The Great Gatsby: a work of fiction or an autobiography? The idea of ​​reflection is a “thing that is a consequence of or arises from something” other” (Oxford). Reflection is something that F. Scott Fitzgerald is very familiar with and a tool that he uses in his literary works. Fitzgerald grew up in a middle-class family and attended a prestigious university, albeit for a short time. He also met a beautiful and troubled woman who affected him deeply and who would be the muse of a significant character in his famous novel, The Great Gatsby (O'Brien). In his novel, Fitzgerald uses some of his life experiences as inspiration to write the sensational plot and create unique characters. In The Great Gatsby, the reader realizes the impact Fitzgerald's life had on his writing through his experiences with family, women, and alcohol. Throughout The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald consistently uses parallelism to portray Gatsby as a reflection of himself and his life. As a young man he attended Princeton University, well aware that he wanted to become a famous writer, but became heavily involved in drinking. This behavior caused a significant drop in his grades and soon led to his withdrawal from college. Fitzgerald used his failed attempt to go to college as inspiration for the character of Gatsby, although his retirement was not for the same reason; «It was in nineteen nineteen. I only stayed for five months. That's why I can't really call myself an Oxford man” (129). After failing to graduate from Princeton University, Fitzgerald joined the Army as a form of self-redemption in hopes of becoming a successful soldier. Gatsby also joined the army when he left Oxford as a means to gain success and wealth. While station...... half of the paper... Itzgerald's alcohol abuse inspired Gatsby's views on alcohol. After finishing the novel, the reader may wonder whether The Great Gatsby is a work of fiction or a very close resemblance to Fitzgerald's autobiography? Works Cited “Consequence.” Oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. Oxford Advanced American Dictionary, 2011. Web. 06 April 2014.Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, New York, NY: Scribner, 1996 -1940)” Literature Prentice Hall: The American Experience Boston, MA: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. PrintO 'Hearn, Dierdre “F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American Dream”. A&E Biography. April 14, 1997. History Television Network Productions New York, New York: McGraw Hill, 2009