Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald
"Glamour Queen of the Jazz Age"
The story of F. Scott Fitzgerald's famous wife
Story and Links by Heidi Jo Dean
When Zelda Sayre was born on July 24, 1900, it is doubtful that her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Sayre, realized all their baby girl would accomplish and experience throughout her life. Zelda began her life in Montgomery, Alabama as any typical Southern Belle might. She was the daughter of a prominent Southern family and possessed unusual beauty. But, in reality, Zelda was anything but typical. Zelda's charming and adventurous ways usually surfaced as shocking behavior--even in her early life. When she was a young girl, Zelda called the fire department and told the fireman that a little girl was stuck on top of a roof. She then proceeded to climb to the top of her own roof and sat there, screaming and waving her arms, until all of the trucks and firemen came to "rescue" her.
As Zelda grew older, her sense of adventure and daring grew with her. She smoked, drank, and was always in control. As a teenager, Zelda always had dozens of boys following her around thanks to her flirtatious ways and lack of inhibition. She called the boys her "jellybeans" because she met them at the soda shops that the teenagers called "jelly joints" in the early 1900's. But her jellybeans soon faded away after she met F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1918 at a dance at the Montgomery Country Club. The two began a romance that evening that would last, though not without its turmoil and tragedy, for the rest of their lives.
As the 1920's dawned, the "Jazz Age" took hold of young America, and Zelda and Scott were right in the middle of it. In March of 1920, Zelda left Montgomery, and on April 3, 1920, Zelda and Scott were wed at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Their life together seemed to be getting off to a wonderful start. Scott's first novel, This Side of Paradise, was a huge success and the newspapers and magazines dubbed Zelda the ultimate trend setter in fashion, beauty, and conduct. They called her "the first flapper". Fame had begun--and the fame was not all Scott's. Zelda herself was an accomplished dancer, artist, and writer. However, the story of fame and romance was soon to be shown as a farce. Zelda's shocking behavior and zealous nature was taking a toll on her mind and soul, and Scott did little to help. He encouraged her outrageous actions so he could have more to write about. Scott was also an alcoholic and completely enveloped in his work, leaving little time for Zelda or their little girl, Scottie, who was born in October of 1921. As the thrill of fame and youth faded and life became more and more confusing, Zelda began her downward spiral into mental illness. In April of 1930, Zelda had her first mental breakdown, and in June of 1930, she was labeled a schizophrenic and was put into her first mental institution. Zelda's condition worsened in the confines of the institution and she never again returned to life with Scott.
Zelda died in Highland Mental Hospital on March 10, 1948. The hospital caught on fire and since she had been locked in her room, could not escape as most of the people in the hospital did. Her life was a tragedy within a pretty package. Unfortunately, her extreme nature and passions became self-destructive in the end. But she was talented and beautiful, exciting and purposeful--she was the queen of the Jazz Age. Her life lives on in her paintings and writing--namely her autobiographical work Save Me the Waltz. Zelda's story is one to take to heart for we must look into even the most tortured life for a piece of purpose and value. Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald's life may not be one to model one's own life after, but is worthy of understanding and respect.
Educational Helps and Information
~Story for the use of Grade 6 and up.
Questions
1. Where and when was Zelda born and where was she raised?
2. Describe Zelda's first example of "shocking" behavior as a young girl.
3. Why did Zelda call the boys who liked her "jellybeans"?
4. Why was Zelda called "the first flapper"?
5. Describe some of Zelda's personal accomplishments.
6. Describe why you think Zelda was put into the mental institution. Use the story for facts to help you.
Answers
1. Zelda was born on July 24, 1990 in Montgomery, Alabama where she was raised.
2. Zelda's first example of shocking behavior was her phone call to the fire department.
3. Zelda called the boys "jellybeans" because she met them in the soda shops called "jelly joints".
4. Zelda was called the "first flapper" because she was the main trend-setter in the 1920's.
5. Zelda was a dancer, writer, and artist.
6. Answers may vary--should include her behavior and nature, how Scott treated her, and her mental illness.
A Storyteller's Outline
I. Zelda--Child
A. Born and raised in Montgomery--July 24, 1900
B. Known for shocking behavior
II. Zelda--Young Adult
A. Continued daring behaviors
B. Chased and liked by many boys
C. Met F. Scott Fitzgerald at Montgomery Country Club
III. Zelda--Adult
A. Married Scott in 1920
B. "First Flapper"
C. Writer, dancer, and artist
D. Downward spiral into mental illness
E. Died in Highland Mental Hospital in a fire
Sources
Zelda--A Biography. Nancy Milford. Harper and Row:1970.
Save Me the Waltz. Zelda Fitzgerald. New American Library: 1968.
http://www.scotsman.com/festival/darchive/01875001.html
http://www.poprocks.com/zelda.htm
http://www.csd.scarolina.edu/fitzgerald/romantic/gifs/105.gif
Special Thanks to Stacy Marie Saville who performed "The Last Flapper" --a one-woman play about Zelda's life--on February 27, 1998 at Cedarville College.