ipl-logo

The American Dream In Carver's Cathedral

689 Words3 Pages

Identity is something that many people struggle with. Who am I? Is a common question American’s struggle with. However, the outside world is what truly shapes us; our culture, society, background; many authors throughout the years have realized this and portrayed it in their writings. In most of the author’s works they explore these challenges faced by their characters to help relate to the general public. Kate Chopin, in “Story of an Hour,” discuss feminist concepts in a pre-suffrage American. In the short story “Winter Dreams,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald explores the raw truth of the American Dream in the post-World War I era. Raymond Carver’s short story “Cathedral” evaluates how society can make people numb and unware of even the most amazing …show more content…

Raised in a middle-class background of the growing economic boom, Green only validates his existence through his success and status while keeping his humble origins in mind. When Dexter was a young caddy, he often day dreamed about being successful and he imagined the happiness that came with it; “He became a golf champion…impressed was Mr. Mortimer Jones” (965). Although Dexter longed to become a part of the luxury upper class society, he had no respect for those whom it was handed to a silver platter; “He knew the sort of men they were…with the same debonaire ease” (971). Even though Dexter only wanted to fit in to their high class society, he soon was forced to realize that money cannot buy happiness. When Judy wants to know more about him he answers ‘“I’m nobody”…matter of futures’ (972). By saying this Dexter realizes that he may never be able to accept himself as who he is, making it impossible for him to jump over the obstacle as he searches for meaning and purpose. Fitzgerald also shows that Dexter will never truly be happy by stating, “So he tasted…deep happiness” (978). Finally in the end when Dexter learns of Judy’s unhappy marriage and her looks have faded, causing his vision of her to shattered, which in turn causes his vision of him to be shattered; “The dream was gone”

Show More
Related

  • Response To Raymond Carver's Cathedral

    431 Words  | 2 Pages

    The author use of the title “Cathedral” was misleading at first. “Cathedral” is about a husband who had an interesting experience with his wife’s blind friend. The narrator, also known as the husband, had difficulty understanding other people thoughts and personal feelings. The narrator knew how important the blind man is to his wife, yet he still makes careless jokes about him. “Maybe I could take him bowling” was a comment made by the narrator after finding out that the blind man was staying over his house.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Winter Dreams

    1211 Words  | 5 Pages

    Now, Dexter wasn 't poor, but he wasn 't by any means rich either. Dexter saw many others who made good money. “SOME OF THE CADDIES were poor as sin and lived in oneroom houses with a neurasthenic cow in the front yard, but Dexter Green 's father owned the second best grocery-store in Black Bear--the best one was "The Hub," patronized by the wealthy people from Sherry Island--and Dexter caddied only for pocket-money.” (p. 1). We see in this quote that Dexter’s family has money, but it’s not what he wants.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Dex Green And The Great Gatsby

    619 Words  | 3 Pages

    Yet, like Gatsby, Dexter started building his life for Judy from the young age of fourteen. After all of their work and wasting their lives to create the perfect life for them, neither of the two got the women they loved. With such similar love stories, there is a slight difference in their

    Read More

  • Dexter Green In The Great Gatsby

    308 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dexter wants to quit caddying and become a business man but debates it in this quote because Mr. Jones thinks he is better caddy than the other ones at the club. He is also a dreamer. He dreams to be a wealthy business man and run his own business. Dexter works hard to earn money and he eventually “borrowed a thousand dollars on his college degree and his confident mouth,

    Read More

  • My Swift And My Armor Character Analysis

    1068 Words  | 5 Pages

    And to him without her he has not fully succeed his “winter dreams” This relationship in a way is healthy for Dexter as Judy seems to play his muse to become wealthy, which in fact he does. But it’s also unhealthy for the fact that we realize to be with her is unrealistic. We can see parallels between “Winter Dreams” and “Snows of Kilimanjaro” in the way of wealth. In “Winter Dreams” a high standing and large amount of money is all that Dexter strives for to win the love of his life Judy.

    Read More

  • Ambition In F. Scott Fitzgerald's Winter Dreams

    776 Words  | 4 Pages

    Towards the end, after Judy Jones is married with another man, Dexter finally accepts the fact that he has lost Judy, and he is never able to ever obtain her. He grieves “’Long ago, there was something in me, but now that thing is gone. Now that thing is gone, that thing is gone. I cannot cry. That thing will come back no more’”

    Read More

  • Essay On Masculinity In F. Scott Fitzgerald's Winter Dreams

    746 Words  | 3 Pages

    In F. Scott Fitzgerald´s “Winter Dreams” Fitzgerald portrays Judy as a woman with a free-spirited attitude toward men that can give her satisfaction. Even though Dexter, who is a wealthy business man, is trying to win her over, she takes on other men, leaving Dexter incapable towards her love. Judy´s dominance, attempts at golf and usage of men can be traced as a more masculine type, instead of the stereotypical feminist approach to control her desires. She gives Dexter the impression on not trying to peruse her, and takes on the dominant role in the relationship. This essay will show how Judy´s behavior as a masculine character can be portrayed negatively, as she defies expectations and is able to manipulate events to her advantage despite being a woman in a patriarchal society, and how

    Read More

  • Winter Dreams American Dream

    1044 Words  | 5 Pages

    Many people are aware of the theory that money cannot buy happiness, but how many people really believe this? In the short story, “Winter Dreams”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dexter Green and Judy Jones are utilized to address this concept. In “Winter Dreams”, the author acknowledges the unrealistic idealization of the American dream and through Dexter’s constant pining for Judy, underlines the perception that greed and obsession over material goods will inevitably lead to personal destruction; however, Fitzgerald most effectively presents the idea that money and success are not the epitome of personal happiness. In “Winter Dreams”, Fitzgerald utilizes Judy Jones to symbolize many peoples goal of succeeding through the American dream and to juxtapose

    Read More

  • Theme Of Communication In Raymond Carver's Cathedral

    1554 Words  | 7 Pages

    In the Raymond Carver stories “Cathedral” and “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” communication plays a major role in developing the story. In this essay I will analyze how the theme of communication plays both similar and different roles in developing the meaning of these two stories to further understand how communication effects the characters. Communication is an important part of the story to understand because it gives the reader a better understanding of the moral of the story as well as important life influences of the author. “Cathedral” and “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” are excellent to stories to compare their theme of communication because communication gives each story a unique meaning, but both stories use communication in different ways to do so. By exploring the different types of communication in these two stories it will be easier to understand the moral meaning of the stories but also how different types of communication can be more effective than verbal communication.

    Read More

  • Comparing Legacies 'And The Beauty Treatment'

    600 Words  | 3 Pages

    The way one portrays his or her self can very quite differently from person to person. Clothes, makeup and jewelry are all superficial ways one can depict one’s self. In contrast, one can portray him or herself on a deeper more intimate level. Establishing the way a person wants to be portrayed is like learning to walk, it takes small productive steps to gain the strength and knowledge to get to the desired destination. Trials and tribulations illustrate and shape one’s true self.

    Read More

  • Comparing 'The Yellow Wallpaper And A Jury Of Her Peers'

    1006 Words  | 5 Pages

    Authors, especially female authors, have long used their writing to emphasize and analyze the feminist issues that characterize society, both in the past and the present. Kate Chopin, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Susan Glaspell wrote narratives that best examined feminist movements through the unreliable minds of their characters. In all three stories, “The Story of an Hour”, “The Yellow Wallpaper”, and “A Jury of Her Peers”, the authors use characterization, symbolism, and foreshadowing to describe the characters’ apparent psychosis or unreasonable behavior to shed light on the social issues that characterized the late 19th century and early 20th century. Penning many stories that demonstrate her opinions on the social issues of the era,

    Read More

  • Identities Wd Valgardson Summary

    579 Words  | 3 Pages

    The identity a person holds is one of the most important aspects of their lives. Identity is what distinguishes people from others, although it leaves a negative stereotype upon people. In the short story Identities by W.D Valgardson, a middle-aged wealthy man finds himself lost in a rough neighborhood while attempting to look for something new. The author employs many elements in the story, some of the more important ones being stereotype and foreshadow. For many people, their personal identity is stereotyped by society.

    Read More

  • A Separate Peace Identity Essay

    978 Words  | 4 Pages

    In John Knowles’s novel A Separate Peace Identity is shown as what defines us and makes us be placed in other peoples perspectives. An author can use identity to place characters in the readers mind to portray them a certain way, just as John Knowles did in A Separate peace. An identity can be defined as who a person is inside and out.

    Read More

  • Dreams In F. Scott Fitzgerald's Winter Dreams

    1037 Words  | 5 Pages

    Nevertheless, Judy couldn’t be able to give her heart to Dexter. Thus, he met and engaged to Irene Scheerer, a girl whom Dexter didn’t love as much as Judy. They broke off their engagement because Judy wanted Dexter to be with her. At the end of winter dreams, Dexter wasn’t be with Judy, and Judy married with another man. The author, F. Scott Fitzgerald used simile, imagery, and themes to express his point of views and also used symbolism to let the readers picture the images in their minds and also let the readers feel different emotions.

    Read More

  • Handmaid's Tale Identity

    871 Words  | 4 Pages

    The American science fiction and fantasy author Richard Grant once said that “the value of identity of course is that so often with it comes purpose.” In both The Awakening by Kate Chopin and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, the main protagonists search for their identities through the context of their daily lives. In correlation with the preceding quotation, in The Awakening, after a vacation opens her eyes to all that she has been missing in her life, she becomes desperate to find herself outside of the mother-woman while in The Handmaid’s Tale, the narrator must decide which parts of her identity she wants to hold on to and who she is in the trying times of the Gileadean society. The two novels demonstrate the journey of these women

    Read More

More about The American Dream In Carver's Cathedral

Open Document