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What is the mood and tone of "Winter Dreams?"

F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story was written in 1922, and believed by Fitzgerald scholars to be the forerunner of The Great Gatsby because of its theme of class differences and how they factor into matters of the heart and the sadness of a misspent life.


The overall mood and tone of the story could be called lamenting or discontented. Dexter Green never seems to find happiness: not as a young man when he dreams of financial success, not in his relationship with Irene, not in his acquisition of wealth, career success and consequent social access, not in his on-again off-again relationship with Judy, and certainly not when he learns of Judy's sad fate as a betrayed wife who has lost her beauty.  


Dexter is mournful at the story's end as realizes that, in many ways, he has wasted his youth chasing after illusions.

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