Born into the era of the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald was one of the most infamous authors of his time. The Jazz Age was a time of attempting to live life to the fullest. Affairs, drinking, and nonstop partying were popular during this time. Fitzgerald was no exception to this chaotic life. He poured his experiences into the books he wrote. However, the characters’ lives ran deeper than the illusions they pretended to be. The Jazz Age may have come after the Gilded Age, but Fitzgerald’s works hinted that the Gilded Age had only just begun. The following research gives an overview of the author’s life, people and events that influenced his life and writing, an examination of the author’s body of work and his reputation the people around him, an analysis…show more content… The Jazz Age influenced the author’s works more than anything else. His characters reflected the lively lifestyle of those living in the Jazz Age. Many of the characters hid their true character like one would hide a secret. Outwardly, it was an era of fun, wealth, and happiness; however it was truly a dark period of time for many. The people of this age let themselves be swept up in an unachievable dream. Money, parties, and drinking became the only things that could console the people after the events World War I. They all buried their sadness and expressed themselves through the extravagance of the Jazz Age. Fitzgerald also let this time period consume him. It influenced his life and the novels he wrote. The era was disillusionment at its…show more content… He viewed Hemingway as a genius. The two authors shared the same drinking problems and both met tragically depressing ends. The authors’ books had similar themes of aimlessness as well as having deeper meanings in the stories they wrote. Both used a gilded effect in their works, where something had more beauty on the outside but was worthless within. Through the lives and works of both authors and the people of the Jazz Age, many have noticed that the Gilded Age never truly ended.
As a result of Fitzgerald’s lifestyle, his reputation to the general public was not surprising. Many people lived with the same problems of debt, greed, and alcoholism that he did. He did not stand out with his lifestyle alone. His life as an author was the only way he found recognition. It was how he built his reputation. Unfortunately, his work as an author was not truly appreciated until long after his death, but unlike other authors he still made a name for himself during his
