By Mary Ann Zyglocke and Oreoluwa Tokan-Lawal

Photo credit: Mary Ann Zyglocke.

On a recent October morning, Abby Carley (‘26) was found reading F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, an American classic novel read by all Collegiate Sophomores. Carley was spending her study hall in the café reading and annotating the book. 

Poster for the 2013 film version of The Great Gatsby. Image credit: Warner Brothers Studios.

The Great Gatsby, set in the Jazz Age in 1922, follows Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man, in his journey to the love of his life, Daisy Buchanan. This journey is seen through the eyes of Nick Carraway, Daisy’s distant cousin and Gatsby’s neighbor. 

When asked to give her thoughts on the book, Carley expressed that she was not a big fan of the book, and she gave The Great Gatsby a “2/10” rating. Despite this slightly negative rating, Carley believes the messages of the book are important in learning about society today. She believes the book is significant because “it’s important to view how misogyny has an impact on today’s society, and how gender roles are very stereotyped.” Additionally, Carley was writing an essay for Upper School English teacher Christina Dobson’s English 10 class about these gender roles within The Great Gatsby, and how they are still prevalent in our society today. 

Carley mentioned the book was also important because it shows “how the American dream is put into today’s context.” The American dream is a major theme in The Great Gatsby, and it is an important topic that is discussed in many, if not all, Sophomore English classes. 

Although Carley may not have enjoyed this classic piece of American literature, she recognizes the importance and significance of the book and its major themes. 

Featured image credit: Abby Carley.