The American economy during the 1920s flourished while the lives of the American people turned lively and prosperous. Those apart of the American society grew to put a monetary value on everything, and many placed importance on leisure activities and earning more wealth. Many did not see the negatives of their actions, something many writers tried to embody in their works. Many modernist prose works of the 1920s have the common theme of people believing that money can fix problems occurring in their lives. In Ernest Hemmingway’s “The Snows of Kilimanjaro”, the main character, Harry, chose to focus on accumulating more wealth in his life which caused him to lose out on his dreams. Harry and his wife Helen have come to Africa and the base of
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Scott Fitzgerald’s “Winter Dreams” believed that accumulating great wealth would lead to him securing a place in Judy’s life. In an attempt to win the affections of Judy Jones, the young and desired bachelorette, Dexter builds a laundry empire and creates an incredible amount of money to put himself in the high class. In their first encounter with one another, Dexter had a sense that Judy was “destined after a few years to be inexpressably lovely.” (660) It was this feeling that pushed Dexter to earn his wealth because he knew if he lacked affluence, then Judy would have nothing to do with him. Dexter foresaw that without wealth to set himself aside in Judy’s eyes, then he would never end up with the girl of his dreams. “He made money” (662) hoping to solve the problems he saw occurring, such as Judy rejecting him due to his middle-class status. He chased a prosperous life only because Dexter saw financial success as the solution. Dexter’s problem was never to end because he would always be “following…a grail” (667) that was Judy. Even with his business successes and incredible amount of wealth, Dexter was never to win Judy’s affections. Dedicating his life to chasing money never paid off because in the end, he did not win the girl and his problem was never
Scott Fitzgerald’s “Winter Dreams” believed that accumulating great wealth would lead to him securing a place in Judy’s life. In an attempt to win the affections of Judy Jones, the young and desired bachelorette, Dexter builds a laundry empire and creates an incredible amount of money to put himself in the high class. In their first encounter with one another, Dexter had a sense that Judy was “destined after a few years to be inexpressably lovely.” (660) It was this feeling that pushed Dexter to earn his wealth because he knew if he lacked affluence, then Judy would have nothing to do with him. Dexter foresaw that without wealth to set himself aside in Judy’s eyes, then he would never end up with the girl of his dreams. “He made money” (662) hoping to solve the problems he saw occurring, such as Judy rejecting him due to his middle-class status. He chased a prosperous life only because Dexter saw financial success as the solution. Dexter’s problem was never to end because he would always be “following…a grail” (667) that was Judy. Even with his business successes and incredible amount of wealth, Dexter was never to win Judy’s affections. Dedicating his life to chasing money never paid off because in the end, he did not win the girl and his problem was never