Death of F. Scott Fitzgerald

     Fitzgerald died on December 21, 1940 in Hollywood, California. He had been an alcoholic since his college days. During the 1920's and 1930's his health became very poor from excessive drinking at parties and bars. He was living in the Modernism period. Fitzgerald claimed that he has contracted tuberculosis but many though he is just using saying that to cover for his drinking problems. His biographer Arthur Mizener said that Scott suffered a mild attack of tuberculosis in 1919 and two heart attacks in 1940. He moved in with Sheilah Graham, who lived in Hollywood, one block east of Fitzgerald's apartment. On the night of December 20, 1940, Fitzgerald and Graham attended the premiere of This Thing Called Love. As they were leaving the Pantages Theater, Fitzgerald experienced dizziness and had trouble walking. The following day, while he was making notes and eating, Ms. Graham saw him jump from his armchair, grab the mantelpiece, gasp, and fall to the floor. Fitzgerald had died of a massive heart attack. 

     Fitzgerald lived a painful life aside from his fame and popular works. He had personal conflicts which always tear up any artist and do not allow them to cope with their life. In my opinion, if he did not live in the time period of the 1920's and 1930's, he might have lived differently. His addiction to alcohol probably would not exist because during that time period everybody drank illegally without any limits and responsibility.