The Sensible Thing
The story revolves around a romantic relationship between a wealthy and charming man and a beautiful and alluring woman from a lower social class. The two meet at a luxurious resort, where they begin an intense and passionate affair. As their relationship deepens, the man's family and friends disapprove of the woman due to her inferior social status. Despite this, the couple decides to marry, but their happiness is short-lived as the man's family intervenes, leading to a tragic conclusion.
By F. Scott Fitzgerald · First published 1924 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Romance, Social Commentary · 4 chapters · 6,424 words
First lines
At the Great American Lunch Hour young George O'Kelly straightened his desk deliberately and with an assumed air of interest. No one in the office must know that he was in a hurry, for success is a matter of atmosphere, and it is not well to advertise the fact that your mind is separated from your work by a distance of seven hundred miles.
What this Textopian page supports
The Sensible Thing 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, Romance, Social Commentary, Drama, Modernism
- Length: 6,424 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 165 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Sensible Thing 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 The Sensible Thing?
- 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 love, ambition, and the struggles of poverty, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Romance — The central plot revolves around the romantic relationship between George O'Kelly and Jonquil Cary, highlighting emotional conflicts and desires.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques societal expectations and the impact of economic hardship on personal relationships.
- Drama — The story contains intense emotional exchanges and conflicts, typical of dramatic literature.
Tags
love · loss · disillusionment · wealth · society · relationships · ambition · regret · American Dream · romance · identity · class