By Mimi Yao and Ivy Li
From its meticulous symbolism to its shrewd criticism of the American Dream, The Great Gatsby is regarded by many to be one of the finest works of modern literature. Its critical denunciation of empty promises and corrupted dreams has cemented it as a favorite among readers worldwide, including SASPD high school’s co-head of English—Jeremy Gertzfield.
Mr. Gertzfield embarked on his teaching career 20 years ago and has been teaching at SAS for more than 10 years. He currently teaches English 10, AP Literature and Composition, and IB Literature. Join us on an interview with him to learn about the books and people that have impacted him the most.
Q1: Is there a character you feel a strong connection to in The Great Gatsby?
I would say Nick because he likes to think that he’s a really good guy. I feel like we all like to think that about ourselves, don’t we? That we’re good people, and we’re the only normal ones, and people trust us, and that we’re there for people and we’re loyal. So don’t think Nick always judges himself correctly and I think I share a lot of that with him.
Q2: We heard that you have a tattoo of a passage from The Great Gatsby. Is there some special meaning behind it?
I’ve always liked the ending [of The Great Gatsby]. Ever since the first time I read it, it just seemed really powerful. It gives me chills whenever I read it, no matter how many times I’ve read it. I really like the message in it about a refusal to give up even when it seems like there’s no chance at succeeding. I think that that’s important. Plus, I’ve always felt like it was something beautiful, just like the writing. I like how it sounds, and I like to read it, so I thought it would be a cool tattoo.
Q3: What thoughts do you have on watching movie adaptations of novels?
I would read the book first because if you see the movie first, all I can see is the movie. I can’t picture characters for myself, because all I can see are the actors. It makes it hard for me to actually envision things on my own. Regarding The Great Gatsby, a lot of the text and descriptions are very abstract in the beginning. That’s why we watch scenes from the movie for Chapter one. And I show Chapter two after you read it, because I think it’s useful to figure out as much of the text as possible, then using something like a movie to supplement what we’ve read, instead of the other way around. I think this helps students build their reading skills more.
Q4: How did you find your passion for reading?
Definitely my mom, she always read to my sister and I when we were kids. For holidays and birthdays, we used to love getting books. From as far back as I can remember, I always had a book with me. At family events people would laugh at me because I always had a book, and I would sit there and read. I was also the youngest out of everybody (the cousin who I’m closest to in age is seven or eight years older than me). So, I was always a little kid compared to them. And I remember reading my first Stephen King book when I was in sixth grade. I liked horror and that started a whole thing.
Q5: Do you have any book or author recommendations?
Well, anything by Stephen King. I always say that you start with The Shining because that’s the first one I read. I would recommend authors more than specific books. Other than Stephen King, Joe Hill, Chuck Palahniuk, and Clive Barker are some of my favorites.
Q6: A lot of people really like Stephen King’s work but there are also people who say that some of his books are commercial because he writes so fast. Do you have an opinion on these views?
I don’t think he writes as fast as some authors, and I know that he was an English teacher. He has a degree in English. For all authors, there are some hit or miss moments. There are some books of his that I think are really great, and some books that I think are not so great, but I know that there are a lot of people who see his work as having literary value. There are scholars who study his work and a lot of English teachers who teach his work. So, there are always people who will say that they don’t like an author or that they’re too commercial. Like I said, I think he has written things that I think are kind of garbage and commercial, but overall, I would disagree with people that call him a commercial author.
Reading is crucial to Mr. Gertzfield in both in his teaching and personal life. As he tells his students, analyzing literature helps you appreciate its beauty. For him, passion in reading and literature is not just a personal joy but also a tool he uses to inspire his students. While Mr. Gertzfield is encouraging his students to find their passion for reading, he is also reminding them that enthusiasm is the key to unlock their fullest potential and find joy in the process.
Mr. Gertzfield’s copy of The Great Gatsby, treasured since 2000