The Theme of Winter Dreams in Literature - Essay Example

The period of year when people are more predisposed to dream is winter. This season is always associated with hope, joy and dreams maybe because thenthe holidays come and people tend to get closer to the spiritual things, to understand each other better .During winter time, at the end of the year everyone makes himself a survey and sees what was wrong and right, and what he would have wanted to live or to have. Now the most interesting and unexpected dreams are born. Winter dreams differs from person to person, in accordance with the person's age, character, social and financial condition, religion and country. All these factors influence and shape a person's dreams because we refer to the ones around us and our needs. Winter dreams was a theme often used by the writers, poets or it was used in many magazines. Maybe people were inspired reading the novels, short stories, articles on this topic, but the truth is the exchange is reversed: in all these pieces of paper exist a bit of our soul. One hundred and sixty three years ago people were dreaming too, maybe in a different way and writers wanted to take part in these dreams. Charles Dickens did this too and his contribution was greater than the other writers because his message moved many and succeeded to change something in the mentality of his age. "A Christmas Carol" was a novel about the holiest period of year and was considered a book which wanted to resurge the spirit of Christmas and which offered a brand new image to its values: kindness, cadge, forgiveness. This redefinition came in a decline period of this holiday. Thus, the book may be considered as an accomplished winter dream. Dickens organizes the structure of the novel in a certain way, hoping that the readers will see that winter dreams have changed the main character in the end, have made him a better person. The point of view is that of the main character, but this overlaps with the others. The author presents the story at third person singular, seeming that we are told an objective story, but through this technique the author gives the readers the possibility to see facts in their own opinion. Winter dreams and all those charity deeds are seen by the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge , with irony, but in fact he is the one chaffed. So, the readers can realize that Ebenezer's type of behavior regarding Christmas and winter dreams is not appropriate, and that those poor people he detests, will help him in the end to change. Ebenezer Scrooge is a greed selfish business man . In the beginning of the novel it can be said that he doesn't know the notion of dream(maybe only the proper meaning), but gradually it can be discovered that this term existed in his mind and soul but was repressed many years ago. This character is in fact a symbol for all those who want to minimize holidays and even life, shortening it to the financial prosperity. The first lines of the novel talk about the death of Jacob Marley, a good friend of Scrooge seven years ago . Then the action moves in the business man's office during the winter holidays. Charles Dickens does not aleatory use this number. Seven in Hebrew means to be complete , and it is associated with God, with the spiritual perfection1. In Bible and in different writings this number is used very often. If seven means a completed cycle it may emphasize a new beginning. So, Scrooge was doomed to this behavior seven years , but now a new chance was given to him. This symbol may be seen as a part of winter dreams , because we tend to think of God and the holy things during Christmas time. Scrooge is visited by three ghosts in Christmas Eve and this is the event that will make him change forever. Ghosts are an often used motif in winter writings because this period is considered to be the bridge moment between the two worlds: of livings and of deaths. The number of spirits, three , is full of meaning again: three represents what is solid, real, complete . God has three main characteristics: omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence. This can suggest that the coming of the three spirits is commanded by God and that winter dreams, and dreams in general are manufactured by God.The human abilities are again three: thought, word and deed2. They have to make for the same goal , as Scrooge must do. The poor little boy that Scrooge sees in his journeys with the ghost is a symbol for all the dreams people have, but that at a certain moment vanishes and let us sadder and poorer. This happens because some cut the winds of a dream, refusing to help or , much worse, refusing to involve. This fact does not let Scrooge indifferent, it can be said that this is the key moment where he decides to be again a good person. The most important message of this novel is that people should not stay indifferent to the others 'sufferings and should live intensively every moment , being aware of the fact that through their deeds, thoughts and words can change the world. "I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future! Scrooge repeated as he scrambled out of bed. The spirits off all Three shall strive within me. O Jacob Marley! Heaven and the Christmastime be praised for this! I say it on my knees , old Jacob, on my knees!" (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, page 89) "The little match girl" is a fairy-tale written by Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish writer who delighted many generations of children. Each of his stories has a magic message and winter dreams are often discussed towards simple or creative tales. This story is set on New Years Eve and has in its center a poor little girl who sells matches. Winter dreams here are presented in a more sensitive and emotional point of view. The social and financial condition are others: the girl is poor, her family does not celebrate holidays, and she feels alone in the world. In fact it is the story of every orphan that would want love, support and something to eat. She has many dreams and each appears when she lights the matches, one by one: a Christmas dinner , a fire-tree beautifully decorated , her grandmother. The light from the matches represents the hope and the purity of her soul. But, like every light, the dreams are temporary and the only one that succeeds to live is the spirit of her grandmother who takes her in the heaven. If in Charles Dickens' novel the spirits came to correct Scrooge , here they came only as a messengers. Her grandmother accompanies her till heavens, and the little girl cannot comes true her dreams in this world." She took the little girl in her arms, and they both flew upwards in brightness and joy far above the earth, where there was neither cold nor hunger nor pain, for they were with God."(Hans Christian Andersen, The little match-seller) Andersen does not say what is wrong and what is right in the terrestrial world, but he constructs his story as if the place for such a good girl is not on such a mean world. He chooses to sensitize us and the readers are the ones that will make something or not to improve themselves or the world. The message of his tale is that exists persons that wish so little, but for them their dreams are very important and our ignorance could kill them. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "Winter dreams" discussed dreams in general and how they can affect our lives. It is the most elaborate and the most profound and winter dreams have a particular part. The theme is not so complex , but the way in which it is constructed reveals many hidden feelings and topics. Dexter Green is unsatisfied with his life. He is the type of person that thinks he doesn't belong to the world in which he was born and does everything to escape. He succeeds to do that, but in the end he realizes that all his dreams were only a big soup bubble. A very interesting thing is that all the events and even character's feelings are presented in accordance to the seasons. Winter is a very special one. During winter time he feels for the first time the melancholy scents and his dreams are shaped now when he realizes he wants more than he has. It can be said that his wishes are dictated by winter. With the past of years one thing remains unchangeable. Winter prolongs and gives the hero the opportunity to both understand his emotions , and to lost himself in thoughts. Winter dreams in this novel represent what we all want at a certain moment, what we think is best for us and the disillusion after we understand that glittering things are not necessarily better. Dexter rows over different stages: the initial stage, when he is pure and kind, the stage where he comes true his dream, and the last stage when disappointment floods his life. So winter dreams can be harmful sometimes when we cannot make a difference between what is valuable inside or only at the surface. The path was not a go-come road so the initial state could not been reached again. The glittering life he lived was a proof that simple things are the most important. That life of pleasures transformed him into a cold man. The message of the books is that one should be careful what he desires and the way in each carries out his dream , because these might hurt and destroy you. "Long ago , he said, 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. I cannot care. That thing will come back no more". (Winter Dreams) Nowadays things are changed when we talk about Christmas or winter dreams. People want materialistic presents and it functions even as a winter dreams industry. Every feeling, every desire is speculated , transforming them into something commercial. Few people remember that the little match seller girls still exists nowadays, few people remembers that Charles Dickens once wrote a book for the revival of winter spirit. In many countries people are divided only in two: the poor and the rich and they cannot communicate anymore. If in the past many wanted spiritual things like peace, joy, a Christmas tree etc now many wish for false presents that could be satisfied in every period of year. Many surveys shown the fact that in the top of people's winter dreams were holidays in exotic places, and cosmetic surgeries. "The things people want for Christmas follow western trends and while five years ago the ultimate gift was a holiday in the Caribbean, now people want a gorgeous new body to take there" .( Radio Prague, What people want for Christmas). So , the inner qualities are not appreciated anymore and the key of success is a perfect body in a perfect place. Being melancholic and watching appropriate movies is seen as something old fashioned. People realizes that the plot of the movies or books about this subject is only allegorical but are not capable to understand the meaning. "Try to remember that everyone is not having a Christmas like "Miracle on 34th Street" or "It's a wonderful time". (The New York Times, When dreams of Christmas are blue) This sounds like a manifest against winter holy spirit, but this happens although many towns are beautifully decorated during this time of year. Many adopt this view because it is considered, that indeed winter is a period when people are more dreamer , but at the same time they start to imagine things and this goes only to disappointment. Of course this idea contains a pit of truth , but this does not allow us to destroy a magic period that has always existed. And it cannot be forgotten the fact that even nowadays there are people who enjoys Christmas and winter values and consider this moment as an engine for their lives, when dreams are manufactured. People are different, values are different and winter may be interpreted different , but as long as children exist people should try to maintain the holy spirit of this season and should want to come back in the past to take a little piece of their innocence as young children. Maybe one of the persons who still feels winter as a special moment should try to write the second "A Christmas Carol", which would mean the beginning of a new era. Works Cited Andersen, Hans, Christian, The little match-seller, Available online at 25 September Dickens, Charles, A Christmas Carol, Wordsworth Classics, Cumberland House, 1993 Fitzgerald, Scott, Winter Dreams, Available online at http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/winterd/winter.html 21 January 1998 Lazarova, Daniela, Radio Prague , What people want for Christmas bigger breasts and long hair http://www.radio.c/en/article/74027 22 December 2005 Lombardi, Kate, The New York Times, When Dreams of Christmas are blue http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fulpage.htmlres=9AODE2D91739F934A25751C1A963958260&sec=health&pagewanted=2 17 December 2005 Symbolic Meaning of Seven http://www.vic.australis.com.au/hazz/number007.html 21 August 2001 Symbolic Meaning of Three http://www.vic.australis.com.au/hazz/number003.html 21 August 2001 Read More