Frances Scott Key Fitzgerald, born September 24, 1896 in St. Paul,

Minnesota, is seen today as one of the true great American novelists.

Although he lived a life filled with alcoholism, despair, and lost-love, he

managed to create the ultimate love story and seemed to pinpoint the

"American Dream" in his classic novel, The Great Gatsby. In the novel, Jay

Gatsby is the epitome of the "self-made man," in which he dedicates his

entire life to climbing the social ladder in order to gain wealth, to

ultimately win the love of a woman: something that proves to be

unattainable. As it turns out, Gatsby's excessive extravagance and love of

money, mixed with his obsession for a woman's love, is actually the

autobiographical portrayal of Fitzgerald.

While attending Princeton University, Fitzgerald struggled immensely with

his grades and spent most of his time catering to his "social" needs. He

became quite involved with the Princeton Triangle Club, an undergraduate

club which wrote and produced a lively musical comedy each fall, and

performed it during the Christmas vacation in

record of self-examination. Fitzgerald's description of Gatsby's tenacious

sailed off to France in May 1924, where Scott began to write The Great

year, Ginevra sent Scott a letter that announced her marriage to a naval

became bored and restless, and fell completely in love with Jozan. Although

prevailing themes of Scott Fitzgerald's life. Jay Gatsby became

time, women from the middle to wealthy classes simply did not marry men from

Daisy back from her husband" (Meyers, 30).

what happens to people who pursue illusory American dreams, and how society

love-stricken and despite rejection, dedicated his entire life to winning

qualities he himself desired. "Tommy had the great wealth, social class

character and lust for wealth and women was so real and graphic, that it

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Approximate Word count = 2065
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)