Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald
Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald was a writer, American Socialite, and an artist. She is the wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald, who strongly influenced his work. Zelda’s works of literature and artwork help defined the roars twenties. Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald was born on Tuesday, 24 July 1900, to Minerva Bucker Machen Sayre and Anthony Dickson Sayre in Montgomery, Alabama. Her mother named herself “for a myth, was known locally as an avid reader” (Cline 1). Her father on the other hand was an “Alabama Supreme Court Justice” (Curnutt). Zelda was the youngest child to be born from her parents. Zelda went to Sidney Lanier High School in 1914. Zelda’s teachers found her to be mischievous, but also an apt pupil (Milford 12). During her first year in Sidney Lanier High School “she maintained a high B average… and consistently did well in English and mathematics” (Milford 12). Shortly after a month graduating from Sidney Lanier High School, she met F. Scott Fitzgerald in July, 1918 (Curnutt). In July, 1918 “Zelda met Scott Fitzgerald at the country club” (Milford 24). Scott Fitzgerald was born in September, 1896, in St. Paul, he was a Roman Catholic and a Midwesterner (Milford 25). Scott begin to call Zelda daily, and visited her on his free
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Zelda “was in a state of extreme anxiety” (Milford 158) when she entered the hospital. Zelda was pacing around her room saying ‘It’s dreadful, it’s horrible, what’s to become of me, I must work and I won’t be able to, I should die, but I must work. I’ll never be cured.’ (Cline 158). When Zelda entered the hospital “she was slightly intoxicated” (Milford 158). “The doctors saw [alcohol] as one cause for her anxiety attacks” (Cline 259). Zelda left the hospital on May 2nd against her doctor’s wishes (Cline 259). Zelda was diagnosed as a schizophrenic by Dr. Forel (Milford
On Wednesday February 12 of 1890 F. Scott Fitzgerald's parents were married in Washington D.C. Six years later on September 24, 1896 Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born at his home 481 Laurel Ave. in St. Paul, Minnesota. His two infant older sisters had died from a violent influenza so that by the time Fitzgerald came along Mollie Fitzgerald had become the proverbial nightmare that known as an overprotective mother. Fitzgerald's mother was no traditional mother though, for she was known for her eccentricities. These eccentricities disturbed young Scott's life, "Fitzgerald later described his mother as 'half insane with pathological nervous worry'" (Bruccoli 15), but nothing worried anyone in the family so much as his father's failure to hold down a job. It was because his father lost his job as a wicker furniture manufacturer and salesman the family was forced to move from St. Paul to Buffalo in April of 1898, where his father began work for Proctor and Gamble. In January of 1901 the family moved from Buffalo to Syracuse where Edward had been transferred by his employer and where, on Sunday July 21, 1901 Scott's younger sister Annabel was born. Just two years later the family was back in Buffalo and just five years after that the family had returned to St. Paul and Grandma McQuillan's money.
On the last page of The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the second to last sentence is left unfinished ending in “And one fine morning --” (180) after alluding to themes used in the beginning of the book. This ending shows three primary characteristics of Gatsby that will eventually lead to his downfall. The first characteristic that Jay, the narrator, mentions is the platonic conception that Gatsby has of himself and, especially, Daisy. Next Jay brings up Gatsby’s longing for Daisy and Gatsby’s need to constantly surround himself with others to combat his loneliness. Finally, Jay mentions Gatsby’s blinding hope for his future adding on to Gatsby’s platonic conception of the world. It is these unfortunate characteristics that lead to Gatsby’s idyllic view of the world. Due to his platonic conception of the world, Gatsby becomes blinded from reason and responsibility to fix his persistent loneliness by taking risks and creating enemies that eventually
Fitzgerald’s life came to be in September of 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. His father, Edward Fitzgerald, an alcoholic and failed wicker furniture maker, had a proud aristocracy, which his wife, Mary (Mollie) McQuillan, was appreciative of. Mollie had an abundance of inheritance, but no family name to live up too. The family of Catholics lived in upstate New York until Edward was dismissed as a salesman. They then moved back to St. Paul to live off of Mollie’s hefty inheritance.
Francis Scott Fitzgerald also known under his writer’s name, F. Scott Fitzgerald, is revered as a famous American novelist for his writing masterpieces in the 1920’s and 1930’s. F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about his extravagant lifestyle in America that his wife, Zelda, their friends, and him lived during that era. In fact, a lot of his novels and essays were based off of real-life situations with exaggerated plots and twists. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novels were the readers looking glass into his tragic life that resulted in sad endings in his books, and ultimately his own life.
Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of famous author F. Scott Fitzgerald, lived an extravagant life. Her life may not have been well known in the same way that her husbands was, but many people still knew of her nonetheless. Fitzgerald was born on July 24, 1900 in Montgomery, Alabama. Her family was rather well known throughout the government. Fitzgerald’s father, Anthony Dickinson Sayre, served on the Supreme Court of Alabama. Zelda’s great-uncle and grandfather served in the United States Senate. Her mother was Minnie Buckner Machen Sayre. Fitzgerald was the youngest among her five siblings. During her adolescence, she was a dancer. She also challenged the normal things a teenage girl her age would do by drinking, smoking, and socializing with boys. She
Like many of the greatest writers of all time F. Scott Fitzgerald implemented many of his own life experiences into his books. Fitzgerald’s life was very difficult and plagued with alcoholism, which greatly affected his relationship with his wife Zelda and his writing. Many of his most famous books, The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and Tender is the Night show the 1920’s culture that Fitzgerald lived around. The modernist period of the 1920’s was reflected in F. Scott Fitzgeralds marriage to Zelda through the now critically acclaimed The Great Gatsby.
When luxuriant lifestyles of the 1920s, commonly labeled the Roaring ‘20s, come about, morality and individual ethics go instantaneously out of style. Along with these poor morals, crass materialism becomes widespread among the fortunate, transforming noblesse oblige into an unpopular belief, and furthermore leaving those incapable of tremendous success back in the dust. The inevitable alterations in morality repeatedly occur as America continues to progress, and several traits similar to those of the 1920s are visible today. Fitzgerald’s use of The Great Gatsby for social commentary is parallel to today’s social atmosphere.
Fitzgerald was brought up in an upper class family and was highly educated throughout his life. He pursued writing at Princeton University, but was put into academic probation shortly after. Afterwards, he decided to drop out and continue his passion for writing novels and short stories. Fitzgerald then joined the army when his first story was unapproved. Upon his return, he met a southern Alabama belle named Zelda . Since she was a spoiled young lady, she declined Fitzgerald’s proposals, after seeing he had no fortune and had encouraged to firstly seek his fortune of his own. Throughout their life together the rich and adventurous couple maintained a crazy lifestyle filled with extravagant parties all over Europe. That soon ended when Zelda
F. Scott Fitzgerald was born September 24th, 1896, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His first novel's achievement made him well-known and allowed him to marry Zelda, but he later derived into drinking while his wife had developed many mental problems. Right after the “failed” Tender is the Night, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood to become a scriptwriter. He died at the age of 44 of a heart attack in 1940, his final novel only half way completed.
Although Fitzgerald intended to graduate from Princeton University in 1917, he decided to join the U.S. Army where he became a lieutenant instead. During this time, he wrote, “The Romantic Egotist,”a clever book that was denied by the publisher due to Fitzgerald’s lack of revisions. Soon, Fitzgerald and his troop were moved to a fort in Montgomery, Alabama. There, in 1918, Fitzgerald met and fell in love with eighteen-year old Zelda Sayre. Their blossoming relationship influenced his writing and contributed to his success. One year later, in 1919, Fitzgerald was discharged from war with the full intention that he marry Zelda. Unfortunately for Fitzgerald, Zelda grew impatient and felt he was not making enough money, so she broke off the engagement.
Zelda was Fitzgerald’s motivation for writing The Great Gatsby and many other works (Donaldson). It was a way for him to express his frustration and love for his wife. Zelda played the main female role in Fitzgerald’s life, much like Daisy was for Gatsby. Fitzgerald writes about his relationship in order to cope with what is happening with his marriage.
Fitzgerald was gaining notoriety. It was said to be a representation of the free lifestyle and relaxed morals of what became known as the "Lost Generation.” This couple “personified the immense lure of the East, of young fame, of dissolution and early death.” (Milford, 2011, p. 6) She was said to be his muse, but there was also talk that he plagiarized much of his writing from her journals. In addition, to inspiring his major heroines, she supplied him with many other memorable lines. “Much has been written on Zelda Fitzgerald as F. Scott Fitzgerald's muse and as a victim of mental illness.” (Grogan, 2015, p.110) Zelda was considered an embodiment of the Jazz Age (1920-1929), and had a very tumultuous, substance abuse filled life with Mr.
On September 24, 1896, a man was born who would to become one of the greatest authors in American history. Short story writer and novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of the classic American novel The Great Gatsby, used his experiences and relationships during the early 1900s to inspire his writing. In specific regards to The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald’s relationship with his wife Zelda directly corresponds to his creation of the character Daisy Buchanan, and informs his critique of the American elite of the 1920s. Zelda directly inspired Daisy; this can be seen through the similarities in their upbringings and in their personalities. Zelda and Daisy were each brought up in very wealthy, old-money families in the southeast. Both women were social-climbing women interested in marrying up the social ladder, and both were materialistic, attention-seeking, and recklessly uninhibited. Additionally, through his negative portrayal of Daisy in The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald’s critique of the American elite can be seen to stem from his relationship with his wife. It was the relationship with Zelda that led to Fitzgerald’s critique of wealthy America, and the character of Daisy directly represents her.
To begin with, Zelda Sayre-Fitzgerald was born in Montgomery, Alabama. Zelda came from a very prestigious, wealthy family. Growing up, Zelda was a wild and rebellious child; she was very flirtatious, spending most of the time with the boys. Zelda was well-known for being a free-spirit in her Southern society. Even though she was talked about by her peers, her father’s reputation provided her with a “free card” (“Zelda Fitzgerald n.p.).
She knew that alcohol really affected him and prevented him from writing, so she encouraged him to drink. And when he didn’t want to get drunk, she degraded him. They were both jealous when the other’s attention was on someone else, but Fitzgerald was especially hurt when Zelda fell in love with a pilot. There was one encounter in particular when Zelda insulted Fitzgerald’s manhood and told him he couldn’t please a women. Rather than being angry he was sincerely sorry and worried.