F. Scott Fitzgerald & F. Scott Fitzgerald & The The Great GatsbyGreat Gatsby

The Roaring 20The Roaring 20’’ss The 20The 20’’s are also referred to as s are also referred to as ““The The

Jazz Age,Jazz Age,”” a term coined by F. Scott a term coined by F. Scott FitzgeraldFitzgerald

The Jazz Age began with the end of The Jazz Age began with the end of WWI, at a time when, for the first WWI, at a time when, for the first time, the U.S. had emerged as a time, the U.S. had emerged as a world power.world power.

The Jazz Age ended with the stock The Jazz Age ended with the stock market crash of 1929.market crash of 1929.

This decade saw changes in lifestyle This decade saw changes in lifestyle and technology that revolutionized and technology that revolutionized American life in such a way that it American life in such a way that it has never been the same since.has never been the same since.

The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby Era in Era in AmericaAmerica

Model-T became a way of life and people could Model-T became a way of life and people could travel as never beforetravel as never before

Mail order catalogues, such as Sears, came out Mail order catalogues, such as Sears, came out and Americans had access to world’s biggest and Americans had access to world’s biggest storesstores

Hollywood was becoming a factory of the world’s Hollywood was becoming a factory of the world’s daydreams; Wall Street – the world’s money martdaydreams; Wall Street – the world’s money mart

Americans became obsessed Americans became obsessed with the with the frivolousfrivolous: : alcohol, music, dancing, alcohol, music, dancing, and sexand sex

F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald

said to be representative of the said to be representative of the American viewpoint because:American viewpoint because: He was one of America’s greatest He was one of America’s greatest

dreamers.dreamers. He reflected America’s exaggerated He reflected America’s exaggerated

hopes and dreams, especially hopes and dreams, especially The The American DreamAmerican Dream..

He was self-indulgent.He was self-indulgent. He was passionate and committed and He was passionate and committed and

he died “with his boots on.”he died “with his boots on.”

Early BiographyEarly Biography Born Sept. 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Born Sept. 24, 1896 in St. Paul,

Minnesota. Full name Francis Scott Key Minnesota. Full name Francis Scott Key FitzgeraldFitzgerald

His parents were Mary McQuillan, the His parents were Mary McQuillan, the daughter of Irish immigrants, and Edward daughter of Irish immigrants, and Edward Fitzgerald, a salesman. Both were Fitzgerald, a salesman. Both were Catholic.Catholic.

His early life is shaped by the fact that his His early life is shaped by the fact that his mother’s family is wealthy but his father is mother’s family is wealthy but his father is unsuccessful at business so money is unsuccessful at business so money is always an issue. He is poor but he attends always an issue. He is poor but he attends prep. Schools (St. Paul Academy, then the prep. Schools (St. Paul Academy, then the Newman School, a Catholic prep school in Newman School, a Catholic prep school in New Jersey) which make him feel like an New Jersey) which make him feel like an outsider.outsider.

Enters Princeton University in 1913. Enters Princeton University in 1913. Tries, unsuccessfully, to play for the Tries, unsuccessfully, to play for the football team. football team.

Writes for the Writes for the Princeton TigerPrinceton Tiger and and begins to write and act in plays. begins to write and act in plays. Impresses peers this way.Impresses peers this way.

Falls in love with Genevra King, a Falls in love with Genevra King, a wealthy young socialite but is wealthy young socialite but is rejected. He is not wealthy enough.rejected. He is not wealthy enough.

1915--drops out of Princeton1915--drops out of Princeton 1916--returns to Princeton1916--returns to Princeton

Scott & Zelda FitzgeraldScott & Zelda Fitzgerald On academic probation, On academic probation,

Fitzgerald joined the army as a Fitzgerald joined the army as a 2nd lieutenant in 1917 as a 2nd lieutenant in 1917 as a second lieutenant.second lieutenant.

First novel attempt, First novel attempt, The The Romantic Egoist,Romantic Egoist, is rejected. is rejected.

June 1918: While on assignment June 1918: While on assignment in Montgomery, AL, he fell in love in Montgomery, AL, he fell in love with Zelda Sayre, daughter of an with Zelda Sayre, daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge.Alabama Supreme Court judge.

She broke off their engagement in She broke off their engagement in 1919 (end of WWI) because she 1919 (end of WWI) because she was unwilling to live on Scott’s was unwilling to live on Scott’s small salary.small salary.

Theirs is one of the great love stories of their time!

Literary Career BeginningsLiterary Career Beginnings 1919--Working in 1919--Working in

advertising, Fitzgerald is advertising, Fitzgerald is living with his parents living with his parents and writing.and writing.

June 1919: Fitzgerald June 1919: Fitzgerald returns to St. Paul, MN to returns to St. Paul, MN to rewrite his novel, rewrite his novel, This Side This Side of Paradiseof Paradise..

In the fall of that year, he In the fall of that year, he begins writing stories in begins writing stories in mass-circulation magazines. mass-circulation magazines.

He wrote many stories for He wrote many stories for the the Saturday Evening Post Saturday Evening Post describing the free-thinking describing the free-thinking flappers of the 1920’s.flappers of the 1920’s.

Overnight FameOvernight Fame March 26, 1920: March 26, 1920: This Side of This Side of

ParadiseParadise is published, making is published, making the 24 year-old Fitzgerald the 24 year-old Fitzgerald famous almost overnight. famous almost overnight.

This Side of ParadiseThis Side of Paradise captured the hopes of captured the hopes of success of Americans but success of Americans but also the fears of failure and also the fears of failure and poverty.poverty.

One week later, he marries One week later, he marries Zelda Sayre in New York.Zelda Sayre in New York.

NOTE:* A reoccurring theme that runs throughout Fitzgerald’s best works is that happiness and success are unattainable.

““He could glamorize wealth He could glamorize wealth and yet stand away from the and yet stand away from the people who had it – and look people who had it – and look

at their values with utter at their values with utter detachment and sometimes detachment and sometimes

with horror.”with horror.”

During the next 5-10 years, Zelda and F. Scott During the next 5-10 years, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald are at the center of Jazz Age culture, Fitzgerald are at the center of Jazz Age culture, and regularly appear in gossip magazines. and regularly appear in gossip magazines. They They were the talk of the town! were the talk of the town! What was their life What was their life like?like?

• She was wild! Some would say She was wild! Some would say CRAZYCRAZY!!• He was an alcoholic!He was an alcoholic!• They partied hard!They partied hard!• He worked hard also.He worked hard also.• They both had affairs but loved each other deeply!They both had affairs but loved each other deeply!

Their Extravagant LivingTheir Extravagant Living

Scott & Zelda begin to Scott & Zelda begin to live as young live as young celebrities, socializing celebrities, socializing and drinking heavily. and drinking heavily.

They take their first They take their first trip to Europe in 1921.trip to Europe in 1921.

October 1921: Their October 1921: Their first and only child, first and only child, Frances Scott Frances Scott (Scottie) Fitzgerald is (Scottie) Fitzgerald is born.born.

Early StumblingEarly Stumbling 1922 – 1922 – The Beautiful and the The Beautiful and the

DamnedDamned 1922 – Tales of the Jazz Age 1922 – Tales of the Jazz Age

(short stories)(short stories) Fall, 1922: The young family Fall, 1922: The young family

moves to Great Neck, NY, moves to Great Neck, NY, expecting to earn a lot of expecting to earn a lot of money from Scott’s play, money from Scott’s play, The The VegetableVegetable. .

1923: The play bombs, and 1923: The play bombs, and Scott has to write short Scott has to write short stories to get out of debt. stories to get out of debt.

Scott’s drinking increases. Scott’s drinking increases. He and Zelda fight often. He and Zelda fight often.

Fitzgerald and the ExpatriatesFitzgerald and the Expatriates

During the mid 1920’s During the mid 1920’s in Paris, Fitzgerald in Paris, Fitzgerald becomes part of the becomes part of the group of expatriate group of expatriate American writers American writers which included Ernest which included Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Ezra Stein, and Ezra Pound. Pound.

Further EstrangementFurther Estrangement During the 1920’s, Scott During the 1920’s, Scott

and Zelda’s relationship and Zelda’s relationship continues to be strained continues to be strained due to his drinking and her due to his drinking and her mental instability. They mental instability. They live in Paris, the Riviera, live in Paris, the Riviera, and a mansion near and a mansion near Wilmington, DE. Wilmington, DE.

Even though Fitzgerald Even though Fitzgerald earns about $4,000 per earns about $4,000 per story (equal to about story (equal to about $40,000 today), he and $40,000 today), he and Zelda continue to run into Zelda continue to run into debt. debt.

Gatsby is BornGatsby is Born Spring 1924: The Fitzgeralds go Spring 1924: The Fitzgeralds go

to France. to France.

Summer 1924: Scott starts Summer 1924: Scott starts writing writing The GreatThe Great GatsbyGatsby. Zelda . Zelda has a relationship with a French has a relationship with a French pilot.pilot.

Winter 1924-25: The Fitzgeralds Winter 1924-25: The Fitzgeralds go to Rome where Scott revises go to Rome where Scott revises GatsbyGatsby. .

April 1925:April 1925:The Great Gatsby – The Great Gatsby – the defining novel of the 20’s –the defining novel of the 20’s –critical reviews are positive, but critical reviews are positive, but sales remain low.sales remain low.

1930’s1930’s The Fitzgeralds rent a house The Fitzgeralds rent a house

in Montgomery, AL in 1931. in Montgomery, AL in 1931. Scott makes an unsuccessful Scott makes an unsuccessful trip to Hollywood; Zelda suffers trip to Hollywood; Zelda suffers a mental breakdown in 1932 a mental breakdown in 1932 and is hospitalized.and is hospitalized.

19301930----Suffering her first Suffering her first of manyof many emotional breakdowns, emotional breakdowns, Zelda is hospitalized in Paris. Later diagnosed with Zelda is hospitalized in Paris. Later diagnosed with schizophrenia.schizophrenia.

1932--As his popularity as a novelist declines, Fitzgerald 1932--As his popularity as a novelist declines, Fitzgerald begins to work on movie scripts for MGM to work himself begins to work on movie scripts for MGM to work himself out of debt. He despises Hollywood, and despises himself out of debt. He despises Hollywood, and despises himself for having to write “commercially.”for having to write “commercially.”

1936-37: Scott drinks, gets into more 1936-37: Scott drinks, gets into more debt, and lives in hotels near Asheville, debt, and lives in hotels near Asheville, NC. Zelda enters a nearby hospital.NC. Zelda enters a nearby hospital.

• 1932-1940--As Zelda’s mental state

worsens, the Fitzgeralds gradually separate.

1934--1934--Tender is the Night Tender is the Night (last finished novel) (last finished novel) is unpopular because it is published after the is unpopular because it is published after the start of The Great Depression and it is about start of The Great Depression and it is about people with money. People didn’t want to people with money. People didn’t want to read about success and excess when they read about success and excess when they didn’t have enough!didn’t have enough!

The Last YearsThe Last Years

Despite earning $91,000 from MGM, he is Despite earning $91,000 from MGM, he is unable to save any money.unable to save any money.

1938: He falls in love with Sheilah Graham, a 1938: He falls in love with Sheilah Graham, a movie columnist.movie columnist.

Dec 21, 1940: Fitzgerald dies of a heart attack Dec 21, 1940: Fitzgerald dies of a heart attack in Graham’s apartment.in Graham’s apartment.

1940 - 1948—Zelda Fitzgerald spends next 1940 - 1948—Zelda Fitzgerald spends next eight years in and out of institutions and dies in eight years in and out of institutions and dies in a fire at Highland Hospital in Ashland, NC in a fire at Highland Hospital in Ashland, NC in 1948.1948.

His unfinished novel is His unfinished novel is The Last Tycoon The Last Tycoon about Hollywood.about Hollywood.

Summer 1937: Fitzgerald goes to Summer 1937: Fitzgerald goes to Hollywood with a screenwriting contract Hollywood with a screenwriting contract earning $1,000/ week.earning $1,000/ week.

Fitzgerald’s DeathFitzgerald’s Death“On December 21, 1940 -- the Winter Solstice -- the author F.

Scott Fitzgerald jolted to his feet from a green armchair, grasped hold of a marble mantlepiece, and fell down dead of a massive heart attack. He was forty-four years old. His woman companion of three-and-a half years ran out into the hallway and began knocking frantically on doors of their small Hollywood apartment building on Laurel Avenue, just south of Sunset Boulevard, crying desperately for help. She refused to accept that Scott was dead, even later when the ambulance came, and a fire engine also, and a fireman stood over the body and shook his head.

The name of the woman was Sheilah Graham, Fitzgerald's last heroine -- a young, pretty Hollywood newspaper columnist.”

--Robert Westbrook, son of Sheilah Graham

Fitzgerald’s LegacyFitzgerald’s Legacy

Although Fitzgerald’s drinking gave him a reputation as an Although Fitzgerald’s drinking gave him a reputation as an irresponsible writer, he was a painstaking reviser. irresponsible writer, he was a painstaking reviser.

While he endured a lot of criticism just after his death, his While he endured a lot of criticism just after his death, his reputation grew in the 1960’s. reputation grew in the 1960’s.

Today, he is considered one of the great American novelists, Today, he is considered one of the great American novelists, and and The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby is considered his masterpiece. is considered his masterpiece.

““Gatsby believed in the green light, the Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter – tomorrow we but that’s no matter – tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms will run faster, stretch out our arms farther . . . And one fine morning ------”farther . . . And one fine morning ------”

This quote describing Gatsby at the end of his novel could just as easily describe Fitzgerald himself.

Enduring AssociationsEnduring Associations Fitzgerald has become Fitzgerald has become

identified with the identified with the extravagant living of the extravagant living of the Jazz Age: Jazz Age: “ “It was an age of It was an age of miracles, it was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire.”and it was an age of satire.”

--F. Scott Fitzgerald--F. Scott Fitzgerald He felt that aspiration and He felt that aspiration and

idealism defined America idealism defined America and its people. and its people.

His writing style is known His writing style is known for being clear, lyrical, and for being clear, lyrical, and witty.witty.

Sources:Sources: www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/biography.htmlwww.sc.edu/fitzgerald/biography.html www.orionmcs1.freeservers.com/Fitzgerald-1.htmlwww.orionmcs1.freeservers.com/Fitzgerald-1.html www.rarebookonline.com/Fax_Jackets/thissideofparadise.jpgwww.rarebookonline.com/Fax_Jackets/thissideofparadise.jpg www.born-today.com/Today/09-24.htmwww.born-today.com/Today/09-24.htm www.zeldathemusical.com/fitzgeralds/index.aspwww.zeldathemusical.com/fitzgeralds/index.asp www.planetbunky.com/illustrations/zelda.htmlwww.planetbunky.com/illustrations/zelda.html www.ellisparkerbutler.info/epb/pic/v07/saturday_evening_post_1918_11_16_a.jpgwww.ellisparkerbutler.info/epb/pic/v07/saturday_evening_post_1918_11_16_a.jpg www.riverwalk.org/proglist/showpromo/1927_heart.htmwww.riverwalk.org/proglist/showpromo/1927_heart.htm