The Crack-Up as a Confessional Essay

The Crack-Up as a Confessional Essay

In The Crack-Up, F. Scott Fitzgerald gives insights on his personal journey through a mental crisis or “crack-up”. During his breakdown, Fitzgerald analyzes his mentality and character, and feels empty, regarding countless aspects of his life. During the essay, he gives details of his insanity, and informs those who may be subject to breakdowns of what may occur. By providing personal examples, he explains, to those close to him and to those who enjoy his work, his actions and what ensued during this troubled time.

Fitzgerald compares himself to a cracked plate, explaining, “..the cracked plate has to be retained in the pantry… It can never again be warmed on the stove nor shuffled with the other plates in the dishpan… In this example, he claims that the cracked plate has to be isolated, affecting its character. Similar to the plate, he also is damaged, changing his nature. This powerful analogy illustrates Fitzgerald’s newfound isolation, and how he is changed, like the plate. Thus, the title “The Crack – Up” is just and significant.

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• The Crack-Up by F. Scott Fitzgerald Analysis

In “The Crack – Up” F. Scott Fitzgerald gives insights on his personal journey through a mental crisis or “crack-up”. In this essay, Fitzgerald compares himself to a cracked plate, explaining, “…the cracked plate has to be retained in the pantry… It can never again be warmed on the stove nor shuffled with the other plates in the dishpan..” In this example, he claims that the cracked plate has to be isolated, affecting its character. Similar to the plate, he also is damaged, changing his nature. This powerful analogy illustrates Fitzgerald’s newfound isolation, and how he is changed, like the plate. He also gives the piece a dramatic undertone.

During his breakdown, Fitzgerald analyzes his mentality and character, and feels empty, regarding countless aspects of his life. While asking advice from a doctor, he describes, “I might have asked some of it from her, neatly wrapped and ready for home cooking and digestion, but I could never have got it – not if I’d waited around for a thousand hours with the tin cup of self-pity”. In this example, he emphasizes his emotions and by using these strategies, he achieved his purpose. In “The Crack – Up”, F. Scott Fitzgerald exposes his vulnerable and wavering character yet manages to find solace by pulling into himself and his writing

Thus, in the essay “The Crack – Up”, Fitzgerald gives details of his insanity. By providing personal examples, he explains, to those close to him and to those who enjoy his work, his actions and what ensued during this troubled time.

Somnath Sarkar

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