Answer and Explanation:
These questions are about Dexter Green and Judy Jones from the short story "Winter Dreams", by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
When 14-year-old Dexter Green saw 10-year-old Judy Jones throwing a tantrum, he realized he wanted to be as rich as she was. For some reason, Judy's spoiled personality attracted Dexter, and she became the symbol of his ideal. Dexter romanticized life, all because of Judy. He thought beauty and wealth would bring him the happiness he imagined the beautiful and the wealthy to have. Even as adults, as he and Judy date, he does not realize her life is nothing like the golden ideal he has created. Judy is irritable and bored, toying with several men - including Dexter - just to have some fun.
Why does Dexter suddenly see his winter dreams as an illusion?
An older Dexter, who has indeed accomplished everything he wanted, finds out through a friend that Judy is now married to an awful husband. She is no longer admired for her beauty, and everyone seems to know she leads an unhappy life. This news makes Dexter realize his dreams were nothing but an illusion. Judy is as real as everything else. There is nothing glamorous about her anymore. And if Judy is unhappy and ordinary, the whole world is unhappy and ordinary.
Why can he no longer treasure even his memories of Judy Jones?
Since Judy is no longer the same, she can no longer represent what she once did. Dexter has also changed and, for that reason, cannot even look back at their memories together the same way. Remembering Judy used to give him strength, motivation to keep on pursuing his dreams. Now that the fantasy is shattered, there is no way of bringing back that feeling. Dexter simply doesn't care anymore:
"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."
