genre is the great gatsby

The Great Gatsby is a novel that can be classified under different genres. According to SparkNotes, it can be considered a tragedy, realism, modernism, and social satire. The novel revolves around a larger-than-life hero, Jay Gatsby, whose pursuit of an unattainable dream leads to his downfall and the death of several characters, as in the classic definition of tragedy. The novel is also a work of realism, meaning that it tries to depict the world as it actually is rather than incorporating speculative or fantastical elements. Realist literature tends to elevate the mundane aspects of daily life and doesn’t shy away from depicting grotesque or disturbing aspects of the human experience. The Great Gatsby is set in real places and features real-life landmarks, like the Plaza Hotel. The novel is also modernist in the sense that it depicts the trappings of the modern world—like industry, new innovations, and changing social norms—as exciting but also alienating, absurd, and destructive. Finally, The Great Gatsby is a social satire—it uses mockery to criticize and expose societal issues.