How Does F Scott Fitzgerald Use Imagery In Winter Dreams

Using Imagery to Characterize Judy Jones In F Scott Fitzgerald's “Winter Dreams” Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald better known as F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American writer during the early 20th century. Fitzgerald wrote in what was known as the modernism era or modernist movement. During this time following World War 1, Western art and literature started to go against past norms and began to create different forms of art to adhere to the changing of society. One of Fitzgerald’s short stories during this time period was “Winter Dreams”. “Winter Dreams” starts out following the main character, Dexter Green, as a child while he works at a golf course as a caddy in Black Bear, Minnesota. Dexter shortly quits after meeting a golfer named Judy

Scott Fitzgerald uses imagery when Dexter first meets Judy to emphasis the awe Dexter was in when he saw her. The narrator describes Judy by saying, “The spark, however, was perceptible. There was a general ungodliness in the way her lips twisted ,down at the corners when she smiled, and in the--Heaven help us!--in the almost passionate quality of her eyes. Vitality is born early in such women. It was utterly in evidence now, shining through her thin frame in a sort of glow.”(Fitzgerald 980). This excerpt is used to characterize Judy Jones physically and show that Dexter fell in love with Judy at first sight. The idea that men have a great desire for Judy can be backed by Kim Becnel when she says, “The "magic of [Judy's] physical splendor" causes the men to fear that if they drop out of the game, another of their lot will make off with a prize they will forever envy.”(Becnel). The narrator goes in depth to describe Judy’s smile as beautiful for a young child which helps the reader understand how Dexter felt about

Fitzgerald says, “She had come eagerly out onto the course at nine o'clock with a white linen nurse and five small new golf-clubs in a white canvas bag which the nurse was carrying.” (Fitzgerald 981). The fact that Judy has five new golf clubs gives off a sense of wealth and entitlement. Also the use of the color white to describe what the nanny was wearing and the canvas bag gives the reader a sense that Judy is classy and sophisticated. The use of imagery here allows the reader to envision Judy as a proper, classy person while also making her seem slightly