Bentley Teacher and Students Present Gatsby Theory in Academic Journal

It has been exactly a century since The Great Gatsby, the classic American novel, was published, sparking countless debates about class and society ever since. But some scholars—including a class of Bentley seniors and their teacher, Dr. Richard Gabri—have also started to push questions about Gatsby's race, arguing that Jay Gatsby is actually a Black man passing as white. 

Dr. Gabri and his students have garnered considerable attention for their research and subsequent writings, which will be published in English Literary History, an academic journal, next year. This past spring, they presented their ideas and theory at the American Literature Association Conference in Chicago, holding their ground against a room of esteemed academics who were not all in agreement with their findings. 

They’ve also connected with scholars around the country on the topic, including Dr. Carlyle Van Thompson, a professor at Medgar Evers College, City University of New York who has written extensively about this theory on Gatsby’s identity. And this morning, they were featured in a piece on KQED, celebrating the centennial of The Great Gatsby and this group of inspired scholars. You can read more on the KQED website. Congratulations to Dr. Gabri and his students on this well-deserved recognition and for having the curiosity to ask push further and deeper questions about one of the great American novels.