Personal Experiences:
* His own tumultuous love affair with Zelda Sayre: Fitzgerald's passionate, yet ultimately tragic, romance with Zelda mirrored the doomed love story of Gatsby and Daisy. The novel explores themes of social class, the pursuit of wealth, and the elusive nature of love, all deeply rooted in Fitzgerald's own life.
* His observations of the Jazz Age: The Roaring Twenties was a period of tremendous social and economic change, marked by hedonism, materialism, and a disillusionment with traditional values. Fitzgerald's novel captures this atmosphere, painting a vivid picture of the decadent parties and moral decay of the American elite.
* His experiences on Long Island: Fitzgerald lived on Long Island during the 1920s, witnessing firsthand the extravagant lifestyles of the wealthy. The novel's setting of West Egg, Long Island, is directly inspired by the opulent estates he observed.
Literary Influences:
* The American Dream: Fitzgerald's novel is a critique of the American Dream, exploring its unattainability and the corrupting influence of wealth and status. This theme was prevalent in American literature of the time, particularly in the works of writers like Theodore Dreiser and Sinclair Lewis.
* Romantic literature: Fitzgerald was heavily influenced by Romantic poets like Keats and Shelley, who celebrated the power of love and imagination. Gatsby's romantic pursuit of Daisy and the novel's lyrical prose reflect this influence.
* The works of Thomas Hardy and Edith Wharton: Fitzgerald was familiar with the works of these writers, who explored themes of social class, love, and tragedy in their novels. These influences can be seen in Gatsby's tragic downfall and the novel's melancholic tone.
Other factors:
* His own struggles with alcoholism and financial instability: Fitzgerald's personal struggles mirrored Gatsby's pursuit of wealth and his ultimately tragic fate.
* His desire to create a "great American novel": Fitzgerald aimed to write a book that would capture the essence of the American experience, much like the works of Mark Twain and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
"The Great Gatsby" is a complex and multilayered novel that reflects a blend of Fitzgerald's personal experiences, observations, and literary influences. The book's enduring popularity stems from its exploration of universal themes, such as love, loss, and the elusive nature of happiness, making it a timeless masterpiece of American literature.