John Jackson’s Arcady by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Short summary

5 seconds

Jackson gets disappointed in everything. But when he hears kind words about himself from many people, he is happy again.

1 minute

John Jackson is a respected community leader, beloved by the townspeople.

He learns that his son is being expelled from the university. Jackson feels disappointed and believes that for his kindness, life has given nothing in return.

This is a thought he wants to express at a public meeting of the city’s «League of Community Prosperity.»

Jackson denies charity to the petitioner and a local politician and suspects his subordinate, Mr. Fowler, of disrespect.

The man leaves for his hometown. There Jackson meets his first love. He offers the woman to go away with him, but she refuses.

In a depressed mood, he returns and discreetly attends a League meeting. The petitioner, the politician, and Mr. Fowler speak.

They do not know that Jackson is in the audience and speak kind words to him. A touched Jackson speaks at the meeting and says that life has given him everything.