To what degree do authors write themselves into their own work? What role does “context” play? Can we ever truly recreate the past? Should possessions be the basis upon which we measure our success? These are the questions that sophomores at Clemente are discussing, debating, and writing about as they read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Students are collecting evidence for their written response to these prompts, which has been a catalyst for fascinating discussions. Our sophomores have studied the cultural and historical context which give birth to the themes and conflicts in this novel, including material excess, moral decay, and hypocrisy. Sophomore Michael Glenn wasn’t immediately drawn to the novel until he got pulled into the drama midway through. He decided to read ahead of his classmates, and most recently commented that, “the ending made me tear up.” We can’t wait to hear more of Michael’s reflections on the novel as he prepares to complete a written response about the parallels of Fitzgerald’s life and the events that unfold through his characters Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby. Well done, sophomore class!
