Judy And Helen example essay topic

Judy Jones, from "Winter Dreams", and Helen, from "The Snow of Kilimanjaro", are opposite as females but share characteristics of power. Judy has control over the men in her life and strings them around for her pleasure and satisfaction just because she can. Helen, on the other hand, is monogamously in love with Harry who is the beneficiary of the relationship. Judy Jones gets involved with every prosperous male that crosses her path. She is easily shied away by men who come too strong but makes up for it with her overwhelming amount of men she pursues. Judy attracted the attention of one man especially, Dexter Green.

Dexter held back after and did not call of bother Judy after her attraction for him faded, unlike other men who waited by her side to be noticed again. Dexter never forgot Judy though. He always held her in high regards as if she were the perfect woman. Helen was content in her relationship with Harry and would do anything for him. When his leg became infected it was her who took it upon herself to meet his medical needs. Harry had been in many previous relationships with wealthy women and at one point thought he loved each of them, "but when he no longer was in love, when he was only lying, as to this woman, now, who had the most money of all, who had all the money there was, who had had a husband and children, how had taken lovers and been dissatisfied with them, and who loved him dearly as a writer, as a man, as a companion and as a proud possession; it was strange that when he did not lover her at all and was lying that he should be able to give her more for her money than when he had really loved" (Hemingway 2214).

Helen has power in her relationship with Harry because he lies to make her happy. He says things out of habit and not comfort to please her. Harry feels like he has control since he is getting what he wants, but he does not realize he is compromising himself to get those things. Harry realizes that he is using Helen and is making the effort, while Helen is living her life blindly but peacefully.

Judy and Helen both have the power in their relationships with the public and romantically Judy and Helen are both well regarded in their communities. Judy comes from a wealthy family with maids and servants to help with tasks. Helen has made a name for herself through her wisdom and work ethic. She has an excellent shot that enables her to hunt well enough to get the best selection of meats.

Romantically, Judy can have any man she wants and often finds herself bored and needs to replace her current male companion for another. Her social standing is somewhat mixed due to her abundant amount of males in her life, but overall very acceptable. Helen is satisfied with Harry who will tell her anything to keep her happy. Judy has a different type of power from Helen, as well as a different style of using the power. Judy is straightforward about getting the man she wants. She does not like pushy men and she seems to like to pick them before they pick her.

Judy keeps the control in the relationship by replacing the current male figure for a new male figure. Judy can have dinner with one prospect male and abandon him throughout the night for another male. Judy asked Dexter to marry her after a break up of their previous relationship, a separation and years of time had passed. Dexter agreed, following a pattern that all previous men had also followed, and broke off his present relationship and engagement to Irene. After only one month had passed, Judy broke off the engagement and left him alone.

Dexter was left without Irene or Judy. "So he tasted the deep pain that is reserved only for the strong, just as he had tasted for a little while the deep happiness" (Fitzgerald 2141). Dexter found out years later Judy had married and had children with a man whom cheated on her. Helen was a woman of power because she was adventurous, educated and loving. She went on a hike with her companion to Kilimanjaro when Harry got a scrape on his leg. She did her best to clean the scrape with iodine but it was too diluted and the infection became very serious and eventually led to his death.

Throughout the journey leading to his death Helen stayed faithfully beside him doing the hunting and gathering as well as the nurturing. She supported Harry financially, mentally and physically. Helen and Judy are both strong women who have things that are similar and different. There differences in personality and how they were raised that, I don't believe, they would ever be friends. However, their similarities are common because they shared power towards men in very similar ways. They very easily could have dated similar kinds of men.

Work Cited F. Scott Fitzgerald. "Winter Dreams". 2003. The Norton Anthology of American Literature.

Shorter Sixth Edition. Nina Baym. Earnest Hemingway. "The Snow of Kilimanjaro". 2003. Shorter Sixth Edition.

Nina Baym.