Use Of Irony In F. Scott Fitzgerald's Winter Dreams

“Only in America can someone start with nothing and achieve the American Dream” (Rafael Cruz). This quote describes how the main character, Dexter’s life started out with nothing in America with his mother who was an immigrant and then turned into a very successful businessman in Minnesota. In the story, Winter Dreams by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the main character Dexter and his mother, who was immigrant, came to America when he was little, with close to nothing. Once Dexter was officially in America, he realized that he had an American dream. Dexter’s American dream was being successful business man, even though he had close to little to nothing when he came to the United States. Dexter ends up fulfilling his dreams as he grows up, by working at a golf course named Sherry Island Golf

Irony is the use of words to portray a meaning completely opposite than the actual meaning. The first example of irony in the short story Winter Dreams is when Dexter realizes the American dream of being a rich and successful man is not what it appeared to be. He realizes that you have to sacrifice happiness in order to be a rich and successful man. This is an example is situational irony because the outcome turned out to be very different than what was expected. The second example of irony in the short story Winter Dreams is when Judy tells Dexter before he leaves for the war that she wanted to marry him. But when Dexter left, she ended up marrying another guy. This is an example of dramatic irony because it is understood because it is understood by audience reading, but the character still does not understand. The third and last example of irony in the short story Winter Dreams is at the end of the story when Dexter leaves Irene to be with Judy again, but in the end Judy backs stabs him again. This would be an example of situational irony because they situation turned out the opposite than what it should