Amory spends much of his youth (and, consequently, most of This Side of Paradise) thinking that he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. But once he hits prep school and university, he realizes he might not be as special as his mom has raised him to think he is.
In fact, he eventually resent the loss of his youth because he doesn't like the changes that the world has created in him. He claims that he misses his lost innocence, but it seems more likely that what he really misses is the fantasy that he is the most important person in the world.
Questions About Youth
- What general things does Amory associate with youth in this book? Do they tend to be positive or negative things?
- What is the biggest difference you find in Amory before and after he leaves home to go to school? Is it a good difference?
- By the end of the book, what does Amory think of young people? Does he envy them or resent them? Why?
Chew on This
In This Side of Paradise, Fitzgerald shows us that losing our youth usually means losing the fantasy that we are somehow special or unique.
In This Side of Paradise, we learn that even though the transition from youth to adulthood is tough, it's all for the best in the long run.