Early Years:
- F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Sayre met in 1918 when he was stationed at an army camp in Alabama. They were both young, beautiful, and talented, and they quickly fell in love.
- They got married in 1920, just a few days after Fitzgerald's first novel, "This Side of Paradise," was published. The couple became celebrities and were known for their lavish lifestyle and parties.
Passion and Creativity:
- Fitzgerald and Zelda were both talented writers and artists, and they inspired each other's creativity. They collaborated on several projects, including the novel "Tender is the Night" and the short story collection "All the Sad Young Men."
- Their relationship was often intense and passionate, and they had a great love for each other. However, their personalities and temperaments were also very different, which led to frequent conflicts and arguments.
Struggles and Infidelity:
- Zelda struggled with mental illness throughout her life, and she was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1930. This put a severe strain on their marriage, as Fitzgerald struggled to cope with her illness and her increasingly erratic behavior.
- Both Fitzgerald and Zelda had extramarital affairs, which further complicated their relationship. Fitzgerald's most notable affair was with the journalist Sheilah Graham, who became his partner after Zelda's death.
Later Years and Fitzgerald's Death:
- In the later years of their marriage, Fitzgerald and Zelda lived apart for extended periods due to Zelda's illness and his own struggles with alcoholism and writer's block.
- Fitzgerald died of a heart attack in 1940 at the age of 44. Zelda survived him by seven years and passed away in a fire at a mental hospital in 1948.
Overall, F. Scott Fitzgerald's relationship with marriage was marked by both great love and passion, as well as significant challenges and conflicts. Their tumultuous marriage had a profound impact on Fitzgerald's life and work, and it is often reflected in his writings and characters.