F. Scott Fitzgerald in the city of lights: Success and Failure in Tender is the Night Through the Lens of Buffalo, New York

Abstract

F. Scott Fitzgerald's spent the early part of his childhood growing up in Buffalo and the region of Western New York. from 1896-1908. New York plays an important role in the way he conceptualizes success and failure. This can he seen most notably played out in Tender is rhe Night, where Bulralo serves as a location of, and catalyst for. failure of morality and failure of the American Dream. Both of these tailures operate under an umbrella of ambition and social class that can be seen through the lens of Buffalo. New York. Through explorations ofthe social and cultural history of Buffalo, fitzgerald's experiences as described in his Ledger. and a close reading analysis of Tender is !he Nigh/. this thesis explores the way that Buffalo is employed to play into a wider thematic function of ideas of success and failure.