Historical Context: F. Scott Fitzgerald

Life of F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby, was born in 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
He was named after his second cousin three times removed, Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics for the U.S. national anthem.
Fitzgerald attended the Princeton University but never graduated. Instead, he chose to enlist in the army during World War I.
It was during this time that he wrote his first novel, This Side of Paradise, a success that catapulted him into celebrity status.

Fitzgerald’s Relationships

Fitzgerald met Zelda Sayre, who would become his wife and a significant influence on his work, while stationed in Alabama.
The characters of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby and Nicole Diver in Tender Is the Night were strongly influenced by Zelda.
Fitzgerald struggled with alcoholism throughout his life, a struggle often reflected in his characters and narratives.

Fitzgerald and The Jazz Age

Fitzgerald is considered one of the greatest chroniclers of the 1920s, which he famously termed the “Jazz Age”.
The era was known for its post-War economic boom, loosened social mores, jazz music, and the illegal, but wide-spread consumption of alcohol during Prohibition.
The Great Gatsby is considered a remarkable depiction of this era, showcasing both its glamour and its moral bankruptcy.
The novel presents a critique of the American Dream, illustrating the hollowness of material wealth and the destructive power of money.

Fitzgerald’s Downfall and Death

Fitzgerald fell from public favour during the Great Depression; this decline in his professional and personal life was marked by Zelda’s mental health issues and his own disillusionment.
His later life was marked by professional failure and severe alcoholism.
Fitzgerald died of a heart attack in 1940, believing himself a failure.
Only posthumously did The Great Gatsby receive the recognition and critical acclaim it holds today, now considered a masterpiece of American literature.

Summary

Understanding the real-life experiences of F. Scott Fitzgerald - his immersion in the Jazz Age, his troubled relationships, and personal struggles - can deepen our appreciation for The Great Gatsby. His life experiences not only shaped his writing’s themes but also gave them authenticity, making them resonant nearly a century later.