Idealism in “Winter Dreams”
Dexter’s dream that begins, then flourishes, but becomes unattainable in the end, exemplifies F. Scott Fitzgerald’s corrupt idea of the typical American Dream. Society as a whole believes the American Dream consists of the freedom of individuality, material wealth, better landscape, and religious idealism. They look for the idealistic concept of what they want it to convey, rather than what it actually is. “Winter Dreams” portrays different thoughts of Fitzgerald’s, particularly from events that happened in his own life during the Jazz Age. The beginning of Dexter Green’s dream happens around 1911 at a golf course in Minnesota that he caddied for at the age of fourteen. A young girl of eleven, “beautifully ugly as little girls are apt to be,” arrives to golf with her nanny when Dexter is instantly charmed by the girl’s beauty. For Dexter, the girl appears “to be inexpressibly lovely” and will “bring no end of misery to a great number of men” (590). However, this girl uses her status to boss Dexter around. Instead of acting as nothing more than a caddie for the girl, Dexter quits his job. He can now direct his attention
Fitzgerald is able to incorporate his opinion of how the idealistic American Dream promises more than it actually delivers. People spend so much time focusing on the big things in life that they forget about all of the great things they already have. Dexter’s dream progresses in stages, but he only achieves part of it and still is not satisfied. He has good intentions, but is overtaken by the want and the challenge of something he could never have. By writing Dexter’s character this way, Fitzgerald is able to voice his opinion. “I am glad you are happy--but I never believe much in happiness. I never believe in misery either. Those are things you see on the stage of the screen or the printed page, they never really happen to you in life. All I believe in in life is the rewards for virtue and the punishments for not fulfilling your duties, which are doubly costly”(603). This quote from Fitzgerald to his daughter provides insight into his own life and emotions and why he perceives the society and its’ American Dream in an altered manner. The end of Dexter’s dream comes upon his engagement to another woman. He does not love her, but h
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Approximate Word count = 782
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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