Winter+Dreams

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Not many know that F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story “Winter Dreams” is often referred to as the “rough draft” of Fitzgerald’s classic novel, The Great Gatsby. Published three years before The Great Gatsby, “Winter Dreams” tells the story of one young man’s desire for wealth and the woman that fuels his desire (Tate). The main character’s obsession with material goods is common in Modernist works (Reuben). Fitzgerald’s characters, like Dexter from “Winter Dreams,” are often fictionalized people from upbringing in a Midwestern, upper-middle class family (Tate). “Winter Dreams” is also similar to other works by Fitzgerald, such as “The Rich Boy.”

“Winter Dreams” represents Modernism in a few different aspects. The most obvious would be Dexter and his pursuit of wealth. Dexter meets a girl named Judy Jones while caddying at a golf course, and she affects the rest of his life. To him, Judy represents everything that comes with affluence (Tate). He lusts for her, possibly because she would be another possession to make him appear richer. He attends a prestigious eastern university rather than a state school, even though he can hardly afford it (Fitzgerald). The obsession that Dexter has with gaining wealth is found often in Modernist works (Reuben). Another way that it embodies Modernism is showing how World War I affected people at the time. After planning to sell his laundry business and move to New York, Dexter decides to attend a military training camp instead (Fitzgerald). He is grateful that the war provides a way to get his mind off of Judy. Judy also represents the roaring twenties spirit that is portrayed in many Modernist poems and stories. She dates many guys at the same time and attends parties often (Fitzgerald).

Fitzgerald’s early life affected his writing more than most authors. Many of his stories are actually inspired by his own experiences (Kerr). He was born into an upper-middle class family in Minnesota, but wished to be more privileged (Kerr). In “Winter Dreams,” Dexter’s father owns “the second best grocery-store in Black Bear” (Fitzgerald). The best, Fitzgerald writes, is owned by wealthier people. This is similar to Fitzgerald’s own life in that even though they were both fairly well off, they compared themselves to the upper-upper class (Kerr).

“Winter Dreams” is similar to many of Fitzgerald’s other works and Modernist works in general. Its storyline is much like that of Fitzgerald’s most famous novel, The Great Gatsby (Tate). “The Rich Boy” also focuses on the effect of wealth on a character, much like “Winter Dreams” and many other stories by Fitzgerald (Kerr). The sailor who catches “tigers in red weather” from Wallace Stevens’ “Disillusionment of Ten O’Clock” is kind of like Dexter in that they both dream of things that will never be realized.

Fitzgerald’s “Winter Dreams” centers around Dexter’s longing for Judy and how it encourages his desire for wealth. His desire for wealth is like that of many characters from other Modernist works. Dexter may have been based on Fitzgerald himself, seeing as how they both grew up in an upper middle class family. Fitzgerald’s life affected his work in other ways, also. “Winter Dreams” is sometimes called the trial version of The Great Gatsby, and is similar to other Modernist works as well. While it may not be as well known as The Great Gatsby, it is a great representation of a modernist short story.

** Works Cited ** Fitzgerald, F. Scott. "Winter Dreams." F. Scott Fitzgerald Centenary. University of South Carolina, 21 Jan. 1998. Web. 2 May 2010. .

Kerr, Frances. "Fitzgerald, F. Scott." Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc., 2000. Web. 2 May 2010. .

Reuben, Paul P. "Early Twentieth Century: A Brief Introduction." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide. California State University Stanislaus, 24 May 2009. Web. 2 May 2010. .

Stevens, Wallace. “Disillusionment of Ten O’Clock.” Poetry Foundation. The Poetry Foundation, 2010. Web. 2 May 2010. .

Tate, Mary Jo. "Winter Dreams." Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts on File, Inc., 2007. Web. 2 May 2010. .

"Winter Dreams" by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a short story that may be long, but that is what Modernism is all about. A few ways in which Modernism was played into this was the fact that Dexter wanted wealth. He thought that he was too young to be working as a caddy and neede more money (Winter Dreams). This was one of the main charcteristics of characters in the Modernism time. He also was the main character who wanted love. Judy Jones was the woman whom he met at the club that he caddies for. He wanted her even though he thought he could not get her. After he quits his job at the golf course he ends up regretting the fact that he is away from his true love (Winter Dreams). Another way is which it represents Modernism is the fact that he goes off to war after he sells his laundry business (Winter Dreams). World War 1 was a big part in the Modernism time. Most qriters did write about it, but in story context. This is so because Modernists do not base their information on facts, but solely on story lines.

The poem that most nearly is similar to the story "Winter Dreams" was "The Rich Boy." They both lived in a semi-rich world and had the same issues. The both inspired Modernism.

Works Cited