5.2 F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald, a key figure in 20th-century American literature, captured the spirit of the Jazz Age in his writing. His works, including The Great Gatsby, explore themes of wealth, class, and the American Dream, reflecting his own experiences and observations.

Fitzgerald's turbulent life, marked by early success, a tumultuous marriage to Zelda Sayre, and struggles with alcoholism, deeply influenced his writing. His lyrical prose and vivid characterizations continue to resonate with readers, cementing his place in the literary canon.

Early life and education

• Born in 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota to an upper-middle-class Catholic family
• Attended prestigious prep schools (Newman School, Princeton University) where he honed his writing skills and social ambitions
• Enlisted in the army during World War I but never deployed overseas, instead spending time at various camps across the United States

Literary career and influences

Short stories for magazines

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• Began writing short stories for popular magazines (The Saturday Evening Post, Esquire) in the early 1920s to support his lavish lifestyle
• These stories often featured young, ambitious characters pursuing wealth and status, reflecting Fitzgerald's own experiences and desires
• The commercial success of these stories allowed Fitzgerald to devote more time to his novels and establish himself as a professional writer

The Great Gatsby and literary fame

• Published The Great Gatsby in 1925, which became his most famous and enduring work
• The novel explores themes of wealth, class, and the decline of the American Dream through the story of Jay Gatsby and his obsession with the wealthy Daisy Buchanan
• While not initially a commercial success, The Great Gatsby solidified Fitzgerald's reputation as a major literary figure of the Jazz Age

Tender is the Night and decline

• Published Tender is the Night in 1934 after a long period of personal and creative struggles
• The novel, which drew heavily from Fitzgerald's own experiences with his wife Zelda's mental illness, received mixed reviews and marked a decline in his literary reputation
• Fitzgerald's alcoholism and financial difficulties also contributed to his diminished output and status in the later years of his career

Marriage to Zelda Sayre

Courtship and early years

• Met Zelda Sayre, a Southern socialite, in 1918 while stationed in Alabama during his army service
• Fitzgerald and Zelda's passionate and tumultuous courtship was marked by breaks and reconciliations due to Fitzgerald's financial instability and Zelda's hesitation to commit
• The couple eventually married in 1920 after the success of Fitzgerald's first novel, This Side of Paradise, which provided them with financial security and social status

Turbulent relationship and breakdowns

• The Fitzgeralds' marriage was characterized by extravagance, heavy drinking, and public scandals as they became celebrities of the Jazz Age
• Zelda's mental health began to deteriorate in the late 1920s, leading to hospitalizations and a diagnosis of schizophrenia
• The couple's relationship became increasingly strained as Fitzgerald struggled to balance his writing career with Zelda's medical expenses and care

Impact on Fitzgerald's writing

• Zelda served as a muse and inspiration for many of Fitzgerald's female characters, particularly in his early works (Rosalind in This Side of Paradise, Daisy in The Great Gatsby)
• The Fitzgeralds' personal struggles and Zelda's mental illness heavily influenced the themes and characters in Fitzgerald's later works, especially Tender is the Night
• Fitzgerald's need to support Zelda's medical treatment and their daughter Scottie's education often led him to prioritize commercial writing over his more ambitious literary projects

Themes in major works

American Dream vs disillusionment

• Fitzgerald's novels often explore the pursuit and ultimate failure of the American Dream, the idea that anyone can achieve success and happiness through hard work and determination
• Characters like Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver embody the disillusionment that comes from realizing the emptiness and corruption behind the glittering façade of wealth and status
• Fitzgerald critiques the materialism and moral decay of the Jazz Age, suggesting that the American Dream has been tainted by greed and superficiality

Wealth vs morality

• Fitzgerald's works frequently juxtapose the allure of wealth and luxury with the moral bankruptcy of the upper classes
• Characters like Tom and Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby represent the carelessness and selfishness of the rich, who prioritize their own pleasure over the well-being of others
• Fitzgerald suggests that the pursuit of wealth often comes at the cost of personal integrity and genuine human connection

East Coast vs Midwest values

• Many of Fitzgerald's novels and stories contrast the sophistication and decadence of the East Coast with the traditional values and simplicity of the Midwest
• Characters like Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby and Amory Blaine in This Side of Paradise navigate the tensions between their Midwestern roots and the allure of the East Coast elite
• Fitzgerald often portrays the Midwest as a place of authenticity and moral grounding, while the East Coast represents the corruption and artificiality of modern society

Past vs present

• Fitzgerald's works are often infused with a sense of nostalgia for a lost past, whether it be the pre-war innocence of his own youth or the romantic ideals of an earlier era
• Characters like Jay Gatsby and Dick Diver are haunted by their inability to recapture the past or live up to their own idealized memories
• Fitzgerald suggests that the rapid changes and dislocations of modern life have created a sense of rootlessness and longing for a simpler, more stable time

Writing style and techniques

Lyrical prose and symbolism

• Fitzgerald's writing is known for its poetic, lyrical quality, with vivid descriptions and evocative imagery that capture the mood and atmosphere of a scene
• He often employs symbolism to convey deeper meanings and themes, such as the green light at the end of Daisy's dock in The Great Gatsby, which represents Gatsby's unattainable dream
• Fitzgerald's use of language and symbolism elevates his works beyond mere storytelling and imbues them with a sense of beauty and profundity

Autobiographical elements

• Many of Fitzgerald's works draw heavily from his own life experiences, including his marriage to Zelda, his struggles with alcoholism, and his time in the Hollywood film industry
• Characters like Amory Blaine in This Side of Paradise and Dick Diver in Tender is the Night are often seen as fictional alter-egos of Fitzgerald himself
• By incorporating autobiographical elements into his writing, Fitzgerald adds a layer of authenticity and emotional depth to his stories and characters

Vivid characterization

• Fitzgerald is known for his ability to create complex, memorable characters who embody the hopes, dreams, and flaws of their era
• He often uses dialogue and interior monologue to reveal the inner lives and motivations of his characters, making them feel like fully realized individuals
• Fitzgerald's characters, such as Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan, have become iconic figures in American literature, representing the aspirations and failures of their generation

Social commentary and satire

• Beneath the surface of Fitzgerald's glittering prose lies a sharp social commentary on the excesses and inequalities of the Jazz Age
• He often uses satire and irony to critique the shallowness and hypocrisy of the upper classes, exposing the dark underbelly of the American Dream
• Fitzgerald's works serve as a mirror to the society of his time, reflecting both the glamour and the disillusionment of the post-war era

Legacy and influence

Critical reception and reassessment

• During his lifetime, Fitzgerald's works received mixed reviews, with some critics praising his talent while others dismissed him as a mere chronicler of the Jazz Age
• After his death, Fitzgerald's reputation underwent a significant reassessment, with scholars and readers recognizing the depth and complexity of his writing
• Today, Fitzgerald is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century, with his works studied and admired for their artistic merit and social relevance

Adaptations in film and theater

• Many of Fitzgerald's works have been adapted into films, plays, and television series, attesting to their enduring popularity and cultural significance
• Notable adaptations include the 1974 film version of The Great Gatsby starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, and the 2013 film directed by Baz Luhrmann with Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan
• These adaptations have helped to introduce Fitzgerald's stories and characters to new generations of audiences and have contributed to his ongoing legacy

Influence on 20th century literature

• Fitzgerald's writing has had a profound influence on subsequent generations of American writers, who have drawn inspiration from his themes, style, and techniques
• His exploration of the American Dream, his critique of wealth and status, and his portrayal of the Jazz Age have become defining features of American literature in the 20th century
• Writers such as J.D. Salinger, Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck have all acknowledged Fitzgerald's influence on their own work, cementing his place in the canon of American literature

Later years and death

Hollywood years and screenwriting

• In the late 1930s, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood to work as a screenwriter, hoping to earn money to pay off his debts and support his family
• He worked on several films, including adaptations of his own short stories and uncredited rewrites of other scripts, but found the work unfulfilling and frustrating
• Fitzgerald's experiences in Hollywood, along with his observations of the film industry and its personalities, would later inspire his unfinished novel The Last Tycoon

Alcoholism and health issues

• Throughout his life, Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism, which had a detrimental effect on his health, relationships, and writing career
• His drinking habits became more severe in his later years, exacerbated by his financial difficulties and Zelda's ongoing mental health problems
• Fitzgerald's alcoholism, combined with his heavy smoking and poor diet, led to a decline in his physical health and ultimately contributed to his early death at the age of 44

Unfinished works and posthumous publications

• At the time of his death in 1940, Fitzgerald left behind several unfinished works, including the novel The Last Tycoon and a collection of short stories
• These works were later edited and published posthumously by Fitzgerald's friend and literary executor, Edmund Wilson
• The posthumous publication of these works, along with the reissue of Fitzgerald's earlier novels and stories, helped to revive interest in his writing and cement his reputation as a major figure in American literature