F. Scott Fitzgerald The Man and the Jazz Age
F. Scott Fitzgerald 1896-1940 He didn’t publish excessively: Five novels 178 short stories One “awful” play Many newspaper stories He wrote for money!
Fitzgerald felt there was a distinction between his serious and commercial work. His serious work = novels His commercial work = short stories Fitzgerald’s work made him rich but he was never rich enough.
In 1919 Fitzgerald made $879.00. He was in love with a young lady who loved money. To gain her love he decided to make some money. In 1920, he published his first novel and made $18,850. He was 24 years old and rich.
On April 3, 1920, Fitzgerald married Zelda Sayre at St On April 3, 1920, Fitzgerald married Zelda Sayre at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in N.Y.C. “The sunlight dripped over the house like golden paint over an art jar, and the freckling shadows here and there only intensified the rigor of the bath of light.”
They were THE hot celebrity couple Zelda was the first lady of flappers They were a famous and popular party couple. They were always in the news. They would do things like dive off of rooftops into swimming pools, ride down 5th Ave. on the tops of taxis and take a dip in The Plaza Hotel fountain. Once they spent a half an hour spinning in the revolving doors at the Plaza hotel. Once they spent a half an hour spinning in the revolving doors at the Plaza hotel.
They were friends with many famous people—the Hemmingways, Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, Picasso, etc. Both Scott and Zelda were heavy drinkers They were always an unhappy couple after 1924. Zelda had an affair and was mentally ill.
Major themes Fitzgerald explored: Plus, Zelda had taken part in that affair that left their marriage quite damaged. Major themes Fitzgerald explored: Youth The American Dream
The Fitzgeralds had one daughter named Scotty. When Zelda was in her 30’s she became obsessed with becoming a ballerina. She was hospitalized for exhaustion and diagnosed with schizophrenia. The Fitzgeralds had one daughter named Scotty. Fitzgerald became paranoid and an alcoholic.
He sometimes drank gin all day or up to 30 beers a day. He died at the age of 44 of a heart attack. Zelda died at the age of 48 in a fire in her hospital. Eight women died in that fire.
Fitzgerald’s novels This Side of Paradise The Beautiful and Damned The Great Gatsby (a classic novel) Tender is the Night The Last Tycoon (unfinished)
The Time Period F. Scott Fitzgerald was a spokesperson and chronicler of the Roaring 20’s, also called The Jazz Age. Roaring 20’s = Emphasis on youth Alcohol consumption (which was illegal during prohibition) Driving fast (up to 30 mph!) Dancing (Charleston) Free attitudes towards sex (largely due to one invention)…
THE AUTOMOBILE!!! For the first time ever young people were going out alone. Before the invention of the car, young people would “court” in the parlor with family close by.
Flapper Age 16-20 Modern girl Rich Wild Beautiful Short hair (which was shocking) Short skirt (which was shocking) Danced and drank and partied
Fitzgerald put himself in the center of this Jazz Age and considered himself the spokesman for it.
Rockville, Maryland Grave located in Maryland