Connecting the Themes of Araby, Winter Dreams and other works
September 13, 2013
English 100
Throughout many pieces of literature, authors relay similar themes. If you analyze any piece of literature, you can find what the author’s message is. Sometimes this is harder than others, but there always is at least one. One common theme is that you cannot dwell and focus your life on one thing; whether it is something you had or cannot have or wish to have. You cannot let something bring you down or let yourself obsess over it. It can take control of your life and even bring you misery. In the short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the main character is in love with a girl he has not even met. He thinks about her all the time and always questions whether he should try to talk to her or not. He is obsessed with her for a while, and he’s just a child. One day she finally talks to him, though, and asks him if he’s going to a bazaar, and he tells her he is going to go and pick her up something. The speaker is totally focused on being able to talk to this girl again, and he is devastated when he doesn’t pick her up something from the bazaar. The more one lets themself get attached to something or someone, the harder it is when they lose it. The speaker experienced this as a child and was never angrier. Similar to this speaker, Dexter in “Winter Dreams” experiences heart break at a young age.
“Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays this theme by his characterization of Dexter. In his head, he has ideals that he thinks he must fulfill; but because he intense focus on these ideals bring him all his trouble. He is totally obsessed with the bold, gorgeous woman Judy, yet she ends up causing more issues for him than anything. He is in love with what she resembles, and when he thinks he has a chance to marry her, he breaks off his engagement with another woman. He thinks that marrying her will cement his dignified spot in the upper class. This is part of his childhood fantasies, as well, but with his success
English 100
Throughout many pieces of literature, authors relay similar themes. If you analyze any piece of literature, you can find what the author’s message is. Sometimes this is harder than others, but there always is at least one. One common theme is that you cannot dwell and focus your life on one thing; whether it is something you had or cannot have or wish to have. You cannot let something bring you down or let yourself obsess over it. It can take control of your life and even bring you misery. In the short story “Araby” by James Joyce, the main character is in love with a girl he has not even met. He thinks about her all the time and always questions whether he should try to talk to her or not. He is obsessed with her for a while, and he’s just a child. One day she finally talks to him, though, and asks him if he’s going to a bazaar, and he tells her he is going to go and pick her up something. The speaker is totally focused on being able to talk to this girl again, and he is devastated when he doesn’t pick her up something from the bazaar. The more one lets themself get attached to something or someone, the harder it is when they lose it. The speaker experienced this as a child and was never angrier. Similar to this speaker, Dexter in “Winter Dreams” experiences heart break at a young age.
“Winter Dreams” by F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays this theme by his characterization of Dexter. In his head, he has ideals that he thinks he must fulfill; but because he intense focus on these ideals bring him all his trouble. He is totally obsessed with the bold, gorgeous woman Judy, yet she ends up causing more issues for him than anything. He is in love with what she resembles, and when he thinks he has a chance to marry her, he breaks off his engagement with another woman. He thinks that marrying her will cement his dignified spot in the upper class. This is part of his childhood fantasies, as well, but with his success