Big Books of 2026
Aldwin Aguilar asked this question about The Great Gatsby:
My teacher keeps on insisting that Jay Gatsby is black. Is he?
LB It never occurred to me to even think he was black. First, as other posters noted, there is a phrase in the book, "We're all white here"; secondly, To…moreIt never occurred to me to even think he was black. First, as other posters noted, there is a phrase in the book, "We're all white here"; secondly, Tom and others, including Daisy, wouldn't have made acquaintance with him if he was, it was the 1920s, the society was segregated then. Thirdly, he was in an army camp and made an officer. Historically, the army was segregated as well. It was segregated even in WW2. So for him to be in the army, he would've been in an all-black unit, and it's said in the text that he and other officers visited Daisy's house. All black officers visiting Daisy's house? It's strange to me that a teacher could say such a thing, more so to insist on it. He/she didn't read the book closely enough or didn't make historic connections.(less)
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The Great Gatsby
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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