The Vegetable; or, From President to Postman

"The Vegetable; or, From President to Postman" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a comedic play written in the early 20th century. The story focuses on Jerry Frost, an ordinary man whose mundane life takes a surprising turn when he unexpectedly becomes President of the United States. The play humorously explores themes of ambition, disappointment, and the absurdity of social ambitions through the interactions between Jerry, his wife Charlotte, and a colorful cast of characters. At the start of the play, we are introduced to Jerry Frost in his modest home, where he endures a strained, bickering relationship with his wife Charlotte. Their conversations reveal Jerry’s longing for ambition, once expressing a desire to become President, contrasted with his current life as a railroad clerk. As the domestic scene unfolds, we witness the interplay of boredom and discontent that characterizes their lives, setting the stage for Jerry's eventual, comical elevation to the presidency. The combination of witty dialogue and absurd situations underscores the theme of individuals caught in the web of societal expectations and personal failures, creating a humorous reflection on ambition and identity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, widely known simply as Scott Fitzgerald, was an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age, a term he popularized in his short story collection Tales of the Jazz Age. During his lifetime, he published four novels, four story collections, and 164 short stories. Although he achieved temporary popular success and fortune in the 1920s, Fitzgerald received critical acclaim only after his death and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century.