The concept of marriage in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s works from the viewpoint of Catholic morality

Abstract

F. Scott Fitzgerald was of Irish descent and was raised within the Catholic tradition. He married Zelda Sayre, a non-Catholic, in a Catholic ceremony, and despite significant marital discord, he never abandoned her. This paper contends that Fitzgerald, in his literary work, remained symbolically aligned with the Catholic vision of marriage. The theme of marriage recurs prominently throughout his body of work and will be analysed in light of Catholic moral teaching, including canon law and social practice. The discussion will encompass both married couples – such as the Wilsons and the Buchanans in The Great Gatsby, the Patches in The Beautiful and Damned, and the Divers in Tender Is the Night – as well as the couple who are planning a marriage: Amory and Rosalind in This Side of Paradise. The analysis will demonstrate that marriage is mostly depicted as a virtuous institution worthy of protection and reverence. This depiction aligns with Catholic doctrine, which regards marriage as a sacred and indissoluble covenant. Fitzgerald’s characters frequently encounter moral dilemmas reflective of the human condition as articulated in biblical texts, and those who transgress the boundaries of marital fidelity typically endure adverse consequences. In these narratives, the extra-marital lover – often serving as a symbolic representation of evil – is usually removed, while the legitimate spouse is affirmed.
Contribution: This study shows that Fitzgerald’s novels may be interpreted as literary explorations of marriage, with a discernible underpinning in Catholic theology. The study argues that the author’s view of marriage as a sacred and inviolable institution is reflected in the fictional worlds he creates. These insights offer a new dimension to existing scholarship, which has tended to interpret the theme of marriage in Fitzgerald’s work primarily as a reflection of his personal marital experience.