character analysis of Julia in "A New Leaf" by Fitzgerald

character analysis of Julia in "A New Leaf" by Fitzgerald

“A New Leaf” was written by Scott Fitzgerald in 1931. In the center of the story is the figure of Julia Rose, who bears defeat in her fight with her illusion about life. She appears in an image of the young, beautiful and rich girl who, contrary to the public’s advice, falls in love with alcoholic Dick Ragland. During the story the author shows how Julia believes that her love changes Dick, but actually it is only her illusion. This story shows that people’s imaginations don’t always coincide with reality. The protagonist of the story is a round character whose fantasy about Dick provides its conflict. Throughout the story, Julia shows traits of being haughty as well as caring, but her strongest characteristic is that she is naive.
Although Julia is the protagonist of the story, she does have a definite flaw in characters, which is her haughtiness. She often shows an arrogant superiority to and disdain of those she views as unworthy. One example of her contempt comes in the beginning of the story when Phil describes Dick to her and she says that Dick seems like her. “’He’s [Dick] run through about everybody, until there’s no one left,’ said Phil. ’There’s me,’ said Julia. There was Julia, who was a little too good for anybody” (Fitzgerald 364). This passage reveals that Julia counts herself above others. To people who surround her, she has requirements that are very high. Thus, she implies that nobody is worthy to be near her. Even the way in which she talks with Dick when he apologizes that he came to her drunk indicates her disdainful attitude. “’I’m busy tomorrow’…’I’m sorry, I’m very busy this week’… ’Mr. Ragland, I hardly see the use of going any further with this. Really, that thing this morning was a little too much. I’m very sorry. I hope you feel better. Good-by’” (Fitzgerald 368). The tone that Julia uses in this dialogue illustrates a wounded feeling of vanity. She shows that she is too good for...