Great Gatsby - Common Traits Shared by the Novel's Women

10 Pages 2520 Words

f the wealthy and socially connected crowd during that time. In contrast to the modern day woman, the traits shared by the women in Fitzgerald’s book are somewhat disturbing, sometimes laughable, but more importantly, are indicative of Fitzgerald’s view of what the consequences of achieving the American Dream held for Americans.

The Great Gatsby is, in some respects, somewhat autobiographical in that Fitzgerald relied on his life experiences to form certain aspects of the novel. Just as Nick moved to New York to pursue the bondsmanship, Fitzgerald eventually made it from Minnesota to New York to become a writer (after finishing a stint in the armed services). Similarly, the women Nick encounters reflect Fitzgerald’s view of women based primarily upon his relationship with Zelda – a girl he met while stationed in Alabama who ended up following Fitzgerald to New York where the couple became engaged to be married. Zelda ended up breaking their engagement when she became unwilling to wait for Fitzgerald to achieve success. One week after Fitzgerald achieved notoriety by publishing This Side of Paradise in 1920, however, Zelda and Fitzgerald were married. Once she was clear that there was money to be had, Zelda agreed to marry Fitzgerald. Both had temporarily achieved their “America!
n dreams”: success, money, notoriety, status, etc.

Autobiographical accounts of Fitzgerald relay that he lived a virtual playboy existence marked by excesses in spending and liquor, wild parties and associations, etc. This playboy lifestyle ends up being personified in the life Gatsby leads – the wild parties, free associations, mansion home, etc. There is no real equation between the characters in The Great Gatsby and Zelda Fitzgerald, who was eventually overtaken by the lifestyle she and F. Scott Fitzgerald lead, and experienced a number of mental breakdowns which caused her to be hospitalized in mental facilities (sanitariums) f...