Question

“Winter Dreams” explores the aspirations of Dexter Green. Analyze this character and state whether he is dynamic or static. Cite textual evidence to support your answer.

Answer 1

Dexter Green wants to be rich and successful, a dream he’s had since he was a 14-year-old caddie at a high-society golf club. Dexter’s character is dynamic because he undergoes several changes over the course of the story. He quits his job as a caddie because he wants to pursue his “winter dreams,” and he goes to college to start his own venture, which grows into a flourishing business:

He made money. It was rather amazing. After college, he went to the city from which Black Bear Lake draws its wealthy patrons. When he was only twenty-three and had been there not quite two years, there were already people who liked to say: "Now there's a boy."

He achieves much success and is quite content with his life until he meets and falls in love with Judy Jones. Dexter experiences various emotions during his association with Judy. He is filled with joy when he loves her and believes she loves him in return, but his heart plummets into sorrow when Judy refuses to marry him. When Dexter becomes disillusioned with love, he no longer feels strong emotions, a drastic change from his earlier openness to feelings.

Answer 2

Dexter Green is considered to be a dynamic character because of the remarkable change in character as the story ends. “Winter Dreams” denotes mostly challenges and struggles encountered by the character, how he reacts to them and how it drastically change the character. Some example is when Judy  loss her beauty and was married to a guy who cheats on her, Dexter cannot feel bad enough about her— “He wanted to care, and he could not care" (6.35)