The short story, Winter Dreams, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The short story, Winter Dreams, by F. Scott Fitzgerald holds lasting impact today, mainly for the author’s ability to weave love, desire, emotion, and the moral fiber of an individual into a story. The underlying theme is centered on how charisma can drives a person to lose sight of their true goal in life, thereby finding pleasure in selfish gain which results in eventual loss. I will develop an analysis of characterization and theme in this famed short story. The story is a narrative account of Dexter Green, a reliable, self-assured individual who falls into the web of infatuation of a beautiful woman, Judy Jones. Ms. Jones is also a self-assured individual. She, however, bases her confidence on her outer beauty, a beauty that intoxicates men, bringing them to her knees. Judy represents intense passion, and she brings it out in men, empowering her own life. She leads Dexter to rather abruptly quit is work as a caddy because he yearns to impress Judy, and working as a caddy doesn’t meet her expectations. At the time Judy is only eleven years old. From a very young age, we see that Dexter is the kind of person who goes after his dreams, makes a plan and follows through, but Judy alters this. The characteristics of Dexter’s personality are made clear by F. Scott Fitzgerald in quick fashion. Dexter’s personality comes to light as Fitzgerald displays how astute, intelligent and confident the boy can be. Like Dexter, most of Fitzgerald ‘s male characters choose to feel empowered at the expense of the real. Only a world of illusion, such as Judy Jones’, that can handle her emotional intensity. For one, the story unfolds by casting a scene between a nurse and a young girl on the golf course. These women are having a heated conversation. Although Dexter is at a distance from the scene, he clearly witnesses the incident as troublesome. In the end, one girl raises a club at the other woman, a nurse. She raises the club as if she was going to pound her. But she doesn’t follow through with her threat. Dexter finds humor in this. His ability to find the comedy behind such childish behavior adds to his own youthful wisdom. Here’s a snippet of this scene, as written by the author: Realizing that the elements of the comedy were implied in the scene, Dexter several times began to laugh, but each time restrained the laugh before it reached audibility. Not only is Dexter smart enough to recognize this altercation as a staged situation, which is merely the ego of two people butting heads, but he does so without allowing this incident to alter his own mood. What’s even more humorous is that Fitzgerald uses two females in this physical altercation on the golf course. Normally, the stereotype would be to place two men arguing while playing a sport. Not only does Fitzgerald squash the stereotyping, but he does so by having one woman threatening to nearly behead another woman with a raised club. This displays Fitzgerald creative knack for bringing humor into a potentially disastrous scene. Beyond this, Dexter is not concerned that this altercation might result in physical injury. He realizes their childish threats will go nowhere. This further strengthens his character. Not only is Dexter able to see that the fracas is not going to actually become violent, but, at fourteen years of age, his analysis of the scene adds to his character. Dexter’s characteristics come across as a young boy who can speak for himself. For instance, he is shown having a conversation with a very established man of the community. Dexter is not the least bit intimidated by this adult presence. Dexter, instead, is perceived by members of the golf course to be one of the best caddies. Dexter, then, makes a decision to quit his caddying job. He has higher aspirations and realizes that he’s gotten all can out of caddying. A golf member hears of this and pleas for the young Dexter to continue to caddy for him, stating that he can make if very worthwhile to Dexter. In response to this plea, Fitzgerald wrote: â€Å"You're not more than fourteen. Why the devil did you decide just this morning that you wanted to quit? You promised that next week you'd go over to the State tournament with me. † I decided I was too old. † Dexter stands up for what he believes. He is not swayed by an adult figure with a high-standing position in, both, the business world and on the golf course. The reader sees that elitism cannot sway the young Dexter from going after what he really wants in life. This is, in fact, very ironic; for Dexter wants to be one of the elite. Years later, Dexter falls into the lustful vision of the very beautiful Ms. Jones. Ms. Jones is more that willing to use her outer beauty to gain countless new lovers. She does begin a relationship with Dexter when he is in his twenties. Judy Jones is even boasted about by three other men that Dexter plays golf with one day. These are, again, some of the elite men in society. They almost salivate as they discuss Judy Jones. â€Å"Good-looking! † cried Mr. Hedrick contemptuously, â€Å"she always looks as if she wanted to be kissed! Turning those big cow-eyes on every calf in town! † Here, we can see Fitzgerald’s light-hearted, almost comical, means of showing how man’s desire can rule a person on certain levels. After this golf outing, Judy and Dexter begin a relationship. Dexter is ecstatic about her. He is—apparently for the first time—overwhelmed with a new appreciation over having Judy in his life. Judy, however, is a hollow person and Dexter doesn’t see this. This shallow characteristic in Judy represents people who are self-centered and seek to make gains by using their physical appearance instead of becoming more knowledgeable. Her hollow personality is at the center of her world. All Dexter sees is her physical characteristics which nearly melt him into submission. She has the same affect on many other men in her life. Near the end of the story, Judy breaks off their relationship. She is too easily swayed by other men’s advances and his financial status. Dexter is crushed by her departure, but he begins to renew his life and starts a relationship with a nice girl. This girl is less than glamorous but is filled with other worthwhile characteristics. Judy, then, runs back to Dexter but he does not take her bait. Dexter then discovers through Delvin, that Judy has since gotten married and is raising a family. Now, however, Judy has lost her beauty and is being treated unfairly by her husband. This husband runs off with other women, leaving Judy alone to raise the kids. In closing, we see who cleverly Fitzgerald develops theme and storyline. Fitzgerald also learned how to shape his short stories to meet the needs of magazine readers while, at the same time, using these serious themes as springboards into longer fiction. Winter Dream is centered around characterization. It’s the characters and their interactions with one another that make this story so empowering. Its impact is still felt today because so much of society continues to be tricked by external beauty’s advances. For, the true beauty comes from deep within the heart and soul of a person who shares their life instead of taking advantage of others. SOURCES F. Scott Fitzgerald  Ã‚   http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/fitzgeraldbio.html#winterdreams Introduction to the Short Story  Ã‚   dhttp://www.people.vcu.edu/~bmangum/fitzstories.html