Wealth is a major aspect of Fitzgerald's work. His characters face adversity through the struggle for wealth and the struggle against wealth's disturbing influences. The Fitzgerald home sat on the same stretch as the lavish home of multi-millionaire James J. Hill. Hill could be seen as the character build for Gatsby, as Nick views the Gatsby mansion the same way Fitzgerald may have viewed the Hill home. Gatsby's father also references Hill at the funeral. Fitzgerald's mother survived on the wealth of her family, while his father worked to support the family. In 1908, Fitzgerald's father lost his job at Proctor & Gamble which resulted in the family relying on Mrs. Fitzgerald's inherent wealth. Inherent wealth contrasting working wealth is apparent in
The Great Gatsby. The people of East Egg live off of inherent wealth, while those of West Egg come from newly made fortunes.
F. Scott Fitzgerald did not have a life of pleasant romance. Before dropping out of college, Fitzgerald led a relationship with a woman named Ginevra King. Fitzgerald considered Ginevra to be his first love, however, she broke off the relationship after three years. This bond would help structure many of his future characters' conflicts. During his station at Camp Sheridan, Fitzgerald attended a dance, and he met a southern bell named Zelda Sayre. Zelda was the daughter of the Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice. It should be noted that Zelda was the youngest of three other siblings, and, naturally, could get away with any antics she pulled. Also, the mental instability of her family should be considered because of Zelda's own future pyschological problems. Her father suffered mental breakdowns, and her brother and grandmother committed suicide. Disregarding her genetic flaws, the exciting spirit of Zelda enticed Fitzgerald. Unfortunately, he could not court Zelda because of his financial inability to provide for the woman. At the end of World War I, Fitzgerald was discharged from the army, and he proceeded to find work in order to provide for his love, Zelda. Proving his worth through hard work and financial wealth is another factor that influences Fitzgerald's characters. Gatsby creates false reality in order to impress and attract Daisy. In "Winter Dreams," Judy Jones breaks off several engagements because she fears the man is not wealthy enough for her. This idea is also contrasted with "The Rich Boy." Anston Hunter believes he is able to marry his love by attracting her with his wealth. Ultimately, she grows tired of his egotism, and marries another man. It is unclear how Fitzgerald feels about acquiring wealth, but it is clear that the events in his life have influenced his work.In September 1919, Fitzgerald published his first novel. Zelda and Fitzgerald married the following year.
Many aspects of Fitzgerald's own life become part of his novels. As Zelda grew more unstable, she was placed in a mental institution. Her asylum forced him to write. Fitzgerald's drinking problem and Zelda's hospital bills eliminated all of his funds. His nightmare influenced
Tender is the Night to be much bleaker than his other novels. Unfortunately for Fitzgerald, not all of his work grew richer in story through his own experiences.
A Raisin in the Sun opens with the relatable scene of a mother waking her son with "a good, final, rousing shake." A mother's pushy attitude on a school day morning is an allowed annoyance. She is your mother, and she knows what is best. You listen to her nagging even if it is a quarter past seven and you are incredibly tired. Ruth's assertive actions in the opening scene establish her character as the responsible mother. She may not be the head of the household, but she does her best to improve the lives of those around her. In Act I Scene I, Travis becomes angry at his mother's refusal to give him fifty cents. He shoves away his breakfast in outrage to Ruth's clear tyranny. Ruth cheers on his pouting by telling Travis to make his bed, fix his hair, and put on his jacket. Before he makes his exit, Ruth lifts the mood by mocking the child. She teases his critical, masculine attitude through her portrayal of Travis, "I wouldn't kiss that woman good-bye for nothing in this world this morning!" The relationship between Travis and Ruth is heartwarming, but contrasts the relationship between Walter and Mama.
While Ruth and Travis settle the conflict before exiting, Mama and Walter leave the house without any closure. While Mama is the head of the household, she is neither a great leader nor mother. Mama talks about Big Walter being an excellent father to his children, but after his death Mama is unable to control her children. At the end of Act I Scene I, Beneatha argues that there is no God to her extremely religious mother. Instead of appealing to her daughter, Mama slaps her across the face to inflict shame and punishment. She makes Beneatha repeat the phrase, "In my mother's house there is still God," but Beneatha won't change her views on God through a slap. She may know not to express her personal views in her mother's household, but she still feels the same on the inside. Walter's desire to use the money towards opening a store is a major conflict of the play, but his dream is just a universal desire for escaping poverty. Walter's dream is different in that he wants to escape through financial opportunity. When Walter shows complete indifference to his wife's own turmoil, Mama sees the difference in the placement of values between Big Walter and Walter. Mama states, "I'm waiting to hear you talk like him," but sees how Walter is a "disgrace to [his] father's memory." Her yelling pushes Walter out of the house, and the conflict is not resolved. It can be predicted that Mama has played the role as the loving mother, and does not know how to correct the children without her husband. Ruth, however, is able to control Travis on her own. Her relationship with Walter has forced her into a position as the lover and punisher of her child. Although Travis' confliction is minor to that of Walter and Beneatha, Ruth is not any less capable of correcting their behavior.
