Final answer:
The Great Gatsby qualifies as a social satire because it uses satirical elements to criticize and ridicule aspects of the society it portrays.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Gatsby qualifies as a social satire because it uses satirical elements to criticize and ridicule aspects of the society it portrays. Satirical elements such as irony, sarcasm, and exaggeration are employed by the author, F. Scott Fitzgerald, to highlight the hypocrisy, materialism, and shallowness of the upper class during the 1920s.
For example, the extravagant parties and lavish lifestyles of the characters in the novel satirize the excessive wealth and decadence of the time.