If I had to read only F. Scott Fitzgerald literature for the rest of my life, I think I'd be okay with that.
In This Side of Paradise, the protagonist, Amory Blaine, follows a downward trajectory. Given his genius and confidence, I thought his successes would never end, however, he eventually faces "a succession of quick, unrelated scenes" (Fitzgerald, 2000, p. 233). These include two rough romances and a temporary bout of alchoholism. Dejected, he reflects in the final chapter, only to confirm, "I know myself, ... but that is all." Despite Amory's egotism, I empathized with him at various times throughout the novel, and was glad that his last remark was a humble one.
(Image by Matthew Allard)
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