TMD Preface Comparison

Although Ralph Ellison and F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels were clearly influenced by many aspects of their lives, the way that society was changing at the time had the biggest impact on their writing. Both authors had something to criticize about the lifestyle of their time period. In Fitzgerald's case, this was the carefree, lavish lifestyle of the rich, and in Ellison's case, the subject of criticism was racism and the severe lack of equality. The most useful research prior to reading a novel will most likely be about what was unique about society in the time period in which the book was written. It is likely that based on this knowledge, the reader will be able to anticipate what the author has to criticize about his surroundings, and the reader will also be able to determine how much truth is in the author's opinion.