F. Scott Fitzgerald

A detailed Summary of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Any visitor to the French Riviera in the mid-1920s, the setting of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tender is the Night, would describe Dr. Richard Diver as a charming, respected, well-mannered physician. Dick is a noble man who has dedicated his life to the health and protection of his beloved wife without thought to himself. Furthermore, he gives wonderful parties and is a reliable source of help to any friend in need. In fact, "to be included in Dick Diver's world for a while was a remarkable experience" (Fitzgerald, Tender, 27).

Under this facade of composure, however, lies a tormented personality. The stresses in Dick's life are numerous, as he deals with Nicole's breakdowns and other aspects of his career and social relationships. He has no one to help him through these difficulties but he still manages to rescue his friends in countless instances. He does his best to play his role as husband, father, friend, and physician, but he is clearly not comfortable with his responsibilities, and his confusion manifests itself through his obsession with youthfulness. Not only does Dr. Diver try to appear young and vital to the outside world, he also has an unhealthy obsession with much younger women in his life. This paternal attitude toward f

Why would a man who is highly esteemed by his friends and who has career and family success choose to pursue such an inappropriate affair which contradicts his assumed values? Maybe Dr. Diver has watched Nicole grow older and now considers Rosemary a substitute for the young love the husband and wife once shared. Perhaps Dick is tired of his exhausting persona of doctor and husband and their respective moral codes and this is his way of enjoying the simpler pleasures of a youthful relationship without moral restrictions. If so, he errs in thinking he is avoiding ethical decisions by being with Rosemary, because the covert nature of their love forces him to struggle with its consequences to his family. Obviously, his obsession with youth, in himself and others, has inevitably negative consequences.

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A major component of the disintegration of Dick Diver, therefore, is his confusion and immaturity regarding relationships with younger women, as well as his own need to seem youthful. His reputation and well-liked persona are achieved despite his childlike attitudes, but as he slowly loses his ability to conceal his true personality, he is deserted by everyone. Just as the incestuous actions of Nicole's father led to her illness and his private torment, Dick Diver's distorted perceptions of appropriate relationships lead to his own fall into obscurity.

Stanton, Robert. "'Daddy's Girl': Symbol and Theme in Tender is the Night." Critical Essays on Tender is the Night. Ed. Milton R. Stern. Boston, Ma.: G.K. Hall & Co., 1986. 118-124.

Clearly though, the relationship was not totally the fault of Dr. Diver, but was strongly encouraged by Rosemary, who says she "fell in love with [Dick] the first time [she saw him]" (31). Her desire for an older man complements Dick's desires nicely, as Rosemary idolizes her mother but does not have a father-figure to worship. Also, like Dick, Rosemary is very image-conscious, and Dick is her perfect leading man, complete with charm, manners, looks, and intelligence; good enough to bring home to mother. This is an immature way of approaching a serious relationship, and is therefore to be expected from Rosemary, but it is depressing to realize that the same attitudes are held by her much older, but equally immature, male counterpart.

The most incestuous relationships, however, occur with the two primary female

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Approximate Word count = 1637
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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