Lecture Notes: F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Jazz Age

Introduction to the Era

• New York in 1922 experienced a cultural shift:
  • Higher buildings, bigger parties, looser morals, and cheaper liquor.
  • The city was marked by restlessness and hysteria.
• Introduction of Gatsby, a mysterious figure tied to the era's excess.

Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald: Icons of the Jazz Age

• F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, became symbols of the 1920s.
  • Lived extravagantly but faced tragic ends.
• By age 40, Fitzgerald was an alcoholic, his books were out of print, and Zelda was in a mental institution.

Early Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald

• Born on September 24, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• Named after Francis Scott Key, writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
• His father's business failure deeply impacted him, vowing not to follow the same path.
• Discovered a talent for writing, gaining social acceptance through his literary work.

Academic Years

• Attended Princeton but struggled academically.
• Met Ginevra King, a socialite, who became a muse for characters in his novels.
• Withdrew from Princeton due to poor grades and love failures.
• Joined the army during World War I but never saw combat.

Marriage to Zelda Sayre

• Met Zelda in Montgomery, Alabama, during military service.
• Proposed to Zelda after the war, but she initially rejected him until his success with "This Side of Paradise."

Rise to Fame

• "This Side of Paradise" published in 1920, immediately sold out.
• Scott and Zelda became celebrities of the Jazz Age.
• They lived extravagantly, constantly moving, and Scott wrote numerous magazine stories.

The Great Gatsby and its Reception

• Moved to Europe in 1924 to work on "The Great Gatsby."
• Explored themes of the American Dream and idealism.
• Initially disappointing sales but later recognized as a classic.

Personal Struggles

• Financial pressures and Zelda's mental health decline.
• Zelda diagnosed as schizophrenic, leading to a series of hospitalizations.
• Scott's alcoholism worsened, impacting his career and reputation.

Later Life and Hollywood

• Moved to Hollywood to work as a screenwriter, faced challenges with film credits.
• Relationship with Sheila Graham during Zelda's institutionalization.

Legacy and Rediscovery

• Fitzgerald's works fell out of print but were rediscovered in the 1950s.
• Now considered among America's best writers, "The Great Gatsby" remains hugely popular.
• Fitzgerald's life and work left a lasting impact on American literature.

Conclusion

• Despite personal tragedies, F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary contributions ensure his place among the greats.
• His perseverance in writing, even during difficulties, demonstrates a heroic quality.