F. Scott Fitzgerald: F. Scott Fitzgerald: Fame, Jazz, and GatsbyFame, Jazz, and Gatsby

Ms. WolfeMs. Wolfe

ChildhoodChildhood

Born in 1896 in St. Born in 1896 in St. Paul, MinnesotaPaul, Minnesota Socially ambitious Socially ambitious

family but no moneyfamily but no money

His mother’s father, His mother’s father, P.F. McQuallan, was P.F. McQuallan, was a self made mana self made man

Fitzgerald named Fitzgerald named after Francis Scott after Francis Scott KeyKey

Joe CollegeJoe College

Fitzgerald attended Fitzgerald attended Princeton after failing Princeton after failing the admissions test the admissions test twicetwiceIn 1917, he quit and In 1917, he quit and enlisted in the Army, enlisted in the Army, stationed at Camp stationed at Camp SheridanSheridanMet Zelda Sayre, a Met Zelda Sayre, a spoiled Southern spoiled Southern BelleBelle

Enter ZeldaEnter Zelda

Wanted to marry Zelda in 1917 but she declinedWanted to marry Zelda in 1917 but she declined He had no money or careerHe had no money or career

Consequently, he went off to warConsequently, he went off to war

In 1919 he returned but Zelda still refused to marry himIn 1919 he returned but Zelda still refused to marry him

March 1920, March 1920, Outside of ParadiseOutside of Paradise, Fitzgerald's first novel, , Fitzgerald's first novel, made him famousmade him famous

Zelda agreed to marry himZelda agreed to marry him

Fitzgerald and Zelda

Fitzgerald = Fitzgerald = NotoriousNotorious

Zelda and Scott Zelda and Scott became the most became the most notorious couple in notorious couple in AmericaAmerica

They ushered in The They ushered in The Jazz AgeJazz Age

The Jazz AgeThe Jazz Age

May 1918 – stock May 1918 – stock market crash of 1929market crash of 1929Changes in morals, Changes in morals, manners, clothing manners, clothing style, music, social style, music, social customscustomsRebellion against Rebellion against parentsparents Youth had seen death Youth had seen death

(WWI) and wanted to (WWI) and wanted to have funhave fun

Change, change, changeChange, change, change

Violins to saxophonesViolins to saxophones

Hems went upHems went up

Women smokedWomen smoked

Men and women Men and women drank togetherdrank together

Private cocktail Private cocktail parties were createdparties were created

The The WildWild and and CrazyCrazy Fitzgeralds Fitzgeralds

Rode down 5Rode down 5thth avenue on the tops of taxis avenue on the tops of taxis

Dove into the fountain in front of the Plaza Dove into the fountain in front of the Plaza HotelHotel

Scott fought waiters, Zelda danced on Scott fought waiters, Zelda danced on table topstable tops

Drank too much and passed outDrank too much and passed out

Drove recklessly and had wild weekend Drove recklessly and had wild weekend partiesparties

Two things Scott wanted mostTwo things Scott wanted most

To be a great writerTo be a great writer

To make Zelda happyTo make Zelda happy He did everything in his power to make her He did everything in his power to make her

happyhappySacrificed his writing for her happinessSacrificed his writing for her happiness

An EpiphanyAn Epiphany

Scott couldn’t write while drinking!Scott couldn’t write while drinking!

In July 1923, he went into seclusion to In July 1923, he went into seclusion to writewrite The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby – published in 1925 – published in 1925 Written in ten monthsWritten in ten months His greatest successHis greatest success The Great Gatsby clipThe Great Gatsby clip

The Downward SpiralThe Downward Spiral

Scott wrote for popular magazines to Scott wrote for popular magazines to maintain their lavish lifestylemaintain their lavish lifestyle

Moved from NY to Long Island, to Paris, to Moved from NY to Long Island, to Paris, to the Riviera, back to the U.S.the Riviera, back to the U.S.

Zelda was unhappy and in 1930 had a Zelda was unhappy and in 1930 had a breakdownbreakdown She would be in and out of sanatoriums for She would be in and out of sanatoriums for

the rest of her lifethe rest of her life

Struggle to surviveStruggle to survive

Wrote Wrote Tender is the NightTender is the Night Was about parties at the Was about parties at the

RivieraRiviera

Became a scriptwriter for Became a scriptwriter for MGMMGM

Began novel Began novel The Last The Last TycoonTycoon in 1939 in 1939

Died of a heart attack on Died of a heart attack on December 21, 1940December 21, 1940

The two sides of FitzgeraldThe two sides of Fitzgerald

Loved moneyLoved moneyLoved the life of the Loved the life of the rich as someone rich as someone who had littlewho had littleDisciplinedDisciplinedLoved Zelda more Loved Zelda more than anythingthan anythingLoved the dazzling Loved the dazzling life of parties, life of parties, gaiety, and showgaiety, and show

Hated moneyHated moneyHated the falseness, Hated the falseness, hypocrisy, and hypocrisy, and cruelty of rich livescruelty of rich livesLittle self controlLittle self controlHated Zelda for Hated Zelda for corrupting his talentcorrupting his talentPart of him knew Part of him knew that his life was a that his life was a shamsham

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby

DoublenessDoubleness Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby are the two Nick Carraway and Jay Gatsby are the two

sides of Fitzgeraldsides of FitzgeraldNick – intelligent and disciplined observerNick – intelligent and disciplined observer

Gatsby – passionate and idealistic dreamer Gatsby – passionate and idealistic dreamer Zelda and DaisyZelda and Daisy

Love at first sight (Scott and Gatsby)Love at first sight (Scott and Gatsby)

Gatsby’s love for Daisy created tragedyGatsby’s love for Daisy created tragedy

Fitzgerald’s love for Zelda took up his timeFitzgerald’s love for Zelda took up his time