In F.Scott Fitzgerald's short story, “Winter Dreams”, he suggests that the American Dream is a desire for glittery objects. In the short story on page 735 it says “Dexter borrowed a thousand dollars on his college degree and his confident mouth, and bought partnership in a laundry.” I believe this quote just proves that he did whatever so he could have the glittering objects himself. He made something small into something enormous and ended up becoming very successful at a young age. 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. …show more content…
If you read through the story you will see that he explains he quit because of her behavior the first time they met, he didn’t really want to surround himself around her. Dexter rather of quit being a caddy just so he could avoid her. And all the times he ran into her it was never on purpose. It was never his intention to run into her, it was always on accidents, for example, when he took the guest pass to play golf and she ended up being there or the time he went swimming in the lake and she came up and splashed him with water simply because, she wanted him to drive her boat so she could ride her surfboard on the back. Dexter does not really realize how his feelings have changed until the end of the story when the man is talking to him about Judy and how she does not look the way she used to after she got married and had children. At the end of the story he says "Long ago," he said, "long ago, there was something in me, but now that thing is gone. Now that thing is gone, that thing is gone. I cannot cry. I cannot care. That thing will come back no more." neatherless, the ending of the short story just goes to prove he does not care for Judy, that he has not felt something for her for
The final episode occurs seven years after the war. Dexter is now a very successful businessperson in New York City. Devlin, a business acquaintance from Detroit, makes small talk by remarking that one of his best friends in Detroit, at whose wedding Devlin ushered, was married to a woman from
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.
Scott Fitzgerald showcases the American Dream and how success can lead to fortune, but not all people meet all their goals and sometimes “the dream” is just an illusion that leads to misfortune. “Of course, Dexter’s renunciation of the world that he sees Judy dominating leads to success in business and his conquest of the adult world, since he forgoes pleasure to concentrate on getting ahead. But even at the beginning of that conquest, the victory turns sour” (Fahey 147). Dexter the moment he saw Judy he became determined to become wealthy and marry the prettiest girl around, only then he would have reached the American Dream. “Because his winter dreams happened to be concerned at first with musings on the rich” (Fitzgerald). Dexter was obsessed with become part of the rich, he dreamed of being a golf champion, he went to a more prestige college even if it meant more debt, he bought a laundry company, and he tried to win the girl. When Dexter was a caddy he desperately wanted to be successful and wealthy; he wanted to feel the happiness it would bring to his life. Years later when Dexter beat T.A. Hedrick in golf it brought him little joy to his everyday life. Dexter was forced to realize while living in the middle class that money could not buy his happiness no matter how hard he strived in business. By the end of the story Dexter realized the American Dream was just an illusion and could never fully be
The similarities between Jay and Dexter are quite apparent when reading each story. They both come from the Midwest and although Dexter’s family has some money, both are similar in the fact that they did not start out as wealthy, upper class men from rich families. Their hard work and determination to make their own wealth and acquire the luxuries and social status that come with it are completely by their own doing. Both men achieve their goals of the American dream at a relatively young age and are able to be a part of the high society they once observed from a distance. Their desire to amass wealth and the perks associated with it come with an ulterior motive, to win back the girls they desire that will only be with them if they have the wealth and status to bring to the table.
In the book Winter Dreams by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the main character, Dexter Green, chases unattainable ambitions of success, wealth, and the “ideal” woman. Throughout the book Dexter struggles with his ever changing, empty dreams. Although at first glance the reader might assume Dexter is solely trying to pursue the ideal woman, Judy Jones, a more in depth look reveals that through the attempt to obtain Judy’s affection, Dexter is trying to achieve the greater symbol she represents. Judy parallels a vast symbol of being born into privilege, affluence, and the embodiment of the “American Dream.” Through use of numerous troupes including foreshadowing, metaphors, and symbolism the narrator suggests to the reader that all of Dexter’s
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
Scott Fitzgerald wrote the story Winter Dreams and in it he showed that Dexter had the American Dream when started from the bottom and made his way to the top and had a very successful career. The story started out with Dexter working as a caddy at this fancy golf course. One day he all of a sudden decides that he doesn’t want to be a caddy his whole life. He wants more out of life even if he was the best caddy that this golf course has ever had. He wanted to be a successful career where he could make a lot of money. So he went to business school where he learned to be a great business man. It makes people see that even though...
Despite how impossible it is, every person tries to achieve his or her dream so they can be happy or successful. The American Dream is being more powerful or better than anyone was before. In his stories Fitzgerald argues that this “American Dream” cannot be reached. No matter what it is, be it topping the social ladder, or getting the girl, or just being satisfied with one’s life, it just cannot be reached. There is always something stopping one from achieving one’s dream. Whether it is disadvantages or limitations sprung from social status, or other uncontrollable barriers blocking the dream, it is not something that can ever truly be enjoyed.
Dexter and Judy could have had a fairytale ending, but in the end both of their lives were lonely and depressing. Judy wanted Dexter, but not to fall in love with her. She wanted him because she knew she could have him and wanted to prove to herself that her beauty could get a man to do anything. She convinced a man to break off an engagement with a girl he could have been happy with. She didn’t even stick around Dexter long enough for him to even propose.
The American Dream is starting with nothing and through hard work someone can achieve all the happiness one can handle. But if that person were to try to buy the past to regain the happiness they once had they will never succeed. A example of this is F. Scott Fitzgerald 's, The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald criticizes the American dream in his novel, The Great Gatsby, by showing ones belief that money can buy happiness and love through the American dream and also shows the corrupting influence of wealth to the purity of that dream.
As a blood-splatter pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department, Dexter uses his unique skills as an observant investigator and as an undisclosed serial killer to hunt down criminals who evade discovery and capture. Dexter is quite different from a “normal” person’s life. He is a very intelligent individual; while multitasking being a father as well. At the same time, he follows all the moral codes his step-dad Harry, coached him to follow when he was young.
Dexter is a television show that was made from the years 2006 to 2013. It stars many talented actors such as: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayes, James Remar, C.S. Lee, Julie Benz, and many others. The characters that were just mentioned are just the main characters of the television show. The premier of season 3 was released in September of 2008 and attracted the eyes of 1.22 million people, making it the most viewed TV drama since 2004 (IMdB).
The American Dream is a concept that has been wielded in American Literature since its beginnings. The ‘American Dream’ ideal follows the life of an ordinary man wanting to achieve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The original goal of the American dream was to pursue freedom and a greater good, but throughout time the goals have shifted to accumulating wealth, high social status, etc. As such, deplorable moral and social values have evolved from a materialistic pursuit of happiness. In “Advertising the American Dream: Making Way for Modernity”, Roland Marchand describes a man that he believed to be the prime example of a 1920’s man. Marchand writes, “Not only did he flourish in the fast-paced, modern urban milieu of skyscrapers, taxicabs, and pleasure- seeking crowds, but he proclaimed himself an expert on the latest crazes in fashion, contemporary lingo, and popular pastimes.” (Marchand) This description shows material success as the model for the American Dream. In his novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald reveals the characterization of his characters through the use of symbols and motifs to emphasize the corruption of the American Dream.
Dexter had to keep himself from forgetting he cannot have Judy Jones. In the end of the story Dexter has come to a conclusion he could not have Judy, “When autumn had come and gone again, it occurred to him that he could not have Judy Jones. He had to beat this into his mind, but he convinced himself at last. He lay awake at night for a while and argued it over. He told himself the trouble and the pain she had caused him, he enumerated her glaring deficiencies as a wife”(p 974). While Dexter cared for Judy he felt that he need to forget her since he knew he could never really have her full attention. While he knew he could never have her he knew he could never have her he meet her again and falls for her all over again one last time and this time it was her that was convincing him to date once again. "I'm more beautiful than anybody else," she said brokenly, "why can't I be happy?" Her moist eyes tore at his stability--her mouth turned slowly downward with an exquisite sadness: "I'd like to marry you if you'll have me, Dexter. I suppose you think I'm not worth having, but I'll be so beautiful for you, Dexter"(p 977). While Dexter was not too sure how to feel he didn't know how to react to this, with Judy he
Each individual has developed their very own idea of the American Dream. Fitzgerald portrays his view on the American dream through, the novel’s narrator, Nick Carraway, (99). This ideal was originally based on concepts of individuality, pursuit of happiness, and a desire for something greater. Although, the concepts the original ideal was changed into materialistic wealth and objective pleasures. The corruption of the American dream resulted because of the lavish celebrations Gatsby hosted every Saturday night. The guests who attended Gatsby’s celebrations gave indication for the greedy scramble for wealth. Americans grew an unrestrainable desire for pleasure and wealth. This unrestrainable desire unfortunately surpassed noble goals. Once looking beyond the glitz and glamour a hidden reality is acknowledged.