Photo Credit Ms. B ’16 and Edited by Harper Clark ’26

POV: Gatsby sees Daisy with another man.

It’s officially the week of Prom, where our theme is the Roaring Twenties and the juniors just read “The Great Gatsby;” this correlation has led Ms. B ’16’s period 6 Journalism class to wonder how Jay Gatsby would ask Daisy Buchanan to Prom.

Now, I have my own ideas, considering the fact that I have read the book many times, but first, let us hear from a few others. 

To start off, English Teacher Ms. Luna has some pretty good ideas: “If Jay Gatsby is inviting Daisy to Prom, it would not be subtle. It would be theatrical, romantic and just a little over the top.” 

She continued by giving us an exact representation of what would happen: “Picture this: the sun is setting and Gatsby has invited Daisy over for dinner. Lights are draped across the courtyard. A table set with white roses (her favorite), crystal glasses with sparkling cider and vintage jazz is playing softly in the background. For the Promposal, a uniformed friend (playing the role of a butler) hands Daisy a cream-colored envelope sealed with wax. Inside is a handwritten note: My dearest Daisy, I have spent many evenings dreaming of a night worthy as you. A night of music, dancing and a little bit of magic. Won’t you make it unforgettable by going to Prom with me? Yours always, Gatsby. As she looks up, Gatsby is in a crisp suit. Behind him, a sign lights up: ‘Daisy, will you go to prom with me?’ Then they finish the night with dinner and a personal and private firework show.” That sounds pretty on point to me! Although, if Gatsby is involved, I’m not sure it would go this smoothly. 

Servite Senior Jaden Rasic has a different take on how he would ask Daisy if he were Gatsby, but he still imagines it to be a big production: “I would throw a rager just for Daisy; I would have Daisy’s diabolical party as the flyer, and I would charge everyone. I would take all the money and buy her a ring to ask her to Prom.” Wow. This seems more 21st century of Gatsby, but Jaden is definitely onto something! 

Now, time for my opinion: Gatsby would definitely find out about Prom through someone else (probably the guy that’s actually taking Daisy) and would not stop thinking about how he is going to ask until he actually does.

It would definitely be a big production, but Gatsby would never think it was big enough and would continue to add entities that will just result in a bigger disaster. I am not entirely sure the exact way he would ask her, but there would definitely be some form of green fire (representing the green light). His idea would sadly backfire (get it?) and the chemicals turning the fire green would react with the heat, causing it to explode and burn down his set up. 

Daisy would kindly decline Gatsby, but in a way that is still flirtatious enough so that he never stops chasing her; she has tricked him into thinking that there is still a chance. She would then go on to invite him to join her group, and Gatsby would be ecstatic.

On the day of prom, Gatsby would have another big surprise set up for Daisy. This production would take too long for him to set up, and they would leave without him. Gatsby would show up to the park where they took pictures, and the bus would be driving off.

Overall, Gatsby would be shocked that Daisy once again let him down, but he is planning on asking her to Homecoming the next year.