Modernism In Fitzgerald And Winter Dreams By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Ignoring the Grim Reality The modernist time period was a break from tradition where authors expressed the feeling of rejection toward optimism. Writing focused on the human mind and allowed the reader room for interpretation using their own emotions. Three of the great authors who wrote in the modernist time period are Ernest Hemmingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein. Their work portrays true modernist ideals and they use numerous different literary devices to express the theme. A similar theme interwoven into each text is the ignorance of reality and its effects. Each text includes a character who does not realize or chooses not to see the grim reality that they live in. This theme corresponds with the rejection of optimism and …show more content…
In “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” by Ernest Hemmingway and “Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald the two main characters are in different situations, but are very similar. Harry from “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and Judy from “Winter Dreams” are very similar in personality. They both are full of ignorance and regret which makes them empty people. In contrast, Helen form “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and Dexter from “Winter Dreams” are very similar to each other. They are also full of ignorance, however they are hopeful and only want to be loved by the other person. In “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” Harry is dying from a lethal wound, and is full of remorse and regret. He is married to Helen and has spent her money traveling and doing superficial tasks However, he has never gotten to accomplish what he has always wanted to, which is writing and sharing his stories with the world. Helen believes Harry truly loves her and is ignorant of their situation. They both seem to live in the past. For example, “She thought he did exactly what he wanted to.” Helen believed that Harry was very happy and content with his life, which shows how unaware of reality she is. Helen ignores the shallow and empty relationship they had because she is afraid of being alone. Now Harry is dying full of regret leaving her alone. In comparison to Winter Dreams” it is Dexter who is hopelessly chasing Judy. For example, “It did not take him many hours to decide that he had wanted Judy Jones ever since he was a proud, desirous little boy.” Here, Fitzgerald explains how Dexter has fallen under Judy’s spell and is completely unaware of the reality of the situation. He ignores the reality that he will never be able to be with Judy and keeps chasing her. In a sense, he is chasing the American Dream, he believes to have it he must have wealth and Judy. After a while, Dexter hears news of Judy and how she was