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“Winter Dreams” by F. Scott FitzgeraldCharacter Analysis
Winter dreams f scott fitzgerald literary elements
“Winter Dreams” by F. Scott FitzgeraldCharacter Analysis
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F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the seasons as an intricate part of the setting in "Winter Dreams". The seasons are a reflection of the human life cycle. We are given Dexter's outlook of each season throughout the story. Dexter Green longs to live the American Dream of a prosperous life with a beautiful family like the rich people he encounters at the golf course. Spring is the beginning of the human life cycle. It is when things show the most promise. Fitzgerald instead chooses to use the word dismal to describe spring. In Dexter's mind, his beginnings are dismal because his mother "was a Bohemian of the peasant class." (Fitzgerald, 125). During the summers, Dexter works hard at being the best caddie at the Sherry Island Country Club. This is foretelling of the hard work he will do to change his socioeconomic status. We are shown how dedicated Dexter is by the tears in Mr. Jones' eyes on the day he decides to quit (Fitzgerald, 120). After meeting Judy Jones, Dexter developed a stronger sense of urgency to change his status. Dexter is so determined to fulfill his dream that he opts to go to a "more famous university in the East" rather than the state university that was more affordable (Fitzgerald, 122). This is an example of his determination to lift his status in the eyes of others. While speaking with Judy, he uses his prestigious university as the starting point of his life. Unfortunately for Dexter, he cannot conquer Judy Jones as he has every …show more content…
(Fitzgerald, 120). The hard work he had done during the summer of his life was manifested in the success he now enjoyed. The only thing missing from Dexter's idea of the American Dream was Judy. In his attempt to have the total dream he gets engaged to Irene. He knows that she is a substitute for his true, unattainable desire. When Judy ruins his engagement and leaves him, Dexter fills the void as a soldier and
In John Knowles’ novel, A Separate Piece, the main Character, Gene Forrester, has to learn to become friends with his hazardous roommate, Phineas, at his school, Devon, in New Hampshire. The novel is affected by a number of changes, however the largest and most significant change is the change in seasons. In Thomas C. Foster’s novel, How to read literature like a Professor, chapter twenty explains the significance of the seasons. Foster states that, “Summer [symbolizes] adulthood and romance and fulfillment and passion,” while, “ winter [symbolizes] old age and resentment and death.” John Knowles’ book A Separate Peace, all aspects of Summer, Fall, and Winter are excellently represented as explained in Thomas C. Foster’s novel, How to read
Dexter denies his background as coming from the middle class and wanting to have more in life. He started as a fourteen year old golf caddie and was the best one around. Dexter one day while working thought to himself that he could have so much more than just being a golf caddie. Then and there he decided to quit his job and move on with his life. As Dexter grows up and moves out west to fulfill his dream, there is a duality inside of him that ultimately is his own downfall.
Dexter, although he could have attended a state university, chose to attend an older and more prestigious university in the East. However, he struggled with his limited funds while studying there. After college, he invested in a laundry business, which he grew and eventually became very wealthy. He returned to the golf course to play with the wealthy old men he once caddied for.
Fitzgerald likes to write about love, corruption and, fantasy during the Jazz age. Winter Dreams is about a middle-class boy falling in love with a wealthy girl and doing whatever he can to obtain her. Dexter Green chases his dream of wealth and love for one woman only for it to come crashing down. F. Scott Fitzgerald shows the characterization of hope through Dexter’s Green
In “What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why?” Edna St. Vincent Millay says that “the summer sang in me” meaning that she was once as bright and lively as the warm summer months. In the winter everyone wants to bundle up and be lazy, but when summer comes along the sunshine tends to take away the limits that the cold once had on us. She uses the metaphor of summer to express the freedom she once felt in her youth, and the winter in contrast to the dull meaningless life she has now. There are many poets that feel a connection with the changing of seasons. In “Odes to the West Wind” Percy Bysshe Shelley describes his hopes and his expectations for the seasons to inspire the world.
Joshua Ferris, the author of the short story, “The Breeze”, closely links seasonal conditions and activities to different lifestyles. Specifically, Joshua links outdoor activities and spring in Manhattan to a life that needs “more adventure” and “thrills”. He also chooses to link indoor places and winter to the picture of a life that is “limited”, “dying” and “misspent”. Light and dark are also used as a binary within this story. What shows the connection between the ideas described is how the author uses repetition and patterns to emphasize his most important details.
For each seasonal section, there is a progression from beginning to end within the season. Each season is compiled in a progressive nature with poetry describing the beginning of a season coming before poetry for the end of the season. This is clear for spring, which starts with, “fallen snow [that] lingers on” and concludes with a poet lamenting that “spring should take its leave” (McCullough 14, 39). The imagery progresses from the end of winter, with snow still lingering around to when the signs of spring are disappearing. Although each poem alone does not show much in terms of the time of the year, when put into the context of other poems a timeline emerges from one season to the next. Each poem is linked to another poem when it comes to the entire anthology. By having each poem put into the context of another, a sense of organization emerges within each section. Every poem contributes to the meaning of a group of poems. The images used are meant to evoke a specific point in each season from the snow to the blossoms to the falling of the blossoms. Since each poem stands alone and has no true plot they lack the significance than if they were put into th...
The plot of “Winter Dreams” is similar to a fairy tale. The story begins with a middle class young boy dreaming of fame and fortune. Dexter always will want more in life than he already does. He worked as a caddy and dreamed of one day golfing with these rich men. He first saw Judy Jones as a young boy. Like a fairytale, there’s “love at first sight”. Any fairytale would have ended this story with Dexter and Judy falling in love and spending the rest of their
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. “Winter Dreams.” American Literature. Ed. Nina Baym. Seventh ed. Vol. II. New York: Norton & Company, 2008. 1010-25. Print. The Norton Anthology.
He lives a double life as a vigilante-serial killer type killing criminals guilty of heinous crime such as rape and murder, and are free from consequences of their actions. Dexter follows a strict code known as the code of Harry created by his father. These codes prevent Dexter from killing those that aren’t deserving. Producer Cerone uses Dexter's past to create a way for a viewer to become emotionally invested in the main character. Kayla Upadhyaya, a columnist for Michigan Daily (2013), believes that creators of shows like Dexter commonly force the character to push the envelope for their villainous ways and then creating a moment where the character switches to a more vulnerable and compassionate state. These states of vulnerability and compassion makes it easier for one to sympathize with Dexter. An example would be that in the first season, viewers learn that not only did Dexter witness his mother’s murder when he was very young, but he was stuck at the scene for many days before he was found. This emotional and traumatic moment not receives pity from viewers, but it shows what exactly may be a cause for Dexter’s character. Dexter eventually grows into man fascinated with blood and the urge to kill. With this code of Harry Morgan finds solace through the merciless killing of criminals. Even
In Dexter’s point of view, he identifies himself as the only person who can punish other violent criminals and get revenge. Ever since his father told him that, “There are men out there that the police can’t catch”, his view has been that the police cannot stop the serial killers in Miami and that he must be the one to first track them and second to kill them. This leads him to be blind towards the destruction his causes on his way to this crucible. Dexter is leaving a line of bodies and as seen from the first victim, he is leaving children without a father and a wife widowed.
In ‘Winter Dreams’, the ending is unexpected. Throughout the story, we are under the impression that this is the story of Dexter Green's love for Judy Jones. But at the end of the story, once Dexter finds out that Judy has lost her charms and settled into a bad marriage, we begin to wonder if this story is about something else entirely. Dexter does not weep for Judy. He weeps for himself, for the young man he once was and for the illusions he once held.
Throughout the novel, the author shows Dexter’s need for killing others. For example, after he kills the priest, he declares, “Killing makes me feel good. I enjoy my work”(14). The author uses this example to make audiences question Dexter amusement to murder others. Because murdering others is inhuman, most people may look down upon Dexter because of the influences of religion and education. This may suggest that Lindsay wants to stress how people in today’s society gives assumptions too quickly when people value certain matters differently. It indicates that people do have different opinions throughout society, but people may feel conflicted when it is against their morals and ethics. Also, another reason why Lindsay categorizes Dexter as the protagonist to show how having good intentions and being loyal toward loved ones is most important. At the end of the novel, when Dexter has the option to kill Deborah, he is conflicted of the Code of Harry. The Code of Harry makes Dexter kill only the notorious people in his point of view. Afterwards, he is loyal to Harry’s code of law and does not choose to kill his sister (278). When Dexter follows the code, it proves how Dexter is loyal to only killing the “bad guys” and has good intention. Lindsay’s purpose could show how being loyal toward family members is an important value that modern society should follow. Therefore, the author’s purpose is to show how people in society have different values and intentions toward different matters. Also, people’s loyalty toward loved ones can determine their actions in
Through a young man’s eye we see how he views life and what is important to him and his reactions to the important life obstacles. Dexter is the main character we meet him young, he works at a golf course that he caddies for. We also meet someone important to the story as well who is young named Judy Jones. Judy is the girl of Dexter’s dreams and will be awhile down the story. Dexter has three desires that he thinks about through the whole book and they are love, happiness and, wealth. Dexter is put through these obstacles throughout the whole book and it has shaped his choices and feelings.
Dexter knew he was successful, so much that when he went on his first date with Judy he told her that he was “Making more money than any man my age is in the Northwest.” There was never a doubt that he wasn’t going to stop making money to get whatever he wanted.