Topic > "Winter Dreams" by Fitzgerald: Chasing Dreams

F. “Winter Dreams” by Scott Fitzgerald is the story of Dexter Green and his search for Judy Jones. Dexter wants Judy to remain untouched by time, and his dream is to be with her. Fitzgerald, through his writings, supports the idea of ​​the dream and the pursuit of the dream, but does not seem to fully believe in it. The illusions seen in dreams are necessary to keep people, especially Dexter, going. because they give something to believe in and look forward to. Such dreams are also impossible because they can never be finally and satisfactorily realized an original essay In the story, Judy Jones is the dream that Dexter Green is chasing, and although it is impossible, it is what makes him thrive. Judy Jones is described as nothing more than something, instead of someone. She is held to an unattainable standard and is made cold by the way she is treated like some sort of trophy. Dexter sees vitality in her. He sees something he wants to possess. Dexter describes her: “The color of her cheeks…. And the mobility of his mouth gave a continuous impression of flow, of intense life, of passionate vitality – balanced only in part by the sad luxury of his eyes” (968). Vitality is what gives continuity to life. Dexter sees vitality in her because she is his dream. His dream is what gives him something worth living for, since he already has so much. At one point in the story, Dexter has almost everything he could want; “Dexter was twenty-four years old and increasingly finding himself in a position to do what he wanted…. He could have socialized as much as he wanted: he was a fit young man now...” (974). Because Dexter has so much, he holds onto something he's looking forward to: Judy. He makes it clear that his aspirations are now focused exclusively around her: “His confessed devotion to Judy Jones had rather consolidated his position…. He wanted to take Judy Jones with him. No amount of disillusionment with the world she had grown up in could cure her delusion about its desirability” (974). No matter what, Dexter wanted Judy Jones. He didn't care about anything else. Her being, and not being with him, gave him something to aspire to. Dexter's dream of having Judy Jones is important because it makes him look forward to something. The pursuit of his dream creates vitality in him and what he sees in her, and that is why the dream is important. Dexter's pursuit of his dream is important, but his actual attainment, or ending, causes his fantasy to collapse, supporting the idea that dreams are impossible. Since the dream pursuit is the source of vitality, when the pursuit ends or is interrupted, the vitality disappears. Dreams are impossible because they focus on what is past and never give space to reality. Dexter is living his dream. He's been chasing Judy Jones for years and expects her to be the same as when he first met her. He wants her to be untouched by time. Dexter's dream, as long as he follows it, blocks him from the reality of things. Eighteen months after meeting Judy, Dexter is engaged to another woman. However, he ruins the engagement and the relationship because he cannot let go of what gives him vitality; “When autumn came and went again, it occurred to him that he couldn't have Judy Jones. He had to get it into his head but in the end he convinced himself... Then he told himself that he loved her…” (975). Even though his life is full of money and a wife, he can't give up on his impossible dream. At the end of the story, years after Dexter's first meeting with Judy, he discovers that she is married and has children. He is told it was one.