Final answer:
F. Scott Fitzgerald describes the 1920s as a period of personal disillusionment and superficial success, where he indulged in nostalgic fantasies and struggled with maintaining an opulent lifestyle. His reflections align with the widespread disenchantment of the era, despite its apparent prosperity, and inform the desires of his characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the 1920s, F. Scott Fitzgerald describes his life as a time of personal disillusionment paired with superficial successes. In his essay, "The Crack-Up," Fitzgerald reflects upon his disenchantment, revealing his youthful regrets transforming into "childish waking dreams of imaginary heroism". These reflections mirror the broader sense of disillusionment that characterized the 1920s for many, even as it was a decade of great economic prosperity for some.
He lays bare the struggle to maintain an idealized past and a lavish lifestyle, which reflects the realities of the Roaring Twenties—a time notorious for its excesses and eventual disenchantment. Additionally, this portrayal of his life and the age he lived in provides insight into the motivations of his characters, such as Jay Gatsby, who similarly sought to recapture an idealized past.