May Day

Fitzgerald's life was marked by the excess and disillusionment of the Jazz Age — I wonder how much of that personal experience shaped the novella's tone and themes.

The story's conclusion is quite bleak and open-ended, which made me think about the societal commentary Fitzgerald was making. Was that intentional to leave us pondering?

The backdrop of post-World War I America adds a layer of complexity — I'm curious whether Fitzgerald was inspired by specific events or a general sense of societal decline.