Similarities Between Winter Dreams And The Great Gatsby

Accommodating the new era of prohibition, most of society during the 1920’s was a blurry mixture of social reform and change. At its peak, the aspects of big dreams and impractical improvements boomed, and society allowed room for the formulation of an idea called the “American Dream”. This idea was popular, since it allowed many people to be able to gain wealth and pursue happiness. Fitzgerald explores the darker nature of this ideal in his short story, “Winter Dreams”, and in the novel succeeding it, The Great Gatsby, utilizing characters to explore these darker natures. As people were able to climb to success, stigmas were created to establish boundaries between those who were born with money, called “old money”, and those who worked themselves …show more content…
This distinction became an important part of the wealthy, and social boundaries were created. Fitzgerald makes this distinction even clearer, by having old money character try to break these boundaries and pursue happiness. However, their attempts are in vain. With the recurring patterns of hopelessness in both texts, Fitzgerald portrays the American dream’s unattainable nature through the changes in characters and their social statuses.
With their accumulation of material wealth, Fitzgerald’s self made characters begin by believing in the false security of money, and they fall victim to their own self deception. These men, Dexter and Gatsby, respectively from “Winter Dreams” and The Great Gatsby, are so obsessed with material wealth, that they can no longer see their true goals. With their affinity toward social improvement, the two men hope to be like those who originally come from wealth, and their dreams manifest in these delusions. These delusions are also enhanced …show more content…
Their delusions only worsen over time, and despite their efforts to be included in the old status of wealth, these delusions obscure the disconnect. Separated from upbringing, those classified under “new money” live different lifestyles than the “old money” group does. Gatsby shows off his wealth, throwing elaborate parties and wearing vibrant colors to attract attention. He donns shirts of “sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel” from a “‘man in England who… sends over a selection of things at the beginning of each season” (The Great Gatsby 92). With this physical extravagance, Gatsby is isolated by the “new money” group, living in a part of West Egg that overlooks East Egg. When comparing these attributes to Tom’s more aristocratic attitude, the social difference is emphasized. Tom is reserved, wearing toned down colors in a humble manner. Gatsby is so caught up in his own delusions that the reality of this gap is never realized. His lack of understanding in the social aspect of communication causes awkward moments throughout the novel, further classifying him as “new money”. At eleven, Judy Jones acts differently than the fourteen year old Dexter, addressing him as “boy”, alluding to her superior nature towards someone with less privileges than her. Dexter refuses to work as her caddy,