Essay Scott Fitzgerald

Submitted By mburns574
Words: 1382
Pages: 6
Open Document
Scott Fitzgerald the writer of ‘The Great Gatsby’ was born in 1896 into an upper middle class family in Minnesota. He spent the majority of his childhood from the age of two to seven in New York giving him an in depth knowledge to city life style costume of New York. He lived close to all of the wealthy St. Paul families, and could not help but notice the mansion belonging to railroad tycoon, James J. Hill, in walking distance from his own modest home. He wrote that he felt like an outsider throughout his childhood, for although he lived among them and socialized with them, the rich inhabited a different world. This idea was a key inspiration to The Great Gatsby.
His mother Mollie's family provided support for the family during the author's childhood. Indeed, although his family did not own their own home, they lived in a middle-class row house in the Summit Avenue section of St. Paul - an area inhabited by the wealthiest residents of the city. Thus, as a young boy, Fitzgerald's close friends were drawn from the city's richest residents - they were his dancing school partners, his drama club colleagues, and fellow guests at parties which he attended regularly.
From a young age his mother Mollie Fitzgerald, insured that he had a high level of education due to his indisputable talent and interest in literature, the first recognition of which was when he was just thirteen years old and his first piece of writing was published in a school news paper.
At the age of fifteen, Fitzgerald was sent to Newman School in New Jersey where Father Sigourney Fay also noticed his outstanding talent for writing and encouraged Fitzgerald to pursue a career in literature in Princeton University where he dedicated himself to focusing on his craft. He became a member of the Princeton Triangle club, a theatre group, and he also became involved in the American Whigcliopophich Society, both of which enhanced his literacy skills.
In 1914 at the age of eighteen whilst on a Christmas vacation, Fitzgerald met his first love; Ginevre King. According to letters and diary entries, they met at a sledding party and were completely infatuated with each other. Ginevre came from a very wealthy Chiacago background with her father being a very wealthy business. Their relationship came to an end despite their passionate relationship in 1917.
Also in 1917, Fitzgerald dropped out of school only to join the U.S. Army. It was Fitzgerald’s fear of being killed in action that inspired him to write his first novel, ‘The Romantic Egoist’ which he wrote in the weeks before he reported for duty. Later, Fitzgerald would be considered a ‘’Lost Generation’’ writer along with other famous authors such as Ernest Hemmingway and John Steinbeck. The Lost Generation referred to people who became of age just as World War I began, and many of whom enlisted to the army at such time. Fitzgerald was assigned to a camp in Alabama and it was here that be met his lover Zelda Sayre, the daughter of the Supreme Court judge at a dance at the Montgomery Country Club. By September, Fitzgerald declared that he was in love with her, ironically, the same month that his first love, Ginevra King was married.
Zelda was a natural beauty, with red-gold hair, fine features, and a graceful body. But what distinguished her from other young women was her spirit - playful, often rebellious, and even reckless. She was undoubtedly the perfect girl for Scott at that time, eager for success, a member of a prominent (but not wealthy) family, independent, and beautiful.
Their tempestuous relationship was reputedly the basis for some of his most famous works. Zelda Sayre was just 18 years old at the time and the two lovers met. It was deemed love at first sight between the two with Fitzgerald later describing Zelda as the ‘’golden girl’’. Although it was quite evident that the two were madly in love, Zelda would not agree to commit herself to marriage due to their lack of economic
Show More

Related Documents: Essay Scott Fitzgerald

Scott Fitzgerald Essays

Clarissa Chambers LIT1000 M/W Noon Project Paper F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Literary Legend Large parties filled with dancing sounds from instruments that were just becoming popular; ladies dressed in a newer style than what was ever seen before and showed a more intimate look that made the men want to dance. Flashy materialistic items were purchased and Hollywood was born. Social get-togethers and traditions were crushed by the Great War and a newer society was developed. During this period, also known…

Words 1746 - Pages 7

F Scott Fitzgerald Biography

like F. Scott Fitzgerald. He chronicled life in the Jazz Age in his novels while trying to establish himself in it. F Scott Fitzgerald captured the themes of the Roaring Twenties in his novels through his unique style. Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Mary McQuillan and Edward Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald’s family lived in New York for the first decade of his life, but moved back to St. Paul when Fitzgerald’s father lost his job. Fitzgerald displayed…

Words 1787 - Pages 8

F Scott Fitzgerald Essay

F Scott Fitzgerald Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, best known for his classic American novel The Great Gatsby, was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Born into an upper-middle class Irish Catholic household, Fitzgerald was named after his famous relative Francis Scott Key author of the "The Star-Spangled Banner," Fitzgerald was descended, on his father's side, from a long line of Marylanders. His mother, Mary McQuillan, was the daughter of an Irish immigrant who made his fortune as a…

Words 684 - Pages 3

F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald (September 24, 1896 – December 21, 1940) was an American author of novels and short stories, whose works are the paradigmatic writings of the Jazz Age[->0], a term he coined himself. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.[1] Fitzgerald is considered a member of the "Lost Generation[->1]" of the 1920s. He finished four novels: This Side of Paradise[->2], The Beautiful and Damned[->3], The Great Gatsby[->4] (his most famous),…

Words 1625 - Pages 7

F Scott Fitzgerald Research Paper

say something, you write because you have something to say.” American novelist and short story writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald, explains the purpose behind his writing with this quote. As one of the most iconic writers of the twenties, it is quite ironic that he was so diligent about putting purpose in his literature because in reality, he felt there was no purpose to his life (“F. Scott Fitzgerald Biography”). From moving often as a child, to not knowing how to handle money or family as an adult, Fitzgerald’s…

Words 1045 - Pages 5

F. Scott Fitzgerald Research Paper

F. Scott Fitzgerald is in many ways one of the most notable writers of the twentieth century. His prodigious literary voice and style provides remarkable insight into the lifestyles of the rich and famous, as well as himself. Exploring themes such as disillusionment, coming of age, and the corruption of the American Dream, Fitzgerald based most of his subject matter on his own despicable, tragic life experiences. Although he was thought to be the trumpeter of the Jazz Age, he never directly identified…

Words 1473 - Pages 6

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

The marxist critical theory critiques capitalism and its overall success. The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, has many critiques of the capitalist system through this particular lens. The book critiques capitalism through its views on the classes of America during the 1920s. The very opening of The Great Gatsby sets the tone for a book about society and class. We know immediately that the narrator is privileged, and that he is painfully conscious of it. In the beginning Nick talks about his…

Words 322 - Pages 2

History Of F. Scott Fitzgerald In Hollywood

Francesca Succi Dr. Siegel December 4, 2013 Major Authors/Traditions Research Paper F. Scott Fitzgerald in Hollywood Although most of Fitzgerald’s time in Hollywood during the 1930’s revolved mainly around outlining and creating The Last Tycoon, in looking at an overview his life we can almost see this book coming, along with The Crack Up essays. Throughout all of Fitzgerald’s work, including his early life, we can clearly see his interest in the Hollywood culture. This interest in Hollywood not…

Words 1061 - Pages 5

Essay on F. Scott Fitzgerald and Dexter

Dream F. Scott Fitzgerald does not fail to do the same, he weaves together characters, emotion, and motivation to express the theme of the story. But I love most how he can lead the reader to extract many themes from his story. Fitzgerald shows how his character strives for an illusion that is doomed for disappointment. Fitzgerald character Dexter doesn't only strive to become part of the "glittering" life but he wants the "glittering things themselves", the best. In this story Fitzgerald writes…

Words 1565 - Pages 7

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

‘ideal’ image of someone wealthy. Tom, Daisy and Jordan are all from old money, and successfully portrayed the stereotype in the passage where Nick is invited for dinner at Tom and Daisy’s luxurious home. In this passage of The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald agrees with this idea and utilizes Nick Carraway, as well as multiple stylistic elements, to narrate and express his opinion of the characters. Nick describes Daisy, Jordan, and Tom as shallow, conceited, and ignorant to their surroundings.…

Words 292 - Pages 2