Dear AP students:
Did you know the character of Daisy Buchanan is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife, Zelda?
Fitzgerald met his wife when he was in the army--just like Gatsby met Daisy. Zelda initially refused to marry Fitzgerald because he wasn't wealthy or successful, just like Daisy refused to marry Gatsby. Zelda didn't marry Fitzgerald until he became a successful novelist.
Zelda and Fitzgerald had a glamorous but ultimately very stormy marriage. They became celebrities that typified the Roaring 20's. She was emotionally unstable, and it didn't help that both husband and wife drank quite a bit. As his career lagged, she eventually ended up in an insane asylum. Feminists in the 1970's portrayed her as someone who had been the victim of her husband's bad treatment.
You can read about Zelda at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelda_Fitzgerald
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57 comments:
I always find it interesting how some authors choose to (or sometimes I guess they just happen to) take their own personal stories and characterize them into writing. For Fitzgerald to have experienced what Gatsby similarly has helps readers to also see the impact of social issues like wealth discrimination on society/people.
After reading up on Daisy, I also read how Fitzgerald was likewise influenced by his previous relationship with Chicago socialite Ginevra King. Quite intriguing how hearts never seem to forget...looks like Fitzgerald's story can foreshadow Gatsby's similarly unfortunate end.
I agree with Kristine. I, too, find it intriguing when an author sets the foundation of his/her writings within an autobiographical context. From my understanding, Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan are fictionalized versions of both Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, respectively.
Despite popular belief, there is an ongoing literary debate on whether or not Fitzgerald is an accurate representation of Gatsby or Carraway. But in my opinion, it can truly be analyzed from both perspectives: Like Gatsby, Fitzgerald is a World War I veteran who enters a relentless pursuit for his lover: Zelda. Like Carraway, Fitzgerald is an Ivy League alumnus from Minnesota, an outsider looking into the world of wealth and decadence. It can really be seen from both ways.
Yet their is a difference between Zelda and Daisy, for what we know Zelda had her life planned out; to be a dancer, where on the other hand Daisy seems to only want to be dependable and receive the great things in life.
Zelda did care about "boys and swimming," and we do not now much of Daisy and her past but can assume that she did favor boys as well.
It seems that Zelda did live a life of careless wonder and did whatever she pleased from drinking to having a good time with the boys. Daisy, overall, can not be judged to an extrenous measure because all we know, for now, is that she loves wealth men and see's a lot in people (men in particular) from their money.
Zelda -> Life-lover
Daisy -> Gold-digger
I find it very odd that F. Scott Fitzgerald based Daisy on his wife, becsuse Daisy is such a self absorbed person. It almost seems that Fitzgerald was writing about his wife so that he could express his frustration. You would think that if he was happy with his wife he would have created a more flattering character based on her.
I see this piece of information as a foreshadow on the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy since it relates to Fitzgerald's cascading marriage with Zelda. It shows that a marriage based on glamor, faim, and money no matter how flattering on the outside will lead to serious downfalls if they are not in the marriage for their partners character. If it takes someone having to change who they are or how they look, then it is not a true love and soon they will realize they are not happy and that money cannot fix it. This could also be a possible theme of "The Great Gatsby": the empty heart of one who only seeks money and glamor.
This information is in a way predictable, seeing that the author would base a character off of someone who is significant in his life. Whether it be positive or negative his wife was a very important aspect in his life.
As well as Daisy to Gatsby. Fitzgerald in a way is maybe reliving his experience and writing a novel on himself and his story expressing the frustration as well as the ups and downs he experiences through both these characters.
- Ciara Santos
Perhaps Fitzgerald was letting out his true feelings when he wrote about Daisy. Maybe he felt frustrated with his wife, despite the fact she seemed like a good person. Apparently she would get stressed out with him when he was writing and he at her because she was annoying him. Its mirrored in the story when Daisy is seen as annoying by her husband.
Although their are strong similarities between the characters of Gatsby and the author Fitsgerald, and between the character of Daisy and Zelda, I agree with what Emily has stated. A marriege is supposed to be based on love and trust. And despite of all the imperfection between two lovers, they will always act blind towards the imperfection, and to compare Daisy with Zelda seems to be a bit odd. I too question why Fitzgerald would describe Daisy as a self-absurd person if he was truly comparing Daisy to his wife.
Daisy is a dependent and shallow character and as a woman she is put down. Fitzgerald is possibly writing to express his true feelings towards his wife and how the greed of money has influenced her greatly. The war might have been a traumatic event that influenced his behavior greatly. Fitzgerald could be over exaggerating the character of Daisy through his view of women and how it has greatly affected him.
Yuji Usami
As already mentioned, the only thing everyone seem to agree on is how Fitzgerald could possibly be expressing a hidden emotion through writing about. If Daisy is similar to his wife, this could also mean that the story itself is similar to their whole relationship. Although Fitzgerald may not be as filthy rich and doing illegal things like Gatsby, the effort he put into being with the one he loves is relevant to the author. Also similar is the attachment women, including Zelda, with material things and the glamor money can provide.
I think that there was definitely irritation between Fitzgerald and his wife during the construction of this book. I was surprised when I found out that Gatsby possibly represented Fitzgerald and Daisy represented Zelda. When reading the story with this perspective in mind, it changes a lot. It seems that Fitzgerald is trying to tell us that Zelda only likes him for superficial qualities, and not for the person he is on the inside. I think this is an explanation for why he leaves Zelda later in the future.
Maybe he's trying to tell people that if he does stay in that relationship trying to please her, he's going to end up suffering for it, like he did towards the end of the story when Daisy hit a woman with her car. He just doesn't want to get caught up in problems like that.
Graeme Scott
It's interesting how Fitzgerald used some of his personal experience for this novel. Maybe the stormy marriage he had with Zelda is represented as Daisy seems to take interest in wealthy men including Gatsby. I believe the trouble in their relationship, had a impact on his writing. Through his writing he's able to express how he feels about love and his pursuit for it.
Stephen Davis
Fitzgerald probably wanted to express his feelings in his book since he is having a hard time with his wife. Daisy and Zelda are almost in the same situation. Daisy's marriage is not good as well as Zelda's. And it shows how people back in the days value money so much. She couldn't marry her just because he was not successful or rich. It seems like marriage back in the days was not based on love but based on fame.
F. Scott Fitzgerald purpose was to emphasize the mindset of men and women during his time. Women seemed to be only interested in men with wealth and power and marrying for love was very uncommon. It is intriguing to me how Fitzgerald's wife Zelda would rather be unhappy and unsatisfied for her whole life but rich rather than be happy and contempt with a middle class man.
Daisy, in fact, had similar characteristics as Zelda. She knew that Tom was in an affair, but she stayed in the relationship for financial support. It seemed women were addicted to the glamorous life of parties and superfluous spendings.
With the relatioship between Gatsby and Daisy to Fitzgerald and Zelda I found that society and wealth influences their relationships which could have been why Fitzgerald and Zelda had a rocky relationship. Agreeing with Stephen, that Fitzgerald may be using the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby to express his experience with love and show his feelings towards love.
With the relatioship between Gatsby and Daisy to Fitzgerald and Zelda I found that society and wealth influences their relationships which could have been why Fitzgerald and Zelda had a rocky relationship. Agreeing with Stephen, that Fitzgerald may be using the relationship between Daisy and Gatsby to express his experience with love and show his feelings towards love.
Kelsey Ehm
It's interesting to see how Zelda refused to marry Fitzgerald until he had become successful and made enough money from his works. This shows the powerful and false influence money had on others in the 1920's. Women such as Zelda believed she would live a happy and prosperous life with the money her husband was making. In reality, Zelda and her husband were miserable and fighting. I think it's also intersting how Fitzgerald based his character Daisy on Zelda. He was angered that his wife had written a novel based on their failing marriage so in result he wanted to do the same; by creating Daisy's character in his novel.
I agree with Kristen. I also like it when authors chracterize their personal life with fictional characters. It makes the story even more interesting when the audience finds out that the character is modeled after a real live person which in turn explains why and how the chracters are so very well thought out and detailed to the point of emotion and personal lifestyle. I didnt know that Daisy was created by Fitzgeralds wife Zelda. This explains how sweet and detailed the chracters voice is portrayed in the novel. Nick always talks about Daisy's voice being sweet that he gets caught up in just listening to her speak. I think as a women for a man to take such deep detail and appreciation to the sound of a womens voice suggests that he is really in love with her or she just makes a really good impact on them.
Sunny Avila
'Life imitates art [vice versa]' would be both an understatement, and exaggeration in this case.
Zelda and Daisy, when juxtapose bear similarities more than differences. Where Zelda did not marry Fitzgerald because he had no name, Daisy does not commit to her promises of waiting for Gatsby - when push comes to shove, she jumps on the easier ship and marries Tom, the successful and wealthy one.
In a sense, Fitzgerald is unsuccessful in his efforts with Zelda even when he won her over. Perhaps it is some foreshadowing, art to life, life to art? Just idle thoughts.
After researching Fitzgerald's life, I can conclude that he was an unhappy and overworked man. His wife can be considered 'earned'. I assume her love for him was non existent, as she refused to marry him unless he was wealthy. Her characteristics are indeed similar to Daisy's, or perhaps vice versa. Which leads to the conclusion that just as Zelda's lack of love affected Fitzgerald, his heartache was reflected in his perception of his wife.
Fitzgerald's stories are more compelling and meaningful when he is investing some emotional aspect of his life into his works. I think his marriage with Zelda was the foundation in which Daisy's character came to life. His trials and frustrations with Zelda may have been mirrored in the emotional conflict with Daisy and her husband Tom. The innocent relationship that Daisy once had with Jay may be a distant memory of what life use to be like with Zelda, when they were still in love.
LauraLee Johnson
I agree with Ciara, in that it is in a way predictable that Fitzgerald's wife would have some influence on the story. People are often influenced by the significant characters in their life, which could be why Daisy was somewhat based off his wife. The two are quite similar, in that they refused to marry someone based on their lack of wealtth or success.
-Alex Sonnenberg
Based on this information on Zelda and how she wouldn't marry F. Scott Fitzgerald, it explains a lot on why Fitzgerald views women as money grubbers. He felt that women put money before love. Most of the women portrayed in, The Great Gatsby, parallel Zelda's motive of money before love attitude. Ms. Wilson is an unhappy wife due to her husband who she considers poor. She becomes Tom's Mistress and cheats on her husband because of his expendable surplus of wealth. Daisy herself married Tom instead of Gatsby because the promising stability of money persuaded her more than her love.
It also shows how both Gatsby and Fitzgerald parallel the continuing love they have for the same girl even after they become successful.
There is a resemblance between the two, Daisy and Zelda, but we don't know much about Daisy's past years as a teen so we can't find the source of why she is so dependant instead of just saying that it was the 1920's and even woman wanted to be with that handsome well known man that was more than wealthy. But we know that Zelda lived her teenage life of love and adventure and she knew what she wanted to be in life, had a goal, whereas Daisy's just seemed to be to find the one who could give her what she wanted and more, mainly more.
I agree with the conclusion that Fitzgerald based the character of Daisy on his wife Zelda because she was someone important in his life, someone he was in love with and because it was a way for him to express his feelings and attitude toward the relationship he had with his wife. I think he shows in this book that money and power really isn't everything, happiness and true love cannot be gained by these things. His wife Zelda only married him after he became successful, the love wasn't enough. In the book Gatsby has all the fine things in life but is in search for something more because he doesn't have Daisy. Tom is wealthy, powerful, has a family of his own but looks to his mistress for contentment. Maybe money can buy things that make life simpler to live, but they are only temporary and can rob people of honest, true relationships.
-Christine De Lara
It is common for an author to include some of his own personal experience when they write. Fitzgerald was maybe just trying to share to people some of his personal experience with his wife by using Gatsby and Daisy. it looks like back then that money was more important than love or happiness itself and that women wouldnt marry a man unless he is rich or famous and this shows a lot about women back then and how theres still similarity and differences from the women now.
Kevin Mendoza
Wealth plays such a huge role in determining someones social class. Many poor men feel defeated when pursuing a wealthy lover. Even though this book was published long ago, we can all still relate to this challenge in life. The similarity between Fitzgerald and Gatsby may be true. But we don't entirely know thats what he intended.
-BRANDON JOSE
Authors tend to write books that end up mirroring their own lives. Sometimes they might think that their life is a drama, and that everyone should hear it (good or bad). Through this, people will reach the conclusions that the author has made as well. Even musicians sometimes record "concept albums" filled with various anecdotes from their own past. Either way, it's sad to see that the women in both instances saw money before love, while the men actually had love for them. It's ironic that Gatsby turned to money just to fulfill his dreams and love for Daisy; of course, this never actually happens. He is blamed for the hit-and-run of Myrtle and ultimately is killed because of it. The dramatic crash and burn endings to Fitzgerald and Gatsby mirror each other; but both are appreciated once they are long gone.
I think its interesting that Gatsby's life seems to almost mirror the life of Fitzgerald. What I realize is that the best stories are the ones that relate to the author but uses different situations and metaphors. In Fitzgerald's case, he was able to communicate his disillusionment over love and society through his story of Gatsby. He uses Gatsby as a way to express his feelings because he doesn't want to simply use his life which is limited in story possibilities. He wanted to use characters that are much more simple to understand and somewhat relate to. Fitzgerald had intended for the reader to figure out a truth about this story and their own lives. This approach is similar if not identical to the way song writers create their lyrics. The best songs don't always bluntly reveal the artist's emotions. Rather, they are implied in the words or situation that is being sung. The more ambiguous and interpretative the words are in the song,the more one can relate to. In contrast, a simple worded song does not provide the emotional impact intended.
Fitzgerald wanted to impact the reader emotionally. He wanted reader to be aware of his own feelings in his similar situation. To give the reader a less biased view of it, he allowed the story to be told by a another character, rather than from Gatsby himself. He wanted us to intemperate Gatsby's feelings, emotions, Motives.
-Eriel Carino
From what I read in the given article, it is unfair to conclude that it was F. Scott Fitzgerald’s fault alone for the way his marriage with Zelda ended. For example, Zelda may have contributed to the failing marriage by obsessing over her “career as a ballerina, practicing to exhaustion.” This could have lead to her neglecting her husband, which may have angered him constantly. But of course, Fitzgerald also contributed to the failing marriage by increasing immature behavior, such as the “alcoholism.” However, this article alone may not provide enough information to determine who is ultimately at fault for certain.
i agree with yuigi here that maybe he was writing about his true feelings about his wife. Both daisy and zelda sound like shallow people.
-Daniel Hernandez
I think it is impossible to write anything without putting yourself into it. Writing is an expression of yourself, of course you would put some personal experiences into it. You cant expect somebody to put all their effort into a book without that book reflecting some aspect of their personality/life. You can find alot out about a person by reading their books, their political beliefs, their opinions on children, how they think parents behave, what their ideal society would be, the list never ends. You know that Edgar Allen Poe wasn't much of an optimist, and you know William Shakespere was a romantic because that is what they focus on in their writing.
I think stories are so much more interesting when authors base their stories on themselves and their life experiences. It gives the author a creative way to vent about everything and anything whether it be positive or negative. Given the information based on his own relationship with his wife, this foreshadows what may happen between Gatsby and Daisy. It amuses me how some women only marry for money not love.
Myzel Esguerra
The authors use of his own personal life as a back story of this novel is significant because its used as an extension of his true feelings towards his wife Zelda. He portrays his real feelings towards his wife through the character Daisy in the novel.
Although the character Daisy is based off of the authors real life wife Zelda, they do differ in personalities. For example, the character of Daisy is represented as a gold-digger, where Zelda is Fitzgerald's true life long lover.
It is very peculiar for Fitzgerald to include this strenuous relationship, being that this endeavored love is one of the main focus of the book. Like Zelda, Daisy could not accept her lover simply because he was not of fine wealth and possession. This idea would seem irrevocably immoral, yet there are people to this day who marry only to wealth, only to this material happiness. They seem to find this idea in which money can solve anything. To the Buchanan's, it is a statement ever so true. They use money to impoverish the pain and tension they feel in reality. So, in essence, wealth has become the only dream they seek.
What is truly fascinating to me is that Daisy is so blind to see the greatness and genuine qualities in Gatsby that he himself becomes obsessed with the idea of wealth (simply in order to attain her love) It is fascinating that even in all of his accomplishments, he still cannot see the true reward and gift to which has been given to him. Instead, he fixates himself on one idea:opulence.
Unlike Fitzgerald, Gatsby does not attain the love of his life. Instead he chooses to believe that his dream still isn't over, that he still has a chance at retaining the past and gain back Daisy. This in turn leads to his ultimate downfall, and eventual death. At this point of the novel, i am truly flabbergasted. It is not at the fact that he did not win her over, but that he could not come to terms wit reality: that even though he gained the wealth she wanted, he STILL could not see the greatness to which was ever so attributed to him.
This book was simply amazing.
I think its nice when authors base characters on a personal story of their own. Much like how Lauren Conrad wrote stories based on her reality television series and events that happened. Fitzgerald must have been an observational man in order to notice all the social issues and differences in wealth that was going on.
Jillian Buenviaje
Since Fitzgerald was having a hard time with his wife, he probably wanted to write about her in his book as a way to express his feelings and to clear his mind.
But even though Daisy is based on his wife, Zelda, Zelda is still his life long lover and Daisy is a gold digger.
Ciarra Gagan
I think in general people who marry for the wrong reasons often find themselves unhappy. Although that may seem like an obvious observation, it surprises me how often these relationships occur. My dad is a family lawyer, AKA a "divorce lawyer," and all I hear about are the hundreds of divorces he does a year, not to mention what we hear about in People magazine and online. How is it possible that so many people never learned the lesson of love over money/power?
It is strange how Fitzgerald related Daisy to his wife in his personal life. He is obviously reliving what has happened to him earlier in his life. Based on the character of Daisy, Fitzgerald must be frustrated with his wife
The one above is Cobrin Humphery's post. I forgot to put my name.
the relationship between Gatsby and Daisy to Fitzgerald and Zelda are both influence by the high demands of the common wealth and society itself. this may be a reflection on what Fitzgerald thoughts on emotions of love
Imran S. Hoque
It is fascinating that authors write about their own personal experiences. Many authors write about things they experience. For example the author of the Twilight Saga, Stephanie Meyer, wrote about her dream. And her book became a success from a personal experience just like Fitzgerald's.
Haha, I didn’t realize until now that so many people do not like Daisy. Sure she does not love her husband but I do not see her being a "gold digger" or self absorbed. I see Daisy as someone who was in love and was torn away from who she was in love with. And then settled for a man that at the time who seemed to be perfect. Even though she would not marry him because he was poor was not her mentality, it was her family. But, that is how society worked back then. The only thing I think Daisy is guilty of is being a poor mother. Her child seems to take back seat in her life.
The Great Gatsby truly is a masterpiece that portrays both the falsification of the American Dream and of his own personal life. Just as Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald must have sought after his wife Zelda with passion while she constantly blew him off. Through a typical feminist perspective, it would be seen through only the female's point of view and not the man's. Fitzgerald had served in the Great War and must have experienced first hands the horrors of human kind. Most would be left both physically and mentally unstable for with what they might have witnessed. Fitzgerald may have had a grasp on his Dream as a writer and having Zelda by his side, but it was short lived due to their short lived relationship together. In a sense, I believe this book may have been one of few attempts to get back at his wife Zelda for publishing novels about their marriage.
The fact that an author delves into his personal life, which has its ups and downs, for inspiration is no surprise. I just find it interesting how honest he was about it. I do believe, however, that this is a case of feminists using a man as a scapegoat for a woman getting our of control, this kind of thing makes it hard for me to see things from the feminist perspective. They fail to acknowledge that women bring things on themselves in many cases. Women be crazy.
Josh Rodriguez
Fitzgerald seems to put some similar frustrations that he must have had with his life with Zelda into the character Gatsby, maybe in the attempt to share his emotions.
I agree with Angelica. On how Zelda seemed to know what to marry a nobody, then until Fitzgerald became successful, then she ended up marrying him. To perhaps come into something, to be rich. But that only lead to her downfall and into an asylum.
Just like Daisy didn't wait for Gatsby, taking an easy road into wealth, which meant marrying tom
We can clearly see that Fitzgerald's relationship with his wife Zelda highly influenced him in writing the Great Gatsby. It appears that true love did not exist during the roaring 20's and love was merely superficial. I guess that during this period in time women only cared about fame and wealth. Women mostly wanted to marry men whom are rich, as this is evident in Daisy, Zelda, and possibly Myrtle.
The fact that Fitizgerald put hios own personbal experince into this story shows how he wanted to connect with his readers. I agree with many of the others who thought the character of Daisy showed the frustartion of Fitizgerald in his own life. By comming up with this charcter he was able to share his experience and wmotions with the world in a way that he felt close too.
I think the relationship between Nick and Daisy is...intimate to say the least. There were parts of the book where I thought Nick may actually be in love with her, he certainly has her on a pedestal. The way he describes her melodic voice as being sweet and magical, and the way he says she is so charming is just not how I feel about my cousins. I also thought they were not very close, they were seperated for a while, I was proved wrong after reading thier first reencounter. I did not know Fitzgerald based Daisy's character off of his wife. That may explain a bit more. Maybe when he was writing about Daisy he got so caught up in memories about his wife that his love for her just flowed through to Daisy. Or if not then I am back to being skeptical about Daisy and Nicks relationship.
I do not find it that much surprising that the character of Daisy was based on his wife, Zelda. It's usually quite often that I see novelists, famous or not known, use thier own lives as references in their stories. It's understandable since it is what they know and is usually what comes to mind when thinking about what to write, personal experience.
I agree, though, with Emily that you would think Daisy would have been portrayed as a much more liked character. Fitzgerald seemed as though he adored his wife, so it would make more sense if Daisy was less "self-absorbed". Although she was becautiful and flawless in the eyes of Nick and Gatsby, Daisy was still only concerned with her own well-being only cring for money and luxury.
-Dominique Rillo
Once I finished reading the book, I read the publisher's note on F. Scott Fitzgerald's biography. I was shocked when I read thathis wife Zelda had rejected him and then accepted him once he became wealthy. It certainly explains why Fitzgerald was able to write that "love you-love you not" connection that Gatsby and Daisy share. It also explains why the superficiality of the rich is so detailed-Fitzgerald himself lived in that lifestyle, and if he lost it, he would loose Zelda, so he had to work hard to keep her with him.
I find the similarity of the situation to be quite interesting. As for how Zelda is the same as Daisy, I find that each only married to their chosen spouse out of the reason of money. Without it, I'm sure that they wouldn't give much mind as o what would happen to them in their lives.
In my perspective authors tend to write their best stories when it comes from personal experiences. I think that Fitzgerald created this Daisy character after his own wife to be able to express how he really feels. And those feelings are mostly hateful.
I love when authors take from their own lives and share it with the readers. I feel like it is an authors way to reach out and give more insight into their lives. Now I will look at Daisy and Gatsby more as people than just characters in a novel. Not only can Gatsby help reveal more of Fitzgerald but Fitzgerald can help the readers understand Gatsby.
Alexandra Daigle
Various authors, like Fitzgerald, use personal experience in order to add more depth to the characters in their work. Knowing that Fitzgerald went through what Gatsby did makes me view him in a different way and also makes me want to read some of his other works. After reading how Fitzgerald's relationship with Zelda is similar to that of Gatsby and Daisy makes me wonder what kind of impact it had on his writing style, and how a functional relationship might have changed it.
Jesse Montes
i find it interesting that Fitzgerald uses his personal events to write a story to express the way he feels about his wife Zelda. i feel that this was i way for him to connect to his readers and give them insight into his life. Like Zelda,Daisy is in love with money and material pleasures. Zelda finally marries Fitzgerald when he published his first novel. The same with Daisy she marries Tom because he is wealthy and very powerful. Based on this assumption, all they cared about was being glamorous and wealthy.
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