Elin answers “My teacher keeps on insisting that Jay...”

Aldwin Aguilar asked this question about The Great Gatsby:

My teacher keeps on insisting that Jay Gatsby is black. Is he?

Elin No. At this time period, it would have been a big deal. If Fitzgerald had intended for Jay Gatsby to be black, he would have made it clear, and it wou…moreNo. At this time period, it would have been a big deal. If Fitzgerald had intended for Jay Gatsby to be black, he would have made it clear, and it would have featured prominently in the book.

Certainly Tom would have referenced it in his rage against Gatsby - Tom has already identified as racist, and would have at least alluded to this prejudice in his diatribe. As it was, he only talked about Gatsby's shady dealings.

You can read into hyper-subtle subtext if you want, but in reality it just doesn't add up and is not convincing when you read the book without making any assumptions, and just go with how Fitzgerald portrays it.

PS - I can understand a teacher suggesting that alternative point of view, but *insisting* that Gatsby is black is just tunnel vision. He or she shouldn't insist on anything, just open up various ideas and ways of analysing the text.(less)

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Penny I think you all need to check out what Matthew Bruccoli has t say about Carlyle V. Thompson's theory. ...more
Apr 21, 2021 01:38PM · flag

Janet Don’t bother. He never read it. And he says that in a much- publicied article in Salon from the early 2000s. If you do read it let me know because I h ...more
Apr 21, 2021 11:58PM · flag

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The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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