Absolution by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The novel revolves around the life of Anthony Patch, a young man from a wealthy family, and his struggles with morality, identity, and the corrupting influence of wealth. The story follows Anthony's journey from his privileged upbringing to his disillusionment with the excesses of the wealthy elite, and ultimately, to his downfall.
By F. Scott Fitzgerald · First published 1924 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Religious Fiction · 5 chapters · 6,633 words
First lines
There was once a priest with cold, watery eyes, who, in the still of the night, wept cold tears. He wept because the afternoons were warm and long, and he was unable to attain a complete mystical union with our Lord. Sometimes, near four o'clock, there was a rustle of Swede girls along the path by his window, and in their shrill laughter he found a terrible dissonance that made him pray aloud for the twilight to come. At twilight the laughter and the voices were quieter, but several times he had walked past Romberg's Drug Store when it was dusk and the yellow lights shone inside and the nickel taps of the soda-fountain were gleaming, and he had found the scent of cheap toilet soap desperately sweet upon the air.
What this Textopian page supports
Absolution is listed on Textopian as a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, dated 1924 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Date: 1924 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Religious Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Short Story
- Length: 6,633 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 171 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Absolution by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Absolution?
- How does this short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book explores complex themes of morality, faith, and the human condition, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the inner thoughts and emotional struggles of the characters, particularly the priest and the boy.
- Religious Fiction — The story revolves around themes of sin, confession, and the Catholic faith, making it relevant to religious fiction.
- Coming-of-Age — The boy's experiences and moral dilemmas reflect a coming-of-age journey as he grapples with his identity and beliefs.
Tags
redemption · guilt · forgiveness · morality · identity · loss · betrayal · wealth · society · disillusionment · love · conflict