Context Flashcards
When was Fitzgerald born?
September 24th 1896
Where did he attend college?
Princeton, a very prestigious school. However, he dropped out of college.
Who was Ginevra King?
A girl from a wealthy Chicago family who Fitzgerald fell in love with. However, her father disapproved of him due to his poor family. She then went on to marry one of the richest men in Chicago.
What were Fitzgerald’s attitudes towards the rich?
He felt angry, due to his sense of inferiority, while also coveting, and envying the lifestyle of the rich.
Who was Zelda Sayre?
A Jazz Age icon, being a flapper dancer, who eventually became Fitzgerald’s wife. However, she demanded that he must prove himself as a success before marrying her. She became a celebrity, and enjoyed a life of partying, drinking, and privilege. She eventually developed schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and she was kept in specialist clinics.
What problems did Fitzgerald face in later life?
He suffered from alcoholism and depression, which affected his health and his career. He died of a heart attack in 1940, aged 44.
How was Fitzgerald’s marriage?
Drinking affected their marriage, and there were accusations of infidelity. Hemingway suggested that Zelda was the reason for Fitzgerald’s decline in work. Before his death, the couple were apart.
What was Fitzgerald’s involvement in the war?
He was in the army from 1917-1919 when he was discharged. However, he never saw action in the war.
What happened between Fitzgerald and Hollywood?
Fitzgerald struggled financially in the Great Depression, so began to write screenplays for Hollywood. He signed a contract with MGM, but left after 2 months due to an alleged affair with an actress. His contract was terminated, and he saw his career here as demeaning.
Prohibition Era
In the 1920s, the government prohibited the distribution and consumption of alcohol. This led to illegal bars (speakeasies) being set up everywhere.
What crimes were taking place in the 1920s?
Bootlegging, prostitution, and gambling thrived. Police overlooked these crimes, and instead took money from these shady operators. For example, Arnold Rothstein oversaw much prostitution and gambling in New York.
What was the role of women in the 1920s?
Women were becoming more independent. They had been taking over men’s jobs during the war, giving them more financial independence. This was the time of flappers, where women dressed in jewellry, boas, and bobbed hair, and danced the Charleston.
What were the fashions of the 1920s?
Men’s fashions became less formal and stuffy, and they aimed to appear younger. Full suits were typically only worn for special events. For women, flapper styles were popular, accentuating feminine features. Women were also more accepted to wear trousers, and more casual wear.
What was the popular music of the time?
Jazz music was very popular, and made dancing the Charleston more popular.
What is the ‘American Dream’?
An ideal built on the fantasy that an individual can achieve success regardless of family history, race, or religion by simply working hard enough.
