In April 2025, the Empire State Building was lit up in green to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this novel’s publication

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Jeopardy! featured a Final Jeopardy clue that paid tribute to a century of one of America’s most iconic novels.

What is The Great Gatsby?

The clue referenced the Empire State Building being illuminated in green in April 2025—a nod to a key symbol from The Great Gatsby, published in 1925. Contestants were challenged to connect this visual tribute to the literary milestone it represented.

The correct response was The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 masterpiece that has become a cornerstone of American literature. The green light mentioned in the clue refers to one of the most enduring images from the novel—an ethereal light at the end of Daisy Buchanan’s dock, symbolizing Gatsby’s hopes and dreams. Lighting up one of New York’s most recognizable landmarks in that signature color was a fitting way to mark the novel’s centenary.

The Green Light and Its Lasting Symbolism

The use of green lighting on the Empire State Building served as more than just a centennial celebration—it highlighted the cultural weight of The Great Gatsby and the symbolic power of its imagery. The green light in the novel has been interpreted in many ways over the decades: as a beacon of the American Dream, a symbol of unattainable desire, or a haunting reminder of the past.

Fitzgerald’s subtle yet powerful use of color symbolism has been studied extensively, and the green light remains one of the most recognized symbols in literary analysis. By mirroring this image through the illumination of a major landmark, New York City not only acknowledged the novel’s setting but also its lasting influence on literature and pop culture.

100 Years of Literary Legacy

The Great Gatsby was first published on April 10, 1925, by Charles Scribner’s Sons. While it was not a commercial success during Fitzgerald’s lifetime, its reputation grew steadily after his death in 1940. The novel is now widely regarded as a quintessential examination of the American Dream and the disillusionment that often accompanies it.

Over the past century, the book has become a standard in American high school and university curricula and has been adapted into multiple film and stage versions. Its themes of wealth, aspiration, love, and societal decay continue to resonate with readers around the world, helping to secure its place as a literary classic.

The Empire State Building Tribute

The April 2025 lighting of the Empire State Building was part of a broader series of events marking the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby. The building glowed green for one night, visible across Manhattan and beyond, as part of a campaign organized by literary institutions and city officials. The tribute was widely covered by media and celebrated by fans of the novel.

This kind of homage reflects the unique way literature can permeate public consciousness and become part of a city’s cultural landscape. New York, the backdrop for so much of Fitzgerald’s narrative, remains closely associated with the book’s atmosphere and characters—particularly Jay Gatsby, whose mansion in West Egg overlooked the flashing green light across the bay.

A Lasting Influence in American Culture

As The Great Gatsby enters its second century, its relevance shows no signs of fading. The themes Fitzgerald explored in the 1920s—ambition, illusion, excess, and heartbreak—still resonate with contemporary audiences. The 100th anniversary, marked in such a visually poignant way, reinforces the idea that certain works of literature can transcend their time and become permanent fixtures in a nation’s identity.

Whether through classroom discussions, modern retellings, or symbolic gestures like the Empire State Building tribute, The Great Gatsby continues to inspire reflection and debate. Its centennial is more than a literary footnote—it’s a celebration of storytelling that has endured for generations.