The Cut Glass Bowl

When the first sentences of this short novel settled in my mind I suddenly felt betrayed. Woody Allen’s Hollywoodish film ‘Midnight in Paris’ created a mysterious portrait of F. Scott Fitzgerald which was full of sensitivity, rational mind and sophistication. Although the ‘glitzy glamour’ lifestyle was an inseparable part of the 1920s, this novel seems to have nothing more but this combined with doubtful characters’ actions.

It already shows up some clear features of Fitzgerald’s writing trends – human relationships, class differences and bright description of women. Mrs Evylyn Piper is a married wealthy woman, having an affair with another man whose gift – the cut glass bowl seems to be the reason of all Mrs Piper’s problems. Of course, it is quite common to use such metaphors and create a sense that ‘all sins will bring problems’. But her daughter’s amputated hand and, at the very end, Evylyn’s suicide seems to be a little too much. F. Scott Fitzgerald mostly used the subtle style so this surreal and brutal novel stands out from his works.

As John Roberts said, ‘The story does not quite work and that is why "The Cut-Glass Bowl" does not rank among Fitzgerald's finest efforts.’

Anyway, the novel suggests that even a little sin can cause you the suicide and lots of pain so be aware of your actions!