Final answer:
Fitzgerald reflects on his life during the 1920s, acknowledging his transformed regrets and the resolution of life's big problems, reflecting the broader reality of the decade's cultural and societal changes. His narrators express themes of ambition and societal pressure that critique the American Dream and reveal the era's outward lavishness and inward emptiness.
Step-by-step explanation:
F. Scott Fitzgerald's life in the 1920s is described through a blend of nostalgia and reflection. He contemplates his past desires and ambitions, recognizing the transformation of juvenile regrets into dreams that eased his restless nights. He acknowledges that although the big problems of life seemed to resolve themselves, this resolution often left him too tired to tackle broader, general problems. This reflection not only captures Fitzgerald's personal sentiments but also mirrors the broader reality of the 1920s -- a decade of dramatic social and cultural change, economic prosperity for some, and the eventual disillusionment that followed.
Through the voice of his narrators, Fitzgerald often explores themes of hope and ambition, as well as the societal pressures of the times. For instance, in his descriptions of characters like Gatsby who embody an inherent refinement and goodness or Dexter who aspires to a higher social standing, Fitzgerald paints a picture of the American Dream while subtly critiquing its attainability and the moral cost of its pursuit. This duality reflects the concerns and contradictions of the Jazz Age -- outward lavishness and inward emptiness -- and speaks to Fitzgerald's astute observations of the human experience.