Childhood of Gatsby and Fitzgerald

"His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people - his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all." (95) 

"Work...8:30-4:30,... read one improving book per week, ...and be better to parents" (164). 

Throughout the novel The Great Gatsby, the childhood of author F. Scott Fitzgerald parallels the upbringing of the main character Jay Gatsby, which can be seen by the livelihood of their parents, their experience in the army, and their strong ambition in order to showcase both his disdain and admiration for the Jazz Age era of excess and materialism.

Jay Gatsby arose from an impoverished lifestyle in North Dakota. Gatsby did not accept his parents because they were unable to provide the lavish and affluent lifestyle that he had dreamed. Although Fitzgerald was in a middle-class household, he was still considered poor by Zelda's (his beloved) standards. Fitzgerald's mother, Mary McQuillan had made a small fortune in Minnesota as a wholesale grocer. His father, Edward Fitzgerald, had run a furniture business in St. Paul. When Scott Fitzgerald was 12 years old, his father lost this job, and the family was forced to live off of his mother's small income.

Fitzgerald was commissioned as a second lieutenant, similar to how Gatsby trained in the infantry and was ranked as a Major. This reflects a stepping stone to a position of higher ranks, which both characters craved.

Both Gatsby and Fitzgerald were not able to accept their lack of wealth, and strived for a better lifestyle in order to change/make up for their past. Gatsby proves his determination at an early age as his house is filled with "real books" (47), suggesting that Gatsby was self-educated. His ambition to make himself a better man is also proven by the schedule he kept, which lists "work...8:30-4:30, read one improving book per week, and be better to parents" (164). Fitzgerald reflects these strong ambitions in the sense that it was this drive which caused him to continue writing books, even while drafted in the war.

Gatsby's good intentions are reflected as he gives money back to his family, despite being ashamed of them early on in his life. Fitzgerald did not do the same, and was considered very self-destructive. He drank excessively and became labelled as an alcoholic.

Therefore, it is evident that events from Fitzgerald's childhood are paralleled in the creation of Gatsby's character. Gatsby's build up to fortune is meaningless when he is killed by George. However, his actions resulted in an increase of self-awareness and self-knowledge as we see him as an admirable young man in the end of the novel, thus proving him to fit the characteristics of a tragic hero. Fitzgerald's prosperity is also meaningless as he loses his love Zelda, and she enters the Highland Mental Hospital. Both men are examples of modern tragedies because they both dedicated their lives to one thing and had it slip from their grasp. They both die considering themselves a failure regardless of their hard work and dedication.