Women In Winter Dreams, By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Throughout history, men and women have never been considered equal. Women have always been judged on their appearance rather than the quality of the person they are. In the short story, “Winter Dreams,” Scott Fitzgerald uses characterization and metaphor to stress the fact that women are often objectified by other people. Fitzgerald’s use of characterization shows how men judge women based on appearance rather than personality or other quality characteristics. When Dexter first meets Judy Jones at the golf course, he is fourteen and she is eleven years old. Even at this young age, Dexter judges Judy’s appearance by describing her looks as “beautifully ugly.” He is trying to describe how unique she looks and feels as if she is ugly now, but

While the men are still talking about her body while they are golfing together, Mr. Hendrick compares her ‘looks’ to an animal. For instance, Mr. Hendrick states, “‘She always looks as if she wanted to be kissed! Turning those big cow-eyes on every calf in town!’” Mr. Hendrick compares Judy Jones to a cow, and he does not mean it in a good way. He talks about her body in a sexual way that degrades her. He says how her looks attract men and drag them into her games just by the look in her eyes. This metaphor shows how these men are objectifying Judy’s body and are not giving her the proper respect she deserves. Dexter also objectifies her by calling her a doll. For instance, Dexter states, “Judy Jones, a slender enameled doll in cloth of gold.” Dexter compares Judy to a decorated doll. She should not remind him of a doll, she is a living human being, not just a plastic doll that sits somewhere and does nothing. She is a woman and she keeps getting compared to other objects rather than just being considered as a human being. Fitzgerald’s use of metaphor in “Winter Dreams” provides examples of the fact that women are more than just bodies, they deserve to be treated like they are more than objects by