The Destructive Nature of the American Dream in F.
Scott Fitgerald’s Winter Dreams
by Lillian Bonar
Essay: The Destructive Nature of the American Dream in F. Scott Fitgerald’s Winter Dreams
Pages: 11
Rating: 3 stars
Download Links:
• The Destructive Nature of the American Dream in F. Scott Fitgerald’s Winter Dreams.pdf
• The Destructive Nature of the American Dream in F. Scott Fitgerald’s Winter Dreams.doc
The concept of the American dream has been related to everything from religious freedom to a nice home in the
suburbs. It has inspired both deep satisfaction and disillusioned fury. The phrase elicits for most Americans a
country where good things can happen. However, for many Americans, the dream is simply unattainable. In F.
Scott Fitzgerald’s “Winter Dreams,” Dexter Green, a hardworking young man born into the middle class, becomes
wrapped up in his pursuit to obtain wealth and status in his life. These thoughts and ideas represent Dexter’s
fixation on his “winter dreams,” or, the idea of what the American Dream means to him: gaining enough wealth to
eventually move up in social class and become somebody, someday. As Dexter attempts to work himself up the
social ladder, he falls in love with Judy Jones, a shallow and selfish, rich woman. But to Dexter, Judy represents the
very idea of the American Dream-- obtaining wealth and status. Dexter’s pursuit of Judy and essentially the
American Dream becomes an obsession. In the end, Dexter is forced to accept the realization that his “winter
dreams” are actually just empty wishes. By characterizing Judy as a superficial, materialistic woman, Fitzgerald
criticizes the destructive nature of the American Dream.
Through her rich and wealthy lifestyle, Judy represents what living in the upper class would be like for Dexter.
Fitzgerald presents this idea by stating that Dexter “wanted not associated with glittering things and glittering
people- he wanted the glittering things themselves” (1012). The “glittering thing” that Dexter wants to possess is
Judy Jones. He does not wish to be just like any another wealthy individual, but wishes to possess this “glittering
thing,” so that he wi...
essay thesis, essay thesis examples, essay thesaurus, essay themes, essay thesis template, essay the crucible,
essay thesis generator, essay thesis definition, essay the america i believe in, essay theme generator