Allusions to The Great Gatsby & The Enormous Radio

John Cheever, a cup of coffee, and the Long Island Express

We've talked aplenty about literary allusions in the books, plays, and stories we've read this year; but now that you have the basics of American literature behind you, I think you will find that you'll start noticing (and understanding) more and more literary allusions as you continue to read.

Just last week I was reading through JD Salinger's Franny and Zooey, when I came across this passage, narrated by Buddy Glass:

Somewhere in The Great Gatsby (which was my Tom Sawyer when I was twelve), the youthful narrator remarks that everybody suspects himself of having at least one of the cardinal virtues, and he goes on to say that he thinks his, bless his heart, is honesty. Mine, I think, is that I know the difference between a mystical story and a love story.

Salinger also makes a reference to Gatsby in The Catcher In The Rye when Holden says "Old Gatsby. Old sport. It kills me."

If we hadn't run out of time, our last assignment was going to be to read two stories by John Cheever: "The Swimmer" and "The Enormous Radio." The former is set on Long Island and makes reference to Gatsby; the latter is set in a Manhattan apartment building and is most definitely worth the read. Full text of "The Enormous Radio" is available by clicking on the link above.

May you have a summer blessed with time to read and enjoy many good books!