It's garbage. In fact, pretty much everything taught in english classes is garbage, as if it is selected to make people hate reading. Whether it is Tale of Two Cities, or Death of a Salesman, it is all flaming hot dumpster fires.
I'd rather read John Galt's speech than anything by Dickens or Miller.
The only exception to the rule was when I had to read Ivanhoe. It was at least interesting.
I don't think we value the same things in art. From your comment about Galt you seem to like stirring, didactic approaches, whereas I appreciate the portrayal of Gatsby's vivid idealism and the mortality of his dream.
Unfortunately, people in high school English classes haven't even formed real dreams for the most part, let alone had their dreams injured, so the meaning is lost on them.
The great Gatsby is only good if you are taught to read it and pull put the symbolism. The whole point of the book was to pack in as much symbolism as possible. If you read it without looking for that its utter trash.
The Great Gatsby is not overrated
It's garbage. In fact, pretty much everything taught in english classes is garbage, as if it is selected to make people hate reading. Whether it is Tale of Two Cities, or Death of a Salesman, it is all flaming hot dumpster fires.
I'd rather read John Galt's speech than anything by Dickens or Miller.
The only exception to the rule was when I had to read Ivanhoe. It was at least interesting.
I don't think we value the same things in art. From your comment about Galt you seem to like stirring, didactic approaches, whereas I appreciate the portrayal of Gatsby's vivid idealism and the mortality of his dream.
Unfortunately, people in high school English classes haven't even formed real dreams for the most part, let alone had their dreams injured, so the meaning is lost on them.
You misunderstand. Galt's speech was boring, repetitious, preachy fartsniffing, and it was still better than anything presented in English classes.
The great Gatsby is only good if you are taught to read it and pull put the symbolism. The whole point of the book was to pack in as much symbolism as possible. If you read it without looking for that its utter trash.