F Scott Fitzgerald

Winter Dreams Annotated F Scott Fitzgerald

Winter Dreams The story, frequently anthologized, is regarded as one of Fitzgerald's finest works for emotionally describing the loss of young illusions. Dexter Green is a middle-class young man born in rural Minnesota who seeks to be part of the "old money" elite of the American Midwest. His father owns the second most profitable grocery store in the town. To earn money, Dexter works part-time as a teenage caddy at a golf club in Black Bear Lake, Minnesota, where he meets the eleven-year-old Judy Jones. He quits his job rather than be Judy's caddy as he cannot abide acting as one of her obsequious servants. Seven years later, Dexter has become a successful businessman in New York. He has become wealthy but hasn't visited his home in years. One day, a Detroit man named Devlin visits Dexter on a business pretext. During the meeting, Devlin reveals that Judy Simms-formerly Judy Jones-is the wife of one his friends. Devlin recounts how Judy's beauty has faded, and her husband treats her cruelly. This news discourages Dexter as he still loves Judy. Later Dexter realizes that his dream is gone and that he can never return home.