The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald Born: Sept 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Named after ancestor (Francis Scott Key). Educated at the best schools his family could afford.
FAMILY BACKGROUND Came from a family in which his mother was new money and his father was old money. Father failed at his business; therefore, they were not wealthy. However, he always on the fringes of the wealthy society. Just like Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, he was both a part of the wealthy world but also an onlooker.
Princeton and Genevra King Entered Princeton with the hope of fulfilling his social success. Did not do well in school, was too preoccupied with activities such as writing and acting. Went home on break and fell in love with 16-year-old Ginevra King. Ginevra King
Impact of Love for Ginevra Came from family of charm and social position. When she went to school became interested in boys who were wealthy. Was the inspiration for many of Fitz- gerald’s characters, such as Isadore in This Side of Paradise and Judy Jones In “Winter Dreams,” the forerunner story for The Great Gatsby.
Description of Ginevra as a Character in a Fitzgerald story She “communicated her excitement to him, lavishly, deeply, with kisses that were not a promise but a fulfillment. They aroused in him not hunger demand- ing renewal but surfeit that would demand more surfeit… It did not take him many hours to decide that he had wanted Judy Jones ever since he was a proud, desirous little boy.” ( Short Stories p. 226)
Involvement in W. W. I Enlisted for training program which gave him college credit. Began writing in training camp. Sent to Camp Sheridan outside of Montgomery, Alabama. In July he met Zelda Sayer at a dance at the Montgomery Country Club, but did not fall in love with her until September, the same month Ginevra King was married.
Zelda Sayer Was an extremely popular Southern belle with a natural beauty. Not only attracted to her charms, but also as the most popular girl in her group. She refused to commit to him until he was financially successful. This Side of Paradise was published in March 1920, and they were married on April 3rd.
Living in the “Jazz Age” The beautiful couple tried to keep up with the stories told about their many antics and live up to their celebrity in what was now the “Jazz Age,” a name coined by Fitzgerald himself. “ a whole race gone Hedonistic , deciding on pleasure.” Echoes of the Jazz Age” Their conduct was one of parties, drinking and dancing until they collapsed.
The Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald (cont.) The two have a daughter – Frances (Scottie) 1925 – The Great Gatsby is published. Parties and alcoholism continues. Zelda finally has a breakdown and dies in a fire at the psychiatric hospital.
THOUGHTS ON WRITING AND THE GREAT GATSBY “An author ought to write for the youth of his generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmasters of ever afterward.” What little I’ve accomplished has been by the most laborious and uphill work, and I wish now I’d never relaxed or looked back—but said at the end of The Great Gatsby: “I’ve found my line—from now on this comes first. This is my immediate duty—without this I am nothing.”
Great Gatsby Information Time period – 1920’s Setting – East Egg, West Egg, NYC List of Main Characters Nick Carraway (narrator) Tom Buchanan Daisy Fay Buchanan Jordan Baker Jay Gatsby George Wilson Myrtle Wilson
The Jazz Age Prohibition Speakeasies Bootlegging Organized Crime Dancing Flappers Women’s rights
1920 # of radios in homes – 2,000 First radio broadcast aired More people in the city than in the country # of radios in homes – 2,000 First radio broadcast aired League of Nations established 19th Amendment – women granted the right to vote in the US
1921 Warren G. Harding is inaugurated as President of the United States of America Knee length skirts become fashionable The first Miss America pageant First drive-in food place
1922 Flapper dress makes its debut Speakeasies in NYC = 5,000 First radio commercial broadcast
1923 Hollywood sign goes up Americans see on avg. 1 movie/week President Harding dies Vice President Coolidge becomes President 15 million cars registered in the US Charleston dance becomes popular
1924 # of radios in US homes – 2.5 million 1st Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Coolidge is reelected
1925 Fitzgerald publishes The Great Gatsby Hitler publishes Mein Kampf The first woman Governor of a U.S. state (Wyoming) is elected. The Scopes Trial Evolution in schools debate First trial broadcast over the radio Frisbie invented
1926 1 in 6 Americans owns a car 1st supermarket 40 hour work week (used to be 84 hour) 1 in 6 Americans owns a car 1st supermarket Mae West – arrested for moving navel during play US woman swims the English Channel Deaths due to bad booze in NYC = 750
1927 Charles Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic Ocean First talking movie (The Jazz Singer) Telephone service is opened between New York City and London (AT&T) Speakeasies in NYC = 30,000 Deaths due to bad booze in 1 hospital in NYC on New Year’s Eve = 41
1927 (continued) Al “Scarface” Capone earnings $100 million – alcohol sales $30 million – protection business $25 million – gambling $10 million – vice and sundry rackets
1928 U.S. signs Briand-Kellogg Pact - outlawing war Amelia Earhart flies across the Atlantic Women compete for the first time in Olympic field events Penicillin discovered 1st televisions are sold - $75 Mickey Mouse in first cartoon Divorce rate – 1 in 6 marriages
1929 Empire State Building construction begins Speakeasies in NYC = 32,000 – 100,000 Speakeasies in Chicago = 10,000 Valentine’s Day Massacre “Bugs” Moran gang killed by Al Capone’s men Car radio invented Stock Market crash October 29 “Black Tuesday” $9 billion lost on that one day
1920’s compared to today
1920’s compared to today
1920’s compared to today
1920s and today
1920’s compared to today
1920’s compared to today
1920’s compared to today
1920’s compared to today
1920’s compared to today
1920’s compared to today
1920’s compared to today
DEATH OF FITZGERALD Burdened by the financial responsibilities of Zelda’s care, plus the expense of educating his daughter, he turned out a stream of short stories. In desperation, Fitzgerald accepted a job writing Hollywood scripts—which he considered humiliating work. After declining health, he suffered a series of heart attacks and died in California in 1940.
Since Fitzgerald writes of this “Lost Generation” of people and changing time in America’s history, on his gravestone, Fitzgerald leaves this message from his novel, The Great Gatsby. “So we beat on, boats against the current borne back ceaselessly into the past.”