Chasing Pseudo Dreams: The pursuit for The American Dream in “Winter Dreams”
F. Scott Fitzgerald brilliantly highlights one man’s pursuit of the American Dream in his short story “Winter Dreams.” He uses the protagonist Dexter to emphasize the shortcomings of money in America, and one’s vision of money in the 1920s. In “Winter Dreams,” Fitzgerald uses the protagonist Dexter’s unrealistic vision of the American dream to emphasize the shortcomings of the dream, which ultimately lead to Dexter’s downfall. The author guides us through the protagonist’s life to illustrate this downfall. We first meet Dexter in his childhood, where he first encounters Judy, and where his dreams first begin. Upon meeting Judy again later in life, he has worked hard …show more content…
One of the most significant would be when he decides to attend an “..older and more famous university in the East” (Fitzgerald 2). Dexter feels like he has the ability to become wealthy, and to become a member of the “old-money” society. Dexter is on a hunt. A hunt to gain wealth, and become worthy enough to have and to hold Judy Jones for the rest of his life. He is able to work hard and buy a laundry; this small business flourishes immensely. His impeccable determination to gain the wealth that many members of the society had grown up with, pushes him to press on, and become very successful. He comes into contact with Judy again around this time in his life. While he is out golfing on the very course that he used to caddy, Judy Jones launches her ball into the men’s territory. Dexter notes that she is “arrestingly beautiful” (Fitzgerald 3). As he is taking a swim later in the night, he encounters Judy once again, and receives an invitation to her home. Judy’s erratic behavior on this date night startles Dexter, but does not dent his dreams in the slightest. Despite the fact that she clearly states to him, “I don’t know what’s the matter with me. Last night I thought I was in love with a man and to-night I think I’m in love with you-“(Fitzgerald 5). It truly doesn’t matter how erratic and wild she is because she is beautiful, of the upper-class, and wealthy. Beauty, status, and wealth …show more content…
Scott Fitzgerald guides us through one man’s life to demonstrate the shortcomings of the American Dream. The protagonist’s hunt for the many dimensions of wealth lead him astray in the short story. Fitzgerald uses Dexter’s unrealistic pursuit for the American Dream to highlight the shortcomings of the dream, which ultimately lead to Dexter’s downfall. As we are guided through Dexter’s childhood, early adulthood, and later years, we see Dexter grow, and fall. His race for wealth, status, and beauty in Judy pushes him to work hard. But in the end, Dexter learns that all this hard work is not enough. All this hard work will never be able to grant him true happiness, and will never be able to fulfill his “Winter
F. Scott Fitzgerald brilliantly highlights one man’s pursuit of the American Dream in his short story “Winter Dreams.” He uses the protagonist Dexter to emphasize the shortcomings of money in America, and one’s vision of money in the 1920s. In “Winter Dreams,” Fitzgerald uses the protagonist Dexter’s unrealistic vision of the American dream to emphasize the shortcomings of the dream, which ultimately lead to Dexter’s downfall. The author guides us through the protagonist’s life to illustrate this downfall. We first meet Dexter in his childhood, where he first encounters Judy, and where his dreams first begin. Upon meeting Judy again later in life, he has worked hard …show more content…
One of the most significant would be when he decides to attend an “..older and more famous university in the East” (Fitzgerald 2). Dexter feels like he has the ability to become wealthy, and to become a member of the “old-money” society. Dexter is on a hunt. A hunt to gain wealth, and become worthy enough to have and to hold Judy Jones for the rest of his life. He is able to work hard and buy a laundry; this small business flourishes immensely. His impeccable determination to gain the wealth that many members of the society had grown up with, pushes him to press on, and become very successful. He comes into contact with Judy again around this time in his life. While he is out golfing on the very course that he used to caddy, Judy Jones launches her ball into the men’s territory. Dexter notes that she is “arrestingly beautiful” (Fitzgerald 3). As he is taking a swim later in the night, he encounters Judy once again, and receives an invitation to her home. Judy’s erratic behavior on this date night startles Dexter, but does not dent his dreams in the slightest. Despite the fact that she clearly states to him, “I don’t know what’s the matter with me. Last night I thought I was in love with a man and to-night I think I’m in love with you-“(Fitzgerald 5). It truly doesn’t matter how erratic and wild she is because she is beautiful, of the upper-class, and wealthy. Beauty, status, and wealth …show more content…
Scott Fitzgerald guides us through one man’s life to demonstrate the shortcomings of the American Dream. The protagonist’s hunt for the many dimensions of wealth lead him astray in the short story. Fitzgerald uses Dexter’s unrealistic pursuit for the American Dream to highlight the shortcomings of the dream, which ultimately lead to Dexter’s downfall. As we are guided through Dexter’s childhood, early adulthood, and later years, we see Dexter grow, and fall. His race for wealth, status, and beauty in Judy pushes him to work hard. But in the end, Dexter learns that all this hard work is not enough. All this hard work will never be able to grant him true happiness, and will never be able to fulfill his “Winter