Last week, two graduating English majors presented their capstone research on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby to members of the Ellicottville Memorial Library’s community. Kelsey Mussen and Claire Woodcock were working with library director Laura Flanagan and members of the Fredonia English Department’s one section of the Senior Seminar class. Their mission was to bring the enjoyment of literary analysis and lifelong learning to the public under the guidelines of the NEA’s Big Read.
Before gathering in the Community Room, Kelsey and Claire joined members of the library’s book club around the lavish fireplace, as they reflected on memorable scenes and lines Fitzgerald’s most eulogized novel. The book club primed Kelsey and Claire to build off many general and gender specific topics regarding the central characters of the novel: Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, and Jordan Baker.
Claire, Kelsey, and the community members contemplated the meaning of the “American Dream,” before challenging the attendees to consider how early twentieth century social ideals of gender and sexuality privileged or disadvantaged characters ability to obtain their “American Dream(s).” Participants were asked to reconsider the character’s conflicts and perspectives from a hypothetical gender switch. In this way, they were able to look at how the “American Dream” was a different experience for men and women in lieu of social expectations.
After the event, the library’s director and patrons praised the presentation’s detail and the precision in planning that took place behind-the-scenes. Both parties celebrated the intricate work that went into making it the most involved NEA Big Read program that the Ellicottville Memorial Library has seen in years. Claire and Kelsey valued the participation and insight that the community members brought to the event, making this a truly fruitful gathering.
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