Woodruff In The Great Gatsby

Woodruff was a respectable man as well as accomplished in his occupation as an educator. Earlier in life, he was a professor of English at Virginia College for Negroes. After being newly retired, he had leisure activities planned, but these activities seemed insignificant after his wife died. Then, he was offered a job teaching at a high school in Wheeling, NY because the school systems were searching for one black teacher. He was well liked by his students at the high school. He was so successful with his English classes that it led to Dr. Shipley asking him to assist with a class of delinquent boys. He wanted to contribute to this small town that had treated him well, so he agreed.
Not only was Woodruff a reputable man, but he was also well-off. In the beginning of the novel, it is established when his car is described as a brand-new, expensive station wagon. He also recalls being in New York City and entering a store described as one of the “... thickly carpeted, lightly perfumed, crystal-chandeliered stores…” (p. 212) A store that he was able to purchase $500 worth of items from. An amount of $500 during the 1960’s is roughly $3000 in today’s money. This support the conclusion that Woodruff is a part of the greater middle class.
He was a black male, and that affected his mentality greatly. Indeed he owned a brand-new station wagon, yet when he found himself sniffing the new car scent, he stopped because he thought it was rather eager. Despite his ability to invest in it, it is likely that he thought he was not deserving of it. Perhaps one can argue that it is due to his good, unentitled character that he felt as though it is greedy. Nonetheless, this quality comes from his awareness of his race and has good reason to feel as though he does not belong where he