Mr. Icky by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The story revolves around Anthony "Tony" Icky, a charismatic and wealthy young man who becomes infatuated with a woman named Gloria Gilbert. Tony's obsession with Gloria leads him to abandon his fiancée, Frances Kane, and pursue a tumultuous relationship with Gloria. As their romance unfolds, Tony's darker qualities emerge, revealing a complex and troubled individual struggling with his own identity and morality.
By F. Scott Fitzgerald · First published 1920 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Satire · 2,822 words
First lines
THE QUINTESSENCE OF QUAINTNESS IN ONE ACT
_The Scene is the Exterior of a Cottage in West Issacshire on a desperately Arcadian afternoon in August._ MR. ICKY, _quaintly dressed in the costume of an Elizabethan peasant, is pottering and doddering among the pots and dods. He is an old man, well past the prime of life, no longer young. From the fact that there is a burr in his speech and that he has absent-mindedly put on his coat wrongside out, we surmise that he is either above or below the ordinary superficialities of life._
What this Textopian page supports
Mr. Icky is listed on Textopian as a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Comedy, Satire, Fantasy, Tragicomedy
- Length: 2,822 words
- Structure: 1 section, 128 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mr. Icky 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Mr. Icky?
- How does this novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Drama — The play features character-driven dialogue and explores themes of family dynamics, identity, and existential reflection.
- Comedy — The work employs humor through whimsical dialogue and absurd situations, particularly in the interactions between Mr. Icky and the other characters.
- Satire — The play critiques societal norms and expectations, particularly through the character of Mr. Icky and his views on life and relationships.
- Fantasy — Elements of whimsy and the surreal, such as Mr. Icky's peculiar character and the fantastical dialogue, lend a fantastical quality to the narrative.
Tags
satire · humor · social commentary · American literature · 1920s · prose · character study · irony · absurdity · relationships · class struggle · cynicism