Scott Fitzgerald Essays

Submitted By clarissa_elle
Words: 1746
Pages: 7
Open Document
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 as the “Lost Generation”, young writers became known and their literary work made an enormous impact, not only in the 1920s, but today. One of these writers includes, Francis Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was a bright, passionate author, which became an example of both sides of the American dream down the road. Francis Scott Fitzgerald was born in the peaceful area of St. Paul, Minnesota on September 24, 1896. Fitzgerald’s mother, Mollie McQuillan, was the daughter of an Irish immigrant that was a very profitable wholesaler while his father, Edward Fitzgerald, was a failed businessman that made the family move several times, including to New York, but finally settled back in Minnesota ("F. Scott Fitzgerald."). Fitzgerald was known as an attractive, intelligent man, who focused more on his writing in school than the actual material being taught. In the fall of 1913, he attended Princeton University where he began to expand his literary life. After writing for the Princeton Tiger and the Nassau Literary Magazine, he hit a down fall in his education. He was put on academic probation, and after realization that his chances at graduating were slim, he decided to join the army in 1917 (“F. Scott Fitzgerald.”).
Fitzgerald became the second lieutenant in the infantry and saw many disturbing incidents that were happening in Europe. With these images in mind, Fitzgerald feared that his life may come to an end quicker than expected. In this time, he wrote the autographical novel The Romantic Egoist, which was later rejected. After much revision, however, Fitzgerald’s novel was invited to be relooked at. Shortly after, he was shipped to Camp Sheridan in Alabama where he met a Supreme Court Judge’s daughter, Zelda Sayre (“F. Scott Fitzgerald.”). After never being deported, Fitzgerald moved to New York to help kick off his writing career, and to hopefully convince Zelda to marry him. Once he succeeded, he relocated back to St. Paul and began rewriting his novel.
The Side of Paradise was published in 1920, and became the original novel of Fitzgerald’s key works and caused him to face stardom. This novel was essentially Fitzgerald’s opinion of young adulthood. The Side of Paradise is about a Princeton undergraduate, Amory Blaine, who seeks for acknowledgment throughout his life. The story takes the reader through life events of Amory Blaine that wreck his dreams of someday being successful. Overall, this story was based on all aspects of what we know today as the American Dream (Baughman). According to Judith S. Baughman, who wrote many books about significant literary authors, Fitzgerald would mask his real life experiences in his novels. Throughout The Side of Paradise, Fitzgerald calls back to his times at prep school and at Princeton. He also disguises the “serious involvement with the loss of Rosalind Connage”, in which Fitzgerald was relating to Zelda and her “unwillingness to commit herself to him before he achieved success” (Baughman). Moreover, The Side of Paradise was just the beginning of Fitzgerald’s successful, well-known novels and with the population growing in college and universities, the novel was “the first of many popular Twenties college novels” (Bruccoli).
Shortly after Fitzgerald hit fame, he and Zelda spent the summer in Connecticut, where he started writing short stories to support their lives. Some of these “rank at the forefront of American short stories” (“F. Scott Fitzgerald.”). This includes “May Day”,
Show More

Related Documents: Scott Fitzgerald Essays

Essay Scott Fitzgerald

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…

Words 1382 - Pages 6

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