The Beautiful and Damned: Flimsy Foundation

 Note: This post contains spoilers for The Beautiful and Damned!

Previously in part one, we have seen the role distance plays in Anthony and Gloria’s relationship. Although all seems to be well at the beginning, their relationship then begins to deteriorate. In this post, I’ll explore why their marriage collapses in relation to what I’ve discussed in the first post: distance, beauty, and desirability. (There are, of course, other causes and points of view.)

The Beautiful and Damned: Deceptive Distance

Note: This post contains spoilers for The Beautiful and Damned!

The two Fitzgerald books I’ve read are in no way easy reads, and I’m not going to claim I understand the entirety of Fitzgerald’s writing. Nevertheless, let me try to present one particular thing that stood out to me: distance. Distance thematically permeated the life of Fitzgerald’s couples - Anthony and Gloria from The Beautiful and Damned; Gatsby and Daisy from The Great Gatsby. This time, I’ll discuss my understanding of the former pair. 

(I’ll discuss the latter pair in another post, if I ever get down to writing it :) )

In Anthony and Gloria’s relationship, distance triggers an initial period of passionate love - that is, during their courtship and early marriage. This is largely because of what distance did to them. Distance (rather deceptively) bestows beauty and desirability.