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

in the near future she will grow to be lovely and beautiful. Fitzgerald characterizes Dexter by giving him the characteristic of judging others before he gets the chance to meet them. If he were to be open minded about Jones, rather than judging her right from the beginning, he could have a total different outlook of her. Right from the beginning of the story we get the feeling that Dexter is simply narrow minded and does not give Judy the benefit of the doubt. Later in the story, Dexter is golfing with the men he used to caddy for. A golf ball hits Mr. Hendrick in the stomach and it just happens to be Judy Jones’. After a short conversation, she passes them on the coarse and the men have many vulgar opinions about her. For instance, Mr. Sandwood states, “‘My God, she's good looking!... She has a nice figure.’” Mr. Hendrick follows this statement by stating “‘she has no form.’” These older men are talking about her body in a sexual way while she’s just trying to play a game of golf. The characterization of these men is very clear in this conversation. They disregard the fact that they are almost double her age, while they talk about her body. She is much younger than them, yet they seem to objectify her body as an object, they do not give her the respect she deserves as a woman. Mr. Hendrick simply says Judy has no form, talking about her golf stance. Mr. Sandwood decides it is appropriate to talk about her body in sexual ways. Judy Jones is a woman, and the most respect they give her is talking about her poor golf skills and how great her body is. The bodies of women are not just put on this earth for men to treat like pieces of meat and drool over, they deserve to be respected. Fitzgerald uses characterization to show these individuals’ real colors, these men objectify Judy Jones’ body and treat her like she's an object rather than a woman.
Fitzgerald uses metaphor to show how Judy Jones is objectified by being compared to other commodities rather than being respected as a human being.

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

men.