This Side of Paradise
by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Stephen Blaine Character Analysis

Stephen Blaine is Amory’s father. He’s described as “an ineffectual, inarticulate man.” Growing up, Amory is much closer with his mother, Beatrice. Amory is rather emotionless when Stephen dies. Stephen gained his money from his two older brothers, who had been successful brokers in Chicago. Beatrice marries Stephen for convenience and status, and they do not love each other.

Stephen Blaine Quotes in This Side of Paradise

The This Side of Paradise quotes below are all either spoken by Stephen Blaine or refer to Stephen Blaine. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Youth, Innocence, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
).

Book 2, Chapter 5: The Egotist Becomes a Personage Quotes

Life opened up in one of its amazing bursts of radiance and Amory suddenly and permanently rejected an old epigram that had been playing listlessly in his mind: “Very few things matter and nothing matters very much.”

On the contrary, Amory felt an immense desire to give people a sense of security.

Related Characters: Amory Blaine, Stephen Blaine, Monsignor Darcy
Page Number and Citation: 245
Explanation and Analysis:
This passage demonstrates Amory’s significant character development over the course of the novel, as well as his newfound ability to relinquish some of his selfishness and indifference to others. Amory has this realization after Monsignor Darcy’s funeral near the end of the novel. This internal transformation also suggests the importance of Monsignor Darcy’s mentorship for Amory. In contrast to the death of Amory’s father, which did not stir much emotion in Amory, Monsignor Darcy’s death  and his memory inspire Amory to be a better man. Monsignor Darcy’s influence also enables Amory’s to break free from the aimlessness that is common Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expe
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Stephen Blaine Character Timeline in This Side of Paradise

The timeline below shows where the character Stephen Blaine appears in This Side of Paradise. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 1, Chapter 1: Amory, Son of Beatrice
Youth, Innocence, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Money and Class Theme Icon
Amory Blaine’s father, Stephen Blaine, became wealthy through the death of his brothers, who were successful businessmen. Amory’s mother,... (full context)
Book 1, Chapter 3: The Egotist Considers
Youth, Innocence, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Money and Class Theme Icon
Love and Sexuality Theme Icon
...is lazy, “rebellious,” and “imaginative”—after two years of success and conformity at Princeton. Amory’s father, Stephen, dies, and Amory returns to Lake Geneva for the funeral. He feels unemotional about his... (full context)