The failure of the 'American Dream' in the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• The American Dream and its origin
• Short biography of Francis Key Scott Fitzgerald
• Short definition of Modernism in American literature
• The Great Gatsby
• This Side Of Paradise
  • Introduction
  • The most important characters in 'This Side Of Paradise'
  • Version of the American Dream in ‘This Side Of Paradise’
  • Rosalind and Eleonor - The collapse of the American Dream
• Tender Is The Night
  • Introduction
  • Dick Diver's way into alienation and decay
  • The love affair with Rosemary Hoyt
  • The way back home to the U.S.A. after the decay
• Thesis Summary

Objectives and Key Themes

This thesis examines the portrayal of the American Dream and its failure in three major novels by F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and Tender Is the Night. The objective is to analyze how Fitzgerald constructs the American Dream within these works and how he depicts its ultimate failure in the lives of his protagonists. The analysis will focus on literary techniques rather than extensive historical context.

• The evolution of Fitzgerald's depiction of the American Dream across his career.
• The protagonists' aspirations and their struggles to achieve wealth and social status.
• The obstacles presented by society that contribute to the failure of the protagonists' dreams.
• The use of literary symbolism and narrative techniques to convey the themes of ambition, disillusionment, and the flawed nature of the American Dream.
• The connection between Fitzgerald's personal experiences and his literary portrayal of the American Dream.

Chapter Summaries

Introduction: This introductory chapter provides background information on F. Scott Fitzgerald's life and literary significance, emphasizing his unique perspective as a Midwesterner navigating the East Coast gentry. It also highlights Fitzgerald's experiences during and after World War I, which significantly influenced his evolving perspective on the American Dream and its inherent contradictions. The chapter introduces the three novels—The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and Tender Is the Night—that will be the focus of the thesis, outlining the common theme of the protagonists' initial optimism and eventual disillusionment regarding their aspirations.

The American Dream and its origin: This chapter will delve into the historical and societal context of the American Dream, tracing its evolution and exploring its various interpretations. It will likely analyze the socio-economic factors and ideals that shaped the American Dream in Fitzgerald's time and how those ideals are challenged and deconstructed in his works. The chapter might discuss the inherent contradictions and unattainable aspects of the American Dream, laying the groundwork for the subsequent analysis of Fitzgerald's novels.

Short biography of Francis Key Scott Fitzgerald: This chapter will provide a concise biographical overview of F. Scott Fitzgerald's life, focusing on key events and experiences that shaped his writing and worldview. It will connect his personal life, including his relationship with Zelda Fitzgerald and the societal changes he witnessed during the Jazz Age and beyond, to the themes that he explored in his literature. This biographical sketch will contextualize his work and help readers understand the sources of his insights into the American Dream's promises and failures.

Short definition of Modernism in American literature: This chapter will offer a brief definition of Modernism in American literature, providing a framework for understanding Fitzgerald's place within this literary movement. It will likely discuss key characteristics of Modernist writing, such as experimentation with narrative techniques, stream of consciousness, and a focus on alienation and disillusionment. This will help position Fitzgerald's novels within a broader literary context and highlight his distinctive contribution to Modernist themes.

This Side Of Paradise: This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of Fitzgerald's first successful novel, focusing on Amory Blaine's journey through college and his evolving understanding of the American Dream. The summary will explore Amory's initial ambitions, his relationships (particularly with Rosalind and Eleanor), and the gradual erosion of his idealistic vision. It will analyze how the novel critiques the superficiality and materialism of the Jazz Age and how Amory's experiences demonstrate the inherent limitations of pursuing a purely materialistic vision of success.

Tender Is The Night: This chapter summarizes Fitzgerald's later novel, examining the decline of Dick Diver, a psychiatrist, and his relationship with Rosemary Hoyt. The analysis will delve into Dick's descent into disillusionment, tracing the factors that contribute to his breakdown, including his wife's mental illness and the pressures of his professional life. It will explore the novel's themes of mental illness, the disillusionment of the American Dream, and the fragility of relationships in the face of societal pressures and personal struggles.

Keywords

American Dream, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Modernism, disillusionment, ambition, social status, wealth, materialism, Jazz Age, alienation, The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, Tender Is the Night, literary symbolism, narrative techniques.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's American Dream: A Thesis Preview - FAQ

What is the main focus of this thesis?

This thesis examines how F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays the American Dream and its failure in three of his major novels: The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and Tender Is the Night. It analyzes how Fitzgerald constructs the American Dream within these works and depicts its ultimate failure in the lives of his protagonists, focusing on literary techniques.

What are the key themes explored in the thesis?

The key themes include the evolution of Fitzgerald's depiction of the American Dream across his career; the protagonists' aspirations and struggles to achieve wealth and social status; societal obstacles contributing to the failure of their dreams; the use of literary symbolism and narrative techniques to convey themes of ambition, disillusionment, and the flawed nature of the American Dream; and the connection between Fitzgerald's personal experiences and his literary portrayal of the American Dream.

Which novels are analyzed in this thesis?

The thesis analyzes three major novels by F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, and Tender Is the Night.

What is the scope of the analysis in this thesis?

The analysis focuses primarily on literary techniques used by Fitzgerald to portray the American Dream and its failure, rather than on extensive historical context.

What is covered in the "Chapter Summaries" section?

The "Chapter Summaries" section provides an overview of each chapter's content. It includes details about the introduction (providing background on Fitzgerald's life and the novels), the historical context of the American Dream, a short biography of Fitzgerald, a definition of Modernism in American literature, and detailed summaries of the analyses of This Side of Paradise and Tender Is the Night.

What is the purpose of including a biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald?

The short biography aims to connect Fitzgerald's personal life and experiences (including his relationship with Zelda Fitzgerald and the societal changes he witnessed) to the themes explored in his literature, providing context for understanding his insights into the American Dream.

What is the significance of the "Short definition of Modernism in American literature" chapter?

This chapter positions Fitzgerald's novels within the broader context of Modernist American literature, highlighting his unique contribution to Modernist themes and explaining key characteristics of Modernist writing relevant to his work.

How are the novels This Side of Paradise and Tender is the Night analyzed?

The analysis of This Side of Paradise focuses on Amory Blaine's journey, his ambitions, relationships, and the erosion of his idealistic vision. The analysis of Tender Is the Night examines Dick Diver's decline, his relationship with Rosemary Hoyt, and explores themes of mental illness and disillusionment.

What are the key words associated with this thesis?

Key words include: American Dream, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Modernism, disillusionment, ambition, social status, wealth, materialism, Jazz Age, alienation, The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, Tender Is the Night, literary symbolism, and narrative techniques.

What is the overall objective of the thesis?

The overall objective is to analyze how Fitzgerald constructs and deconstructs the American Dream in his novels, showcasing its ultimate failure in the lives of his protagonists.