Louise Gluck, the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize award for literature in over 25 years, rose above her competition with her simplistic, family-orientated technique of executing poetry.

Within her writing career of over five decades, Gluck wrote pieces that focused on family through a Greek or Roman mythological lens. These pieces awarded her with not only fame and honor, but prizes including the National Book Award, the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the National Humanities Medal.

As one of America’s most celebrated poets, essayists and educators, Gluck is certainly deserving of the Nobel Prize.

Anders Olsson, the chairperson of the Nobel prize-giving committee, marked her  “unmistakable poetic voice”. Likewise, an editor for the New York Review of Books, Daniel Mendelsohn, claimed her writing to have “the quality of something standing almost as outside as time.”

Moreover, CHS Literary Magazine head and senior Jacynth Apora of Manalapan, shared her point of view as to why Gluck deserves all the recognition.

“I found that what she does so beautifully without pretension is what every writer should aspire to practice as they make their writing their own from all the hardships that she’s faced, she created collections of poetry that allow her to be honest in but not hung up on what she has experienced,” Apora said. 

Besides having a unique and beloved writing style, Gluck has also taken a stand in women empowerment. As the sixteenth woman to win the Nobel Prize after author Toni Morrison received it in 1993, she encourages women to achieve their very best .

Junior Isabel Lindsay of Aberdeen described why Gluck’s writing is inspirational to her as a female writer. 

“I think it’s very important for Louise Gluck’s work to be recognized because she deserves acknowledgement for all the work she’s done, especially being a woman,” Lindsay said. “It’s really inspiring for all women writers to know that their works can be appreciated”

Apora agreed, adding on to Lindsay’s words by addressing the fact that Gluck’s accomplishment will change the way the world views female writers.

“I hope this becomes a shift in the literary world, because women’s voices are definitely not properly acknowledged and praised as much as men’s,” Apora said.

Gluck is overwhelmed by the recognition she has received from winning this award. Despite the appreciation for the recognition, Gluck touched on how her everyday life has been affected by the award in her interview with the Nobel Prize Committee.

“I treasure my daily life and my friendships, and I didn’t want my daily life sacrificed but there’s also a kind of covetousness.,” Gluck said. “You want your work honored. Everyone does.”

The announcement of her Nobel Prize win came as a surprise to many, including Gluck herself. But it is inarguable that her work impacts the world today, proving that she deserves to be a Nobel Prize winner among the other titles that went along with the award.

“With everything that is going on in today’s world, her writing gives me hope that something raw and beautiful can come out of whatever we will have to face…” Apora said. “Gluck’s writing is evidence of … what this world needs right now.”