The Underrated Brilliance of Zelda Fitzgerald: A Closer Look at Her Contributions to Literature
By: Ride Hamilton
A TOAST TO ZELDA…
Their love was tempestuous, so was her mind;
Zelda never renounced existing unconfined,
Her art was her solace, her bolt from such nonsense mundane,
A reflection of her soul, this painter’s vibrant refrain.
In a cliché world printing women in a clichéd box,
Zelda rebuffed to play their orthodox,
Her life was a masterpiece, messy and raw,
A true iconoclast, a woman with and without flaw.
So let us remember Zelda Fitzgerald,
A woman who rejected to be caught still,
A rebel, a muse, a legend by her own,
Nature’s force of talent, forever known, yet unknown.
Zelda Fitzgerald is often overshadowed by her husband F. Scott Fitzgerald, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. However, Zelda was also a talented writer in her own right, and her contributions to literature are finally being recognized and celebrated. In this article, we will explore why Zelda Fitzgerald was a great author and why her legacy deserves to be reevaluated.
Zelda’s writing career began when she was a teenager, and she quickly established herself as a talented and ambitious writer. Her early works, including short stories and essays, were published in popular magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post. Her first novel, Save Me the Waltz, was published in 1932, and although it was initially panned by critics, it has since been recognized as a significant contribution to American literature.
One of the reasons why Zelda’s writing is so compelling is her unique perspective as a woman in the 1920s and 1930s. Her writing often explores themes of femininity, sexuality, and the complexities of marriage and relationships. In Save Me the Waltz, for example, she writes about a young woman’s struggles to balance her artistic ambitions with her role as a wife and mother. This theme of the conflict between female creativity and societal expectations is one that still resonates today.
In addition to her insights into gender and sexuality, Zelda’s writing is also characterized by a vivid and poetic prose style. Her writing is often described as “lyrical” and “dreamlike,” and she is known for her use of rich and evocative language. This style is evident in both her fiction and her personal writing, including her letters and diaries.
Zelda’s personal experiences also inform her writing and give it a raw and emotional quality. Throughout her life, she struggled with mental illness, and her writing often reflects the intense emotions and inner turmoil that she experienced. Her honest and vulnerable approach to writing is one that has resonated with readers for decades.
Despite her talent and early success, Zelda’s legacy was largely overshadowed by her husband’s. She was often dismissed as a mere footnote in literary history, a tragic figure who was only known for her struggles with mental illness. However, in recent years, there has been a renewed interest in her work, and her contributions to literature are finally being recognized.
Zelda Fitzgerald was a great author in her own right, and her legacy deserves to be reevaluated. Her writing is characterized by a unique perspective on gender and sexuality, a vivid and poetic prose style, and a raw emotional intensity that continues to resonate with readers today. As we continue to reassess the contributions of women writers throughout history, Zelda’s work stands as monumental evidence to the power and importance of female creativity.
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