Similarities Between Winter Dreams And The Great Gatsby

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Shattered dreams, especially the “American Dream”, is a theme that is relevant in both stories The Great Gatsby and “Winter Dreams.” Fitzgerald emphasizes the importance of dreams in both his stories. Jay Gatsby is driven by his dream that Daisy will accept and love him according to his fantasies. He believes in the idea that if he thinks it, it will be so. He believes that materialism can accomplish his dream of winning Daisy's heart and this becomes his obsession. However, his dreams are flawed. They are hollow because they lead to a major letdown. Gatsby acquires his money through illegal means and when Daisy learns of this it changes her opinion and love for Gatsby shattering his hopes. His dreams were "vague contours" that lack any substance. Everything Gatsby dreams is based in materialism or social acceptance. The meaningless attraction to the glitter and glamour far out ways any meaningful relationships. Fitzgerald's idea of "a promise that the rock of the world was founded securely on a fairy's wing" is an appropriate description of the weakness in Gatsby's dreams. Gatsby world is destroyed when …show more content…

Similar to Gatsby, Dexter is motivated by his dreams of Judy Jones. His entire reason for being is to acquire "glittering things," of which Judy is the ultimate prize. As with Gatsby, what he pursues is ultimately hollow. It is a reflection of the temporary nature of his dreams. Dexter worked towards dreams that paralleled Gatsby's "vague contours" in lacking any stability to them. Dexter passes over that which is stable in favor of something more elusive. He rejects the "sturdily popular Irene" because of the dream of Judy. Dexter's frail dreams are on display at the end of the short story. When Dexter weeps, it’s because he like Gatsby realizes he wasted his life on woman when he states "that thing is gone," an appropriate description of his

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