"Winter Dreams" by F.Scott Fitzgerald depicts the life of Dexter Green, "a young man from a humble family who tries to be a member of the elite world inhabited by the ladies he loves" (Perkins 1). This work depicts Dexter Green's life from the age of fourteen to thirty-two. During those eighteen years, Fitzgerald breaks the tale across six episodes, each focusing on Dexter's relationship with Judy Jones. Dexter yearns for Judy's affection, and she drives him closer to his ideal existence, which includes "glittering objects," riches, and a high social standing (Fitzgerald 423). Fitzgerald's short tale "Winter Dreams" combines symbolism and imagery to express his topic. Dexter seeks the American Dream of success, but success does not always imply happiness.
"Winter Dreams" connotes more than just the title's fundamental meaning. The title's meaning adds complexity to the narrative and highlights the subject of a miserable, prosperous existence. Dexter's life changes with time, and "the term 'winter' in the title represents the ageing process, but 'winter' also implies a transition that is sadder than physical degradation; by the end of the narrative, Dexter's emotions have become frozen" (Gidmark 2). By articulating the senses of the term "winter," Gidmark demonstrates the word's twofold meaning and significance. The word "winter" not only refers to Dexter's deterioration but also to how his mood and sentiments have been frozen and irreversible as a result of his heartbreak. "It happened to be focused at first with reflections on the affluent, he sought not affiliation with dazzling goods, and sparkling people-he wanted the glittering things themselves," says the initial description of Dexter's dream (Fitzgerald 423).
Money and prosperity are among the "glittering things" that Dexter desires. He wants to be associated with them, but he also wants the accomplishment to be his own. "[She] is the picture of passion and beauty, energy and loveliness, the genuine love and true dream that are with him until, learning of Judy's deterioration, he perceives it as a signal of the destruction of his dreams," Gidmark says of Judy's role in the short story (2). Judy is the lifeblood of Dexter's dream. Without her, everything would come to an end. Judy Jones "comes to embody both the beauty and the meretriciousness of Dexter's dreams- is portrayed as horribly, coldly destructive," according to Prigozy (1). Judy is detrimental to him because of her harsh heart, even though his fantasy of her keeps him going. Judy's public persona portrays her as a happy woman continually pursued by new men, but she is lonely and afraid on the inside.
"The imagined present in which she remains alive for Dexter also retains that young richness," Dexter's childhood winter fantasies grew so tightly linked to Judy Jones and his love for her (Clinton 405). His need for her acceptance of the glorious American lifestyle keeps his goal and himself alive. "The dream was gone," Fitzgerald says, illustrating what is going on. He'd had something snatched from him" (435). "[Dexter's] 'dream' of Judy had kept him vibrant, passionate, and alive, and now the dream had been ripped from him," Gidmark explains Fitzgerald's comment about when Dexter loses the ability to feel and care (2). Judy and Dexter's relationship had ended some time ago, but Dexter was still holding on to his fantasy.
In the short story "Winter Dreams," imagery conjures up mental images that illustrate the topic. The only way to keep the past alive is to fix its images from time as well as the actual reality in an imaginative present, which is how he intends to keep his passion for Judy Jones and the brilliance of his teenage winter dreams alive." the photographs are used to say (Burhans 4). Dexter describes the Minnesota winter as "shutting down like the white lid of a box" at the start of the narrative (Fitzgerald 421). The environment reflects his despair, for, despite his desire for a bright future, he is trapped in a bleak, frigid existence. The analogy portrays Dexter's perception of his dreams as being shut off and closed. "When he reached the hills, the wind blew frigid as anguish," Fitzgerald writes about Dexter (Fitzgerald 421). The simile paints a mental image, while the term "misery" characterizes his current state of sadness. "The sun went down with a wild swirl of gold and varied blue and scarlet’s, and left the dry, whistling night of Western July," Dexter says as he matures into a wealthy man (Fitzgerald 425). Because Judy and Dexter's relationship is about to begin, the dismal pictures of the countryside have been converted into a lovely setting. Fitzgerald employs "gold" in the background to signify Judy, and gold is prevalent in the imagery when Dexter is still pursuing his goal. According to Dexter, Judy's beautiful existence has suddenly turned into a tragedy. Her exquisite appeal has faded since she married a man who mistreats her. "The pain [I] might have endured left behind in the country of illusion, of youth, of the richness of life, where [my] winter fantasies had grown," Dexter feels after his severe revelation of Judy's current circumstances (Fitzgerald 436).
He becomes emotionless, and his dreams go away swiftly. He's been shattered and now feels empty and lonely since his ideal girl is in pain. This delicate point in time when young and his winter fantasies were enriching his life more than it would ever be is now gone, as is a part of himself that was also profoundly linked with and yet alive in these visions. Burhans says of Dexter's misery when he can't remember the beautiful scenery (2). "The confining, cold, grey cement and steel of a skyscraper have replaced the green and open expanses of the golf-course days in Minnesota," according to the older drawings (Flibbert 2). The cold and gloomy create an impression of bitterness and isolation. He cannot restore the green grass and dazzling golden light; instead, a sharp image has been substituted. "He had married Judy Jones and seen her go away before his eyes," Fitzgerald describes Dexter's sentiments (435). Judy occupied a special place in his heart, and now his beautiful vision of her has been shattered. He couldn't bring her gorgeous face back to life and his images of her vanished once he realized who she was.
The concept of the ideal American life, of money and riches, is depicted throughout F.Scott Fitzgerald's short novella "Winter Dreams." This lifestyle's fantasy does not consider whether or not one is happy. Dexter, the story's protagonist, achieves this life but meets a horrible end. He sets out to be successful, and Judy Jones enters his life after he accomplishes that aim. Judy has been a constant "dream" in his life, and his fantasy is shattered when he realizes that she is unhappy. He becomes dissatisfied and "frozen." Fitzgerald uses literary tropes such as symbolism and imagery to establish his point in a thoughtful and nuanced manner.
Our academic experts are ready to help you with any writing assignment. We offer a service to suit your demands, from Essay Writing Service to completing your essay and assignments related to subjects.
