F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby

The Fitzgeralds-The Golden Couple of the 20s

Francis Scott Born 1896 St. Paul Minnesota Upper middle class childhood Attended Princeton, then dropped out to join the army in 1917 (while stationed in Alabama met Zelda) First success was This Side of Paradise in 1919 Wrote The Great Gatsby in 1925 Died at the age of 44

Zelda Born July 24, 1900 in Montgomery Alabama Prominent southern family $$$ Zelda was a classic southern belle, excelling in dance and social events, also a painter and dabbled in writing seen as the ideal Flapper she and Scott had a daughter,Frances Scott "Scottie" Fitzgerald, born 1921 had an affair with a french naval aviator

The Fitzgeralds Zelda broke off the engagement and only married F. Scott after his novel This Side of Paradise was successful "I have so many things dependent on its success- including of course a girl." Enjoyed fame and fortune, traveled all over the world, live a glamorous yet self- destructive life F. Scott was an alcoholic and Zelda was diagnosed as a schizophrenic, their relationship was strained...

The Great Gatsby Themes o wealth (old and new), class structure o women's roles in society o The achievability of the American Dream o morals and lack thereof in the 1920's o happiness The Great Gatsby explores the classic 20's wealthy society through the narration of Nick Carraway who has just moved to New York from the Midwest. This offers an interesting point of view as an outsider becomes immersed in the story. Begins in the spring of 1922 In many ways, The Great Gatsby parallels Fitzgerald's life

East Egg: Old Money This is where Tom and Daisy Buchanan live West Egg: New Money Where Gatsby and Nick reside (although Nick is only renting a small house) Valley of Ashes: industrial, a dump Where Mrytle and Wilson's live

Characters Nick Carraway: The novel’s narrator, Nick, is a young man who goes to New York City to learn the bond business. He claims he is honest, tolerant, and inclined to reserve judgment. Nick often serves as a confidant for those with troubling secrets. The Great Gatsby is told entirely through Nick’s eyes; his thoughts and perceptions shape and color the story. Jay Gatsby: Gatsby is an extremely wealthy young man living in a mansion in West Egg. He is famous for the lavish parties he throws on Saturday nights, but no one knows where he comes from, what he does, or how he made his fortune.

Characters Daisy Buchanan: Daisy is a beautiful socialite, and she lives with Tom Buchanan (her husband) across from Gatsby in the fashionable East Egg district of Long Island. Daisy has a very unique and musical voice, which draws characters close to her. Tom Buchanan: Daisy’s immensely wealthy husband. Tom was a football player at Yale and he is powerfully built and extremely intimidating. Tom is from a socially prominent, “old money” family. Jordan Baker: Jordan is Daisy’s friend, and she is staying with the Buchanans. Jordan is a competitive golfer, and she represents one of the “new women” of the 1920s

Fitzgerald’s House

Roaring 20s the Lost Generation American poets, artists and writers living in Europe during the '20s immigration act of 1924 (caused by a fear of communism, immigrants, minorities (resurgence of KKK)) "According to the U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian the purpose of the act was "to preserve the ideal of American homogeneity." Congressional opposition was minimal." Office of the Historian economic boom after WWI

The Lost Generation Term popularized by Ernest Hemingway includes John Steinbeck and T.S. Elliot close contemporaries of early European Dadaism, the Art Deco movement, and surrealism Disillusioned in regards to society, skeptical about materialistic aspects.

Women's Movement women's suffrage movement 19th Amendment passed in 1919

Flappers Flappers- wore loose fitted clothes, cut their hair short, were labeled as promiscuous, smoke, drank, wore makeup, often worked outside of the home

Prohibition the ratification of the 18th Amendment in 1919, in effect until the 21st Amendment (1933) rise of organized crime and bootlegging o Al Capone speakeasies