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Wealth In F. Scott Fitzgerald's Winter Dreams

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Practically everyone desires of falling in love or becoming wealthy. Are these beneficial or harmful desires? Maybe both, or possibly none. Since the beginning of time, writers composed stories pertaining to these desires. F. Scott Fitzgerald is one such writer who intertwines a boy’s aspirations for wealth, with his infatuation of a beautiful girl. Considered one of his greatest works, “Winter Dreams” was written in 1922, and possibly written from fragments of Fitzgerald’s own past experiences. The two main characters: Dexter Green, a fourteen year old, upper middle class boy, who aspires to achieve the elite “wealthy” status. Whereas Judy Jones, an eleven year old girl born into the elite “wealthy” status is the emblematic spoiled little …show more content…

He abruptly decides to sell his half of the laundry business and move to New York. Dexter feels the move to New York will gain him the success and wealth he craves. The war comes to America changing Dexter’s plans. He decides to join the first officers’ training-camp. Seven years would go by, Dexter is thirty two now, and no longer in the military. True to his word he moved to New York, becoming a prominent business man. Dexter only returned home once in the past seven years. Working one day, a man by the name of Devlin walks into Dexter’s office to complete some business deals. Devlin and Dexter engage in conversation, and Devlin says that his best friend in Detroit has a wife that came from Dexter’s hometown. Devlin, tells Dexter that the woman’s name was Judy Jones and now is Judy Smith. Devlin proceeds to tell Dexter that her husband does not treat her well, he drinks, runs around, while she stays home with the kids. Devlin also explains how Judy’s beauty has faded with time. With business completed, Devlin leaves and Dexter descends into a pit of despair realizing the implications of what he …show more content…

He cannot contain himself anymore and tears start to run down his face. Not for him or Judy, but for his dreams that are gone forever. His life up to this point has been spent trying to satisfy his desires. Unfortunately, no matter how much wealth Dexter attains, his desire is never satisfied. Fitzgerald writes, “Long ago,” he (Dexter) 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” (“Winter Dreams” 14). The sentence lets us know that Dexter has come to the realization that the dream has vanished, and is no longer attainable. Never truly finding happiness or satisfaction, his desires coexisted as a blessing and a

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