- Fitzgerald grew up in Minnesota into a hard working family
- He attended St. Paul’s academy, a preparatory School and was successful in his time there
- Since he could remera reading his first book, Fitzgerald had always been captivated by literature and grew close connection to the idea of achieving greatness
- As can be seen with the quote, he was always in pursuit of the American Dream and his acceptance into Princeton reflected this
- He understood what came with attending a school such as Princeton and desired all the came with it, however somehow he felt that he did not.
- He later dropped out and joined the army during the time of WW1.

- Fitzgerald began to work on a novel during his time in war
- He was stationed in Montgomery, Alabama and he was not pleased with life in the barracks
- He was pleased with how his novel was going and sent different versions of his novel to Scriberns, a very popular publishing company at the time
- His first novel was a huge success being published in 1920, and received exceptional reviews
- The book reflected an experience of his being rejected by his girlfriend due to differences in social and economic status
- This writing based of real events would become a trademark point of his writing
- this side of paradise launched him into his career and marriage. It was the beginning of his dream becoming true. He was making steps towards being rich and living a life of luxury. He was about to dive head first into the life he always sought after.

- Zelda Fitzgerald was Scott Fitzgerald’s wife and partner for many years and by some opinion also the reason for Fitzgerald’s downfall
- Zelda was Montgomery, Alabama born into a prosperous family and was the charm of her town
- She represented the 1920s almost a paradigm of it. She was flamboyant and did not live by the norms of society
- She met Fitzgerald while he was stationed in Alabama and the two fell in love
- However the two almost never married, due to the expectation that she would marry to someone equal of her status and not to a writer with no success

- For this reason the book This Side of Paradise, helped their wish to be together come true because it was a success

- Fitzgerald is considered one of the best American writers ever some say the best ever
- He wrote novels
- Fitzgerald used much of his real life and incorporated that into his writing. His vision of the American Dream can be seen in the Great Gatsby through the rise and fall of Jay Gatsby. He drew inspiration from his alcoholism, his wife’s mental illness, and love life. Almost all significant events in his life have been put into his writing in one way or another
- He was very intelligent and that can be reflected in his rhetorical strategies written in books
- Fitzgerald wrote to express what he felt and what he was living. He conveyed his ideas and views in beautiful ways and although it was not always recognized in its time, its value is definitely seen today

-The American Dream was never more achievable than during the time of the 1920s. It was possible for anybody to make themselves into something great, to live in the big house, to drive the newest car

-Fitzgerald saw this especially through himself as he was a product of the time as much as anything else. He attended the Long Island parties and experienced wealth in its most glamorous form

-However, Fitzgerald was trapped by the American Dream as well. No matter how well he did, there would always be more to attain, more to buy, more to do. He conveyed this feeling through the Great Gatsby. The problem with people especially the wealthy in New York was there was no more gratitude in finally reaching that American Dream.

- All that mattered was money, luxury, and easy living. The American Dream was no longer about the journey and satisfaction that came from becoming, it was all about being, even if it was just a wasteful life.

- The 1920s were some of the most prosperous times in American history
- the US had just come out of WWI victorious and the market was on the rise
- The economic prosperity brought with it, an age of consumerism and opportunity
- Along with the the Jazz Age, came prohibition and the banning of alcohol consumption, transportation, and the selling of alcohol
- The 1920s brought reform in many ways, but it was the most significant time for women because they too, finally, gained the right to vote after being denied for over 100 years in America
- The roaring twenties brought success for many and these people would be called the nouveau riche. There were now two types of wealthy people; the nobility and the hard working self made man
- The twenties not only brought economic success, but change informs such as art, politics, and technology. It was the beginning of the modern era