F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald

The Roaring 20’s, Jazz Age, The Roaring 20’s, Jazz Age, and and The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

Used with Permission, Brookwood High School, K. FowlerUsed with Permission, Brookwood High School, K. Fowler

Early LifeEarly Life

– Francis Scott Fitzgerald Francis Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, was born on September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota

– His mother was the His mother was the daughter of an Irish daughter of an Irish immigrant who made a immigrant who made a fortune in the wholesale fortune in the wholesale grocery business.grocery business.

– His father, Edward, brought His father, Edward, brought breeding, elegance, and breeding, elegance, and charm to the family even charm to the family even though he was only a though he was only a marginally successful marginally successful businessman.businessman.

Early LifeEarly Life

During his life in Minnesota, Fitzgerald During his life in Minnesota, Fitzgerald played and associated with rich played and associated with rich children—all the time knowing he was children—all the time knowing he was never entirely a part of their society. never entirely a part of their society.

The Fitzgerald’s lived in Minnesota off The Fitzgerald’s lived in Minnesota off and on as his father’s business folded and on as his father’s business folded in 1897.in 1897.

Eventually, the family moved back to Eventually, the family moved back to St. Paul and lived off of the McQuillan St. Paul and lived off of the McQuillan family fortune.family fortune.

SchoolingSchooling Fitzgerald received a mixed Fitzgerald received a mixed

welcome when his parents sent welcome when his parents sent him to St. Paul Academy in 1908.him to St. Paul Academy in 1908.

He excelled in debate and He excelled in debate and athletics.athletics.

In 1909, “The Mystery of the In 1909, “The Mystery of the Raymond Mortgage” was Raymond Mortgage” was published in the school magazine.published in the school magazine.

By 1911, Fitzgerald’s scholastic By 1911, Fitzgerald’s scholastic record began to fall and he was record began to fall and he was transferred to a Catholic prep transferred to a Catholic prep school in Hackensack, New Jersey.school in Hackensack, New Jersey.

SchoolingSchooling

While at the Newman School, he met While at the Newman School, he met Friar Sigourney Fay who served him Friar Sigourney Fay who served him as a mentor, encouraging him to as a mentor, encouraging him to develop his talents as a writer and develop his talents as a writer and pursue his dreams of personal pursue his dreams of personal achievement and distinction.achievement and distinction.

Fitzgerald published three storied in Fitzgerald published three storied in the school magazine and abandoned the school magazine and abandoned his interest in athletics.his interest in athletics.

F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald

While not a top While not a top scholar, Fitzgerald scholar, Fitzgerald entered Princeton entered Princeton University in 1913.University in 1913.

By 1917 he was on By 1917 he was on academic probation.academic probation.

Army LifeArmy Life

When he realized that he was not When he realized that he was not going to graduate he joined the going to graduate he joined the army and was commissioned army and was commissioned second lieutenant in the infantry.second lieutenant in the infantry.

He continued to write during this He continued to write during this time in the army.time in the army.

Army LifeArmy Life

In 1918, Fitzgerald submitted In 1918, Fitzgerald submitted The The Romantic EgotistRomantic Egotist to Charles to Charles Scribner’s Sons. It was rejected with Scribner’s Sons. It was rejected with a request for resubmission upon a request for resubmission upon revision.revision.

Also in 1918, while assigned to Camp Also in 1918, while assigned to Camp Sheridan in Alabama, the course of Sheridan in Alabama, the course of his life would change forever.his life would change forever.

First LoveFirst Love Fitzgerald, now 22-years-Fitzgerald, now 22-years-

old, fell in love with then 18-old, fell in love with then 18-year-old debutant Zelda year-old debutant Zelda Sayre.Sayre.

The daughter of an Alabama The daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court judge, Zelda Supreme Court judge, Zelda refused marriage until refused marriage until Fitzgerald could support her Fitzgerald could support her in the fashion in which she in the fashion in which she was accustomed.was accustomed.

First LoveFirst Love

Fitzgerald was discharged from the Fitzgerald was discharged from the army in February 1919, and moved army in February 1919, and moved to New York to work with an to New York to work with an advertising agency, hoping to make advertising agency, hoping to make enough so that he and Zelda could enough so that he and Zelda could marry.marry.

By June, Zelda had tired of waiting By June, Zelda had tired of waiting for Fitzgerald to make his fortune for Fitzgerald to make his fortune and called off their engagement.and called off their engagement.

First LoveFirst Love That summer That summer

Fitzgerald returned to Fitzgerald returned to St. Paul to revise St. Paul to revise The The Romantic EgotistRomantic Egotist. In . In September it was September it was accepted with the new accepted with the new title title This Side of This Side of Paradise.Paradise.

One week after its One week after its publication, Scott and publication, Scott and Zelda were married in Zelda were married in New York.New York.

Glamorous LifestyleGlamorous Lifestyle

The novel was an instant success, and the The novel was an instant success, and the newlyweds were pushed into the limelight.newlyweds were pushed into the limelight.

Scott and Zelda were synonymous with life Scott and Zelda were synonymous with life in the 1920’s.in the 1920’s.

Fitzgerald’s lifestyle was like something Fitzgerald’s lifestyle was like something out of his books.out of his books.

Drinking, dancing, and extravagance Drinking, dancing, and extravagance surrounded the couple.surrounded the couple.

They traveled between the United States They traveled between the United States and Europe (usually France), and were a and Europe (usually France), and were a part of “The Lost Generation.”part of “The Lost Generation.”

Glamorous LifestyleGlamorous Lifestyle

In 1921, Zelda In 1921, Zelda gave birth to the gave birth to the couple’s only couple’s only child, a daughter child, a daughter named Frances named Frances Scott Fitzgerald, Scott Fitzgerald, nicknamed nicknamed “Scottie.”“Scottie.”

Hidden HardshipsHidden Hardships

Despite their status, domestic life was Despite their status, domestic life was full of hardships.full of hardships.

The Fitzgerald family went through The Fitzgerald family went through periods of heavy alcohol consumption, periods of heavy alcohol consumption, frequent fights, and financial frequent fights, and financial difficulties.difficulties.

Although Fitzgerald’s first novel did Although Fitzgerald’s first novel did well, his second did not meet its well, his second did not meet its success.success.

Hidden HardshipsHidden Hardships

In 1930, Zelda experienced her first In 1930, Zelda experienced her first of three mental breakdowns.of three mental breakdowns.

She had been troubled during much She had been troubled during much of their marriage and was eventually of their marriage and was eventually institutionalized.institutionalized.

After her third breakdown she was After her third breakdown she was institutionalized for good and died in institutionalized for good and died in a hospital fire in 1948. a hospital fire in 1948.

Hidden HardshipsHidden Hardships Fitzgerald remained married to Zelda to Fitzgerald remained married to Zelda to

the end.the end. However, Zelda required more care However, Zelda required more care

than he could give and he had to work than he could give and he had to work hard to keep her comfortably hard to keep her comfortably institutionalized.institutionalized.

Many of Fitzgerald’s debts were due to Many of Fitzgerald’s debts were due to the illness.the illness.

A Second ChangeA Second Change Eventually, Fitzgerald met and fell in Eventually, Fitzgerald met and fell in

love with Sheilah Graham, with whom love with Sheilah Graham, with whom he spent the last five years of his life.he spent the last five years of his life.

Sheilah encouraged Fitzgerald to Sheilah encouraged Fitzgerald to continue writing and got his stalling continue writing and got his stalling career back on track.career back on track.

Fitzgerald wrote four complete novels:Fitzgerald wrote four complete novels:– This Side of ParadiseThis Side of Paradise– The Beautiful and the DamnedThe Beautiful and the Damned– The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby– Tender is the NightTender is the Night

And was working on And was working on The Last TycoonThe Last Tycoon when he died.when he died.

A Second ChanceA Second Chance

Despite being the golden boy of the Despite being the golden boy of the Jazz Age, upon his death, many Jazz Age, upon his death, many obituaries were condescending, and obituaries were condescending, and focused on his personal hardships.focused on his personal hardships.

Together with Zelda, his personal life Together with Zelda, his personal life has become a part of the American has become a part of the American landscape and his work helps landscape and his work helps explain the youthful exuberance of explain the youthful exuberance of the 1920’s.the 1920’s.

The 1920’sThe 1920’sPolitics:Politics: A time of growth, A time of growth,

prosperity, as well as prosperity, as well as corruption.corruption.

Harding assumed the Harding assumed the presidency and his presidency and his administration was administration was plagued with plagued with scandal, corruption, scandal, corruption, and connections with and connections with organized crime.organized crime.

The 1920’sThe 1920’s

Politics:Politics: Laborers were undermined in disputes Laborers were undermined in disputes

about wages. about wages. Taxes benefited the wealthy more Taxes benefited the wealthy more

than other groups.than other groups. Industries such as agriculture and Industries such as agriculture and

textiles suffered greatly, causing textiles suffered greatly, causing people to move to the city to look for people to move to the city to look for work.work.

The 1920’sThe 1920’s

Economics:Economics: Boasted financial gainBoasted financial gain Dividends from stock rose by 108 percentDividends from stock rose by 108 percent Commercial growth resulted in rampant Commercial growth resulted in rampant

materialismmaterialism People began to spend their money on People began to spend their money on

consumer goods, recreation, and leisureconsumer goods, recreation, and leisure All would come to a halt in 1929 with the All would come to a halt in 1929 with the

great stock market crash, sending the USA great stock market crash, sending the USA into the greatest depression it has ever into the greatest depression it has ever known.known.

1920’s1920’s

Immigration:Immigration: 800,000 people came to America 800,000 people came to America

between June of 1920 and June of 1921between June of 1920 and June of 1921 Organized lobbying against immigrationOrganized lobbying against immigration A bill was passed, setting quotas for the A bill was passed, setting quotas for the

amount of immigrants that could come amount of immigrants that could come to America in a particular year. This to America in a particular year. This brought immigration down to 164,000 brought immigration down to 164,000 per year.per year.

The quota was discriminating, The quota was discriminating, particularly to those from south and east particularly to those from south and east Europe, and Asia.Europe, and Asia.

1920’s1920’s

Prohibition:Prohibition: 1818thth amendment enacted in 1919 amendment enacted in 1919 This amendment made it illegal for This amendment made it illegal for

anyone to manufacture, sell, or anyone to manufacture, sell, or transport liquor of any sorttransport liquor of any sort

Organized crime stepped in to meet Organized crime stepped in to meet the demand when the liquor business the demand when the liquor business became profitablebecame profitable

1920’s1920’s

World War I:World War I: Many characters from Many characters from The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

participated in WWI, as did Fitzgerald.participated in WWI, as did Fitzgerald. When the soldiers returned, they were When the soldiers returned, they were

changed.changed. They found ideas and attitudes waiting for They found ideas and attitudes waiting for

them at home to be representative of them at home to be representative of outdated thinking; therefore, they rebelled.outdated thinking; therefore, they rebelled.

Many became “expatriates” and a part of Many became “expatriates” and a part of the “Lost Generation” and moved to places the “Lost Generation” and moved to places such as Paris, France or London, England. such as Paris, France or London, England.

1920’s1920’sWomen:Women: The women at home also found The women at home also found

post-war America to be too post-war America to be too constructive.constructive.

Many had found jobs and were Many had found jobs and were unwilling to give up the by-unwilling to give up the by-products of their employment: products of their employment: social and economic freedomsocial and economic freedom

The 19The 19thth amendment, enacted in amendment, enacted in 1920, gave women the right to 1920, gave women the right to vote.vote.

A symbolic show of emancipation A symbolic show of emancipation was the bobbed haircut. They cut was the bobbed haircut. They cut of the one great indicator of of the one great indicator of femininity.femininity.

Women began to wear clothes that Women began to wear clothes that accentuated their body, smoked accentuated their body, smoked and drank openly, and relaxed their and drank openly, and relaxed their attitudes toward sex.attitudes toward sex.

Jazz AgeJazz AgeTHE FLAPPERTHE FLAPPERby Dorothy Parkerby Dorothy Parker

The Playful flapper here we see,The Playful flapper here we see,The fairest of the fair.The fairest of the fair.

She's not what Grandma used to be, She's not what Grandma used to be, ----

You might say, You might say, au contraireau contraire..Her girlish ways may make a stir,Her girlish ways may make a stir,

Her manners cause a scene,Her manners cause a scene,But there is no more harm in herBut there is no more harm in her

Than in a submarine.Than in a submarine.

She nightly knocks for many a goalShe nightly knocks for many a goalThe usual dancing men.The usual dancing men.

Her speed is great, but her controlHer speed is great, but her controlIs something else again.Is something else again.

All spotlights focus on her pranks.All spotlights focus on her pranks.All tongues her prowess herald.All tongues her prowess herald.

For which she well may render thanksFor which she well may render thanksTo God and Scott Fitzgerald.To God and Scott Fitzgerald.

Her golden rule is plain enough -Her golden rule is plain enough -Just get them young and treat themJust get them young and treat them

rough.rough.

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

Captures a snapshot of middle- and upper- Captures a snapshot of middle- and upper- class American life in the 1920’s.class American life in the 1920’s.

Explores the human condition in a world Explores the human condition in a world characterized by social upheaval and characterized by social upheaval and uncertainty, which has direct, historical uncertainty, which has direct, historical accuracy.accuracy.

Fitzgerald establishes a sense of urgency Fitzgerald establishes a sense of urgency as he characterizes the Jazz Age society as as he characterizes the Jazz Age society as “people working hard to ensure no one “people working hard to ensure no one else climbs as high as they” (Maurer 11).else climbs as high as they” (Maurer 11).