The ideological impact of the American Dream is enormous and unpredictable. The concept can evoke many diverse emotions, especially in creative people such as poets. Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes, two prominent figures of American poetry of the past, are of them. I Hear America Singing, I, Too, Harlem, and The Negro Speaks of Rivers are the emotional responses to the American Dream and societal processes relevant to those times. This work will analyze these 4 four poems representing the two sides of the United States (US) society, those who are already part of the American Dream and those who want to become one.
Themes
Whitman writes about rapidly growing and developing America in his work. Every person the author mentions goes toward their dream that belongs to him or her and none else through hard and honest work (Whitman). I, Too by Hughes is a belated response from the Black community, and it feels like a natural continuation of Whitmans poem. Hughes further discusses the meaning of the American Dream for Black people in Harlem. He also thinks about his and their historical significance in The Negro Speaks of Rivers.
Literary Devices
Whitmans use of literary devices makes his work sound like the carol he mentions or any other religious song. It includes frequent anaphors as well as enjambment as the whole poem is one hefty sentence (Whitman). Hughes also reinforces his message with anaphors and resorts to repetition ( Harlem ). He uses the apostrophe in I, Too and Harlem to address Whitman, the people he represents, and the audience.
Structure
The first stanzas in Whitmans poem have rhyme, but he then sacrifices it to give the audience a religious-like emotional effect. It is noteworthy that The Negro Speaks of Rivers is structurally similar to Whitmans one. However, Hughes uses the usual ABAB rhyme scheme in Harlem. The poetic style in I, Too is also closer to the standard verse structure. Whereas Whitman uses long sentences that stretch over many stanzas, Hughes uses short phrases.
Conclusion
This work examines four poems, one by Whitman and three by Hughes. Poets discuss the American Dream and the place of their communities in US society. However, their points of view in terms of social belonging are radically different. Whitman speaks for those already socially accepted to belong to the American Dream, and Hughes represents the Black community that wants to be a part of it.
The American dream holds that every American citizen should have equal chances to achieve success through determination, initiative, and hard work with minimal barriers. Re Jane novel is about Jane, an American Korean young lady trying to make it in life. However, as opposed to having a smooth transition from poverty to success in the American dream, Jane experiences many obstacles during her pursuit of excellence. Unlike other characters such as Sang, Ed, Nina, and Beth, who are positively living the American dream to some point, Jane is struggling to begin the success journey. Thus, living the American dream is almost impossible for most characters who are drawn back by economic or social factors.
Character Representation of the American Dream
Jane is a visionary and educated woman but, unfortunately, is not living the American dream. When Jane completed her college education, she expected to get employed by the Lowood Capital Partners, but following insider trading accusations to the CEO, the company froze the hiring chances. Jane was stuck to work with her uncle Sang in his grocery store, FOOD. Jane never envisioned life turning from graduating to working in a grocery store. Her dream was to work in a financial firm and shape her success accordingly.
Janes struggles to achieve success begin immediately after her graduation, and the obstacles follow her throughout her life in the story. Jane works in Sangs store while hoping to land a better job but later becomes a nanny to Devon (Park 43). Jane still does not find her dream job but later goes to Seoul for her grandfathers funeral. Upon returning to New York, Jane finds a real-estate job and settles for it. In other words, Jane never experienced the American dream or the life she expected after graduating. Her social life is also troubled because apart from having problematic romantic relationships, Jane is also struggling between having good nunchi and living her life on her terms.
A few characters, including Sang, Devon, and Janes grandfather, are living the American dream or are on the right path to achieving it. Sang is happily married, has a positive social life, and is a successful food store owner (Park 4). Although Jane does not find FOOD life fancy, it is soul-fulfilling for her uncle, Sang. Devon, Mazer-Farleyss adopted Chinese daughter, is living the American dream. Devon, whose parents are professors, attends a good school, is loved by her parents and her nanny, Jane, and lives in an adorable home. Thus, even though Devon has not yet made it in life, she is on the right path to making it.
Janes grandfather also is illustrated to have lived the American dream. After opening a store with the financial help of Sang, the grandfather had a successful store and managed to give his family some money. Upon his death, Jane mentions that the grandfather left her $100 000 and more money to his children, including sang. Nina has also struggled to live her dream but has finally located a real-estate job which, unlike Jane, meets her job dream. Nina is a supportive young woman to her friend Jane and lives a positive social life.
The Mazer-Farleys are halfway towards achieving the American dream. Beth and Ed are Brooklyn English professors, have an adopted daughter, can afford to hire a nanny, and live in Eds parents inherited house (Park 46). However, the couple has romance issues and ends up getting divorced. Ed starts dating Jane, but the relationship does not live long either. In other words, the social part of the Mazer-Farleys prevents them from achieving their social goals.
Justification for Characters Actions
It is possible to justify the actions of the various characters depending on their desire to achieve the American dream. Janes desire to become a financial firm employee in the World Trade Center was doomed when the region was attacked by the 9/11 terrorist event (Park 128). Jane has to find a way to live and grow her way up to a successful life. She, therefore, has no choice but to take the available job, including being a nanny. When a better job opportunity presents itself, Jane grabs it without a second thought. She becomes a real-estate employee even though it is not her dream job.
Nina understands the tussle involved with job searching in New York. She encourages Jane when she settles for a lesser job, The economys total crap. It wasnt anything like when we started college. You kind of feel lucky to have a job at all (Park 248). Nina is also struggling to find a job in the deteriorating economy and understands that finding a job is luck. From the same perspective, Sang and his father had to begin businesses that, according to their visions, helped them to live their dreams. The Mazer-Farleys may be well up and enjoy their dream success but had to romantically separate to protect their peace. From their perspective, the true American dream is only achieved when one has freedom and peace in life. That way, they will live happily and help Devons dream to come to reality.
Janes Life in New York and Seoul
Jane spent a significant part of her life in New York and Seoul during the story. A major similarity in Janes life in both regions is that she was troubled to find her self-identity. When Jane started working for her uncle Sang, she was taught the strict culture of nunchi, which was expected to define her, but she wanted the freedom to self-identify (Park 3). Equally, Jane found it difficult to self-identify in Seoul, where she had to learn Korean culture, which also never allowed her to live up to her expectations. In both areas, Jane was pressured by life because she never lived up to her personal and societal expectations.
The main difference is that Jane had a chance to live her dreams in New York than in Seoul. In New York, Jane was realizing her abilities and interests and living a better life on her terms compared to when in Seoul. To her, Seoul felt more like a school in which she had to learn everything about her roots (Park 132). New York life is better for Jane because she has a high chance of becoming whom she visions. After all, there are many job opportunities and free social life compared to Seoul. When she is in New York, Jane is more focused on achieving success no matter which job, even when it is not her dream job. Unlike her Seoul friends, who barely understand her dream, Jane has the most supportive friend in New York who pushes her to achieve her goals. Nina is an example of Janes friends who want her to succeed and understand the flaws in her social life.
Conclusion
Janes life conditions, especially economic, political, and social factors, make it difficult for her to live the American dream. She crawls between being a store employee to a nanny and finally a real-estate worker. Jane, like other characters thirsts for a better life, but she has accepted the chance of never achieving it. The economic conditions in New York and Seoul justify the kind of choices the characters have to make to achieve the American dream. Janes life in New York and Seoul helps her self-identify, and as she accepts to balance both cultures, she is better in New York.
The concept of the American Dream is one that can be found without difficulty in many of Arthur Millers dramas. Miller frequently writes his protagonists as a man who is desperately in search of his own American Dream, and often the main (or underlying) theme of Millers work concerns this protagonists downfall is the result of his constant search and inevitable failure to realize this Dream. This way, he shows how false this concept is, often built on illusions and paradoxes, and when people try to achieve the Dream, they often lose a whole lot more in the process: things which are invaluable such as their morality, ethical values, and family unit. In this paper, we begin by briefly discussing the American Dream and how its ideals and values contrast with family values, after which we move on to an in-depth discussion of three of how Miller displays this in three of his plays, Death of a Salesman, All My Sons and The Man Who Had All the Luck.
The American Dream
The concept of the American Dream is based upon the idea that any manwhether he is a poor and uneducated immigrant who has just placed his two feet on American soil or a well-to-do businessman from a white-collar familycan create his own destiny through a belief in his own abilities and hard work. Whether a man is a chimneysweeper, a magician, an artist, or an inventor, if he hones his skills to distinguish himself in his field and works as hard as he can, he will rise above the rest. And as his reward, he will, of course, become wealthy, but he will also gain respect from every sector of society.
This was a concept that exploded in popularity of belief and American culture during the great immigrant boom of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century when icons like Horatio Alger, J.P. Morgan, and John Rockefeller publicized it in their own particular ways. In fact, the most general definition of the term first appears in what was then viewed as a common history book published in 1931 called The Epic of America by James Truslow Adams. He writes, &there has also been the American Dream, that Dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement&It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position (404).
The term American Dream is today usually said in the context of immigrants; the phrases living the Dream or pursuing the American Dream are also used to refer to native-born Americans. Generally, it is the concept that ones prosperity and success are determined by how hard their work and how competent one are, and not by a rigid social hierarchy. Still, over the period of time, the meaning has evolved, and people view it in different ways. Some perceive it to be the greater opportunity to succeed which they find exists in America as compared to their native countries; others look at it as the chance their children have to grow up with adequate education as well as professional opportunities, yet others view it as an opportunity to grow up without any racial, social, or ethnic barriers.
The American Dream: In line with Individual/Family Values?
The American Dream has set standards which in reality are very difficult to achieve. In fact, they are extremely difficult to achieve along with comfortable, secure family life, with ones ethics and morals intact. As Millers characters grapple with the realities of an industrialized world, similarly today, the world has become extremely cutthroat and fast paced, where in order to keep up with the rat race, people often have to compromise on the very aspects they are working towards. Society has become obsessed with consumerism, and inflationary pressures have made sure that people are constantly uneasy with whatever level of material wealth they might have managed to secure.
Climbing the economic ladder has become extremely difficult, and as Lende (2007) quoted, [Working families] belief in that mythical dream that has sustained so many generations for so long is fading faster than sunlight on a December afternoon. Research conducted by Lake Research Partners showed that nearly 50 percent held the exceedingly gloomy view that todays children would be worse off when the time comes for them to enter the world of work and raise their own families. With such anxiety about their economic future, the struggle to keep up with changing economic realities, and the growing income inequalities have led to a large percentage of the population simply making do with the best they can get. The rising cost of education, health care, a deteriorating environment, and more intense competition for natural resources has led to more dissatisfaction and discontentment.
In such an environment, one of the things which have had to suffer is the family unit because todays society poses many conflicts between the pursuit of success, as per the American Dream, and ones individual and family values. Success has become difficult to attain, and there are many hurdles that come in ones way. Values are often one of these obstacles, and the choices one makes determine the path his or her life will take. More often than not, the path to material comfort requires the sacrifice of traditional family values. In Millers plays, this point is stated via the stories he tells about his main protagonists, as will now be discussed.
Death of a Salesman
Willy Loman is a staunch believer in what he considers to be the lure of the American Dream, which is that a businessman who is a well-liked and personally attractive man will definitely attain the material goods and comforts which modern American life has to offer. Ironically, he is obsessed with superficial characteristics such as attractiveness and likeability, which goes against the actual concept of the American Dream, which rewards effort and hard work with success. He is completely fixated with the superficial things, exemplified, for instance by his dislike of Bernard because he regards him as a nerd. Willy has a distorted vision of the American Dream, and he has such blind faith in this inaccurate vision that it leads to his mental disturbance when he is not able to accept how the Dream is at odds with his own life.
Willie spent his whole life chasing the American Dream. As tradition went, the Dream meant that everyone had opportunities and the right to freedom, and this is also what Willy believed. But however hard he worked, he felt he did not earn everything that he had wanted to achieve or deserved to earn. His criteria for judging success, his own as well as everyone elses, was by the material wealth they had managed to accumulate, as going by the concepts of capitalism and protestant work ethic. The latter proposes that in the eyes of God, work and accumulation are signs of favor. So Willy felt he had to amass wealth and material objects so that he could please God and himself.
Willy was living in a society that was extremely consumer-oriented, and he could not live the American Dream because of this factor. He is obsessed with accumulating material things, and this fascination makes him crave for objects that he does not have a need for, and neither can he afford them. For example, he thinks he has to buy his wife new stockings and a new refrigerator even though she is satisfied with what they have currently. As he makes attempts to live the American Dream, he admires people who have been successful in this regard, such as Thomas Edison, B. F. Goodrich, and even Ben, his successful brother.
Also, those who did not chase the American Dream or try hard enough to achieve it, he does not think too highly of them and punished his son Biff because he is one of those. His obsession with the Dream leads him to become disillusioned and form a distorted sense of reality. He has his own reality where he knocked em cold in Providence and slaughtered em in Boston. This mental imbalance ultimately leads to his suicide, a death that was the result of misconstrued ideas.
The ironic part was that while Willy was idealistic, what eventually killed him was that he was chasing the American Dream but had completely lost focus of what the real goals of this Dream were: happiness and freedom. He was constantly struggling to be something he wasnt and achieve something that he couldnt, as he did not have the talent and ability to be a successful salesman. He was talented at carpentry, but his obsession with living the Dream made him discontent and unable to be satisfied with his talents and his family. He is obsessed with the version of American success in his head, and the Dream ultimately becomes a nightmare, and he becomes its victim.
All My Sons
All My Sons is another of Arthur Millers plays. It is based on the character of Joe Keller, who is a typical American. He is a successful middle-aged man, who has lived through the Depression. He is not educated, but his hard work has led to his success today as he owns a factory which he wants his son to inherit after him and lives in a comfortable house. But he has done a terrible act in the past: when World War II was happening, in a hurry to meet an order from the Army and prevent his factory from going bankrupt, he sold them substandard and defective airplane components, knowingly, and this caused the plane to crash and the death of 21 American pilots. At the time, he managed to frame his business partner for this criminal act and worked things out in a way that none of the blame fell on him. However, now his son is marrying that partners daughter. This leads to light being shed on this incident of the past, and the lie that Keller had based his whole life on is finally caught.
In this play, Miller tells the story of how the American Dream has gone terribly awry, in the way that a single-minded focus on acquiring wealth wreaks such havoc. He shows his readers how hollow the American Dream is and that one should always think about the consequences of our actions. Keller has worked very hard to provide his family with material comfort even though he was an uneducated man. But the material wealth which he and his family have today is quite meaningless.
While it appears that he has a nice family with two children and they live in a nice house, in reality, his family is undergoing a lot of suffering as his wife is ill, one of his sons is highly discontent and the other has committed suicide because of what his father did all those years ago. A letter which Larry wrote prior to killing himself shows Keller how wrong he has been, as though his one selfish, reprehensible act, he has not just killed one son but all of them. This is the recurring theme throughout the play, also the reason for the plays title. This means that he has to understand that the pilots that were killed in the War because of the defective parts he sold were also his sons, and he must take responsibility for his heinous act. This storyline of taking responsibility for ones actions is common to almost every character in All My Sons.
At the same time, this play also shows how the American Dream has now become more similar to an American Nightmare because it is built upon many paradoxes and illusions. The world has become a dishonest one, and in order to acquire wealth and a comfortable existence, one is often required, forced even, to make compromises. Kellers justification for selling defective parts was that he just wanted to keep his family happy by earning enough wealth. In the end, Kellers guilt leads him to commit suicide because he just wants to escape from the terrible act that he committed. He was also so obsessed with the American dream of success that he became its victim. When Freedman (1971, p.85) discussed All My Sons and Death of a Salesman, he said, The first records the destruction that comes to the successful man in America, for success came to him only through criminality; the second records the destruction that comes to the unsuccessful man who has dedicated himself to pursuing only the appearances of American success.
The Man Who Had All the Luck
The Man Who Had All the Luck is another play by Arthur Miller, based on the lead character of David Beeves, a young automobile mechanic who finds out that he is blessed with amazing luck, almost supernaturally so, which makes it possible for him to get over every problem or obstacle in his life, no matter how impossible, even when other people are not able to do the same. His fortune can be likened to that of Midas, where everything he comes into contact with turns to gold. He often wonders if and when his luck will change, and then he will also have to deal with problems and tragedies that come in his path. Eventually, he comes to the realization that his hard work, quick thinking and good intentions have played a bigger role in his success rather than just luck.
As the earlier discussion showed, Miller has exhibited the vainness and hollowness of this Dream of success. Joe Keller and Willy Loman were both struggling to attain or retain material comforts: Joe was a successful businessman while Wiley was an unsuccessful salesman. What Miller has shown, however is that while traditionally the American Dream was a possibility for anyone willing to put in hard work and effort, in this capitalistic, industrialist, dog-eat-dog society, success has become equal to survival of the fittest and this often means a compromise of ethical values. In The Man Who Had All the Luck, David is also pursuing success in the mink business similar to Keller and Loman in their respective professions. But David is not as desperate as these characters, as is shown in the scene where he explains to Hester why he is so devoted to the mink business, he says, I dont want you to worry, Hess. I promised youd live like a queen, remember?
As Miller (1957) says, The law of success is in sharp contrast to the system of love, and he believes that this conflict between the two is a major theme in his plays. In Death of a Salesman, Biff represents the system of love, and this conflict causes Wileys mental health to suffer. Because when the law of success is mixed with family, it conflicts with the ethical foundations in the family, which is what Miller refers to by system of love. As he creates storylines where there are elements of family drama, he tries to depict humans as social entities as well as individuals. In All My Sons, Joes conflict with his son Chris is an example of the system of love while in The Man Who Had All the Luck, Hester represents this concept. However, in the latter play, the theme of the Dream of success is a secondary or almost-hidden theme, with the play mostly focused on how invisible good luck beyond mans capacity, hard work or effort has the power to shape his life. Still, the play does manage to depict in a different way than the other two plays how the American Dream contradicts family values and leads to the downfall of the family unit.
Conclusion
As the discussion above shows, Arthur Miller has showed in his plays how the concept of the American Dream is completely at odds with the traditional family values and leads to the downfall of the family unit. Wiley Loman, Joe Keller and David Beeves are the protagonists who are pursuing success, and find out how acquisition of material wealth often leads to losses that can never be recovered. All of them are seeking the Dream of success, but this eventually leads to the downfall of their family lives because of the many compromises and conflicts which come in their path to success.
References
Adams, J. T. The Epic of America. London: George Routledge, 1931.
Freedman, Morris. American Drama in Social Context. Carbondale and Edwardsville: Southern Illinois Univ. Press, 1971.
Miller, Arthur. The Man Who Had All the Luck. London: Penguin Books, 2004.
Miller, Arthur. Collected Plays. New York: Viking Press, 1957.
Miller, Arthur. Introduction to the Collected Plays, Collected Plays. New York: Viking Press, 1957.
Oikawa, Masahiro. Terror of Failure and Guilt for Success : The American Dream in the Great Depression and Arthur Millers The Man Who Had All the Luck. Ritsumeikan Annual Review of International Studies, 3, (2004): 117-139.
The Tortilla Curtain: American Dream is a book by Thomas Coraghessan Boyle about two families from different cultural and social backgrounds but living in the same community in the United States. The story takes place is Los Angeles, California. The wealthy family represents the legal natives, while the poor one represents the illegal immigrants from Mexico.
Though one might assume that the two families have nothing in common in their cultural beliefs, the author can bring out some cultural similarities between the two. This essay will, therefore, compare and contrast the cultural differences between the two families highlighted by T.Boyle in his book.
Summary of The Tortilla Curtain
Boyle introduces Delaney Mossbacher portraying him as a wealthy American who resides in California. He has hit a man with his car who is later introduced as Candido Rincon. Delaney, who represents the wealthy class, describes Rincon as having red-flecked eyes and rotten teeth and goes on to admit that his utmost worry is the damage caused to his car (Boyle 23). He is relieved when he finds out that Candido is still alive though in an awful condition.
The two do not seem to understand each other at first as both speak different languages. However, Candido can pick out the offer by Delaney to take him to the hospital, which he adamantly declines. All he wants is money to which Delaney hands him a twenty-dollar bill, and they each go their own way (Boyle 30).
The author highlights the struggles of Candido after the accident. He is unable to feed his family due to the injuries incurred. He cannot get a job anymore at the local work exchange, where he temporarily worked before the crash. Delaney, on the other hand, is also experiencing problems.
A coyote has killed one of his treasured pet dogs, and he is not taking the matter lightly. Besides, the community wall has just been brought down by a fire caused by Candido.
Cultural Similarities Depicted
Racism is one of the cultural similarities prevalent in the Tortilla Curtain.. Analysis shows that the theme is present in all of the chapters in the novel and in most instances, brought out by the author. Delaney portrays his hatred against the Mexicans whom he views as illegal immigrants. For him, they are people from a different class, and this is evident when he tells his lawyer that Candido would not likely sue him as he had given him $ 20 blood money and that Hes a Mexican (Boyle 36).
The fact that he is just a Mexican console his guilty conscience of subjecting him to so much pain when he hit him with his car. Likewise, America comes into contact with Mary on her first day at work, and she describes her as dirty and poverty-stricken . However, America argues that it is not fair for Mary to be searching for a similar job as she was an American.
The two scenarios draw a similar conclusion based on racial prejudice. Delaneys character of viewing people outside his social class as not being worth any attention correlates to the idea of Americas belief that anyone who is not an illegal immigrant is rich and capable of fending themselves without having to struggle.
The other cultural similarity brought out is the height of problems experienced by the two couples. Candido is depressed since he is on the border of poverty. He can no longer cater for his familys needs and is forced to go to the street to look for food. Similarly, Delaney is also depressed as a coyote has just killed his dog. Though the level of problems seems to differ, each person is bothered and distressed by the tragedy.
Cultural Differences Depicted
The cultural difference between the two families is introduced by the author as a theme describing the role of gender in the community. Both families live a different lifestyle in the same community. They both view and interpret the role of women in society differently.
When America decides to take up a job to help bring food to the table, Candido feels ashamed and threatened by her action. He does not seem to take it kindly that a woman should be the one feeding her family while the man is present. On the contrary, Delaney does not seem to be bothered by the fact that his wife Kyra, a real agent, is the breadwinner of the family.
The cultural difference can be attributed to the level of education that each Tortilla Curtains character possesses and the different social classes. Delaney appears to have education, and he even writes in the local nature magazine as opposed to Candido, who has been described as an illegal immigrant trying to live the American dream (Boyle 42).
On the other hand, Candido is depicted as living on the edge and struggling to make ends meet while Delaney hails from the middle-class clan in California. These two opposing characters view the culture of allowing women to work for them differently.
The other cultural difference shown in The Tortilla Curtain: American Dream is their cultural beliefs regarding luck. Both seem to interpret their lives differently. The Rincons seem to be more superstitious, attributing it to their unluckiness.
They blame nature for giving them bad luck in their life. They believe that their life is the way it is because they are immigrants and not Americans. This is contrary to the Mossbachers family, who instead blames other people for their downfall. Delaney, for example, blames the Mexicans for littering the city and making his life unbearable.
Conclusion
Contrasting and comparing cultural differences can be challenging but exciting if the reader understands the concept of the book. The Tortilla Curtain: American Dream discusses the role of the rich versus the poor in an intelligent manner. The poor are the immigrants who are from a different social class from the natives.
They both have a culture that they believe in, but their beliefs are influenced by the social classes that they are both in (Ainslie 23). T. Coraghessan Boyle can bring out these cultural differences and similarities in both families brilliantly. In summary, Tortilla Curtain is a book worth reading.
Works Cited
Ainslie, Ricardo. Social Class and its Reproduction in immigrants Construction of Self. Psychoanalysis, Culture and Society. 2009: 213-224. Print.
Boyle, Coraghessan T. The Tortilla Curtain. New York: Viking Press, 1995. Print.
The concept of the American Dream is one that can be found without difficulty in many of Arthur Millers dramas. Miller frequently writes his protagonists as a man who is desperately in search of his own American Dream, and often the main (or underlying) theme of Millers work concerns this protagonists downfall is the result of his constant search and inevitable failure to realize this Dream. This way, he shows how false this concept is, often built on illusions and paradoxes, and when people try to achieve the Dream, they often lose a whole lot more in the process: things which are invaluable such as their morality, ethical values, and family unit. In this paper, we begin by briefly discussing the American Dream and how its ideals and values contrast with family values, after which we move on to an in-depth discussion of three of how Miller displays this in three of his plays, Death of a Salesman, All My Sons and The Man Who Had All the Luck.
The American Dream
The concept of the American Dream is based upon the idea that any manwhether he is a poor and uneducated immigrant who has just placed his two feet on American soil or a well-to-do businessman from a white-collar familycan create his own destiny through a belief in his own abilities and hard work. Whether a man is a chimneysweeper, a magician, an artist, or an inventor, if he hones his skills to distinguish himself in his field and works as hard as he can, he will rise above the rest. And as his reward, he will, of course, become wealthy, but he will also gain respect from every sector of society.
This was a concept that exploded in popularity of belief and American culture during the great immigrant boom of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century when icons like Horatio Alger, J.P. Morgan, and John Rockefeller publicized it in their own particular ways. In fact, the most general definition of the term first appears in what was then viewed as a common history book published in 1931 called The Epic of America by James Truslow Adams. He writes, &there has also been the American Dream, that Dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement&It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position (404).
The term American Dream is today usually said in the context of immigrants; the phrases living the Dream or pursuing the American Dream are also used to refer to native-born Americans. Generally, it is the concept that ones prosperity and success are determined by how hard their work and how competent one are, and not by a rigid social hierarchy. Still, over the period of time, the meaning has evolved, and people view it in different ways. Some perceive it to be the greater opportunity to succeed which they find exists in America as compared to their native countries; others look at it as the chance their children have to grow up with adequate education as well as professional opportunities, yet others view it as an opportunity to grow up without any racial, social, or ethnic barriers.
The American Dream: In line with Individual/Family Values?
The American Dream has set standards which in reality are very difficult to achieve. In fact, they are extremely difficult to achieve along with comfortable, secure family life, with ones ethics and morals intact. As Millers characters grapple with the realities of an industrialized world, similarly today, the world has become extremely cutthroat and fast paced, where in order to keep up with the rat race, people often have to compromise on the very aspects they are working towards. Society has become obsessed with consumerism, and inflationary pressures have made sure that people are constantly uneasy with whatever level of material wealth they might have managed to secure.
Climbing the economic ladder has become extremely difficult, and as Lende (2007) quoted, [Working families] belief in that mythical dream that has sustained so many generations for so long is fading faster than sunlight on a December afternoon. Research conducted by Lake Research Partners showed that nearly 50 percent held the exceedingly gloomy view that todays children would be worse off when the time comes for them to enter the world of work and raise their own families. With such anxiety about their economic future, the struggle to keep up with changing economic realities, and the growing income inequalities have led to a large percentage of the population simply making do with the best they can get. The rising cost of education, health care, a deteriorating environment, and more intense competition for natural resources has led to more dissatisfaction and discontentment.
In such an environment, one of the things which have had to suffer is the family unit because todays society poses many conflicts between the pursuit of success, as per the American Dream, and ones individual and family values. Success has become difficult to attain, and there are many hurdles that come in ones way. Values are often one of these obstacles, and the choices one makes determine the path his or her life will take. More often than not, the path to material comfort requires the sacrifice of traditional family values. In Millers plays, this point is stated via the stories he tells about his main protagonists, as will now be discussed.
Death of a Salesman
Willy Loman is a staunch believer in what he considers to be the lure of the American Dream, which is that a businessman who is a well-liked and personally attractive man will definitely attain the material goods and comforts which modern American life has to offer. Ironically, he is obsessed with superficial characteristics such as attractiveness and likeability, which goes against the actual concept of the American Dream, which rewards effort and hard work with success. He is completely fixated with the superficial things, exemplified, for instance by his dislike of Bernard because he regards him as a nerd. Willy has a distorted vision of the American Dream, and he has such blind faith in this inaccurate vision that it leads to his mental disturbance when he is not able to accept how the Dream is at odds with his own life.
Willie spent his whole life chasing the American Dream. As tradition went, the Dream meant that everyone had opportunities and the right to freedom, and this is also what Willy believed. But however hard he worked, he felt he did not earn everything that he had wanted to achieve or deserved to earn. His criteria for judging success, his own as well as everyone elses, was by the material wealth they had managed to accumulate, as going by the concepts of capitalism and protestant work ethic. The latter proposes that in the eyes of God, work and accumulation are signs of favor. So Willy felt he had to amass wealth and material objects so that he could please God and himself.
Willy was living in a society that was extremely consumer-oriented, and he could not live the American Dream because of this factor. He is obsessed with accumulating material things, and this fascination makes him crave for objects that he does not have a need for, and neither can he afford them. For example, he thinks he has to buy his wife new stockings and a new refrigerator even though she is satisfied with what they have currently. As he makes attempts to live the American Dream, he admires people who have been successful in this regard, such as Thomas Edison, B. F. Goodrich, and even Ben, his successful brother.
Also, those who did not chase the American Dream or try hard enough to achieve it, he does not think too highly of them and punished his son Biff because he is one of those. His obsession with the Dream leads him to become disillusioned and form a distorted sense of reality. He has his own reality where he knocked em cold in Providence and slaughtered em in Boston. This mental imbalance ultimately leads to his suicide, a death that was the result of misconstrued ideas.
The ironic part was that while Willy was idealistic, what eventually killed him was that he was chasing the American Dream but had completely lost focus of what the real goals of this Dream were: happiness and freedom. He was constantly struggling to be something he wasnt and achieve something that he couldnt, as he did not have the talent and ability to be a successful salesman. He was talented at carpentry, but his obsession with living the Dream made him discontent and unable to be satisfied with his talents and his family. He is obsessed with the version of American success in his head, and the Dream ultimately becomes a nightmare, and he becomes its victim.
All My Sons
All My Sons is another of Arthur Millers plays. It is based on the character of Joe Keller, who is a typical American. He is a successful middle-aged man, who has lived through the Depression. He is not educated, but his hard work has led to his success today as he owns a factory which he wants his son to inherit after him and lives in a comfortable house. But he has done a terrible act in the past: when World War II was happening, in a hurry to meet an order from the Army and prevent his factory from going bankrupt, he sold them substandard and defective airplane components, knowingly, and this caused the plane to crash and the death of 21 American pilots. At the time, he managed to frame his business partner for this criminal act and worked things out in a way that none of the blame fell on him. However, now his son is marrying that partners daughter. This leads to light being shed on this incident of the past, and the lie that Keller had based his whole life on is finally caught.
In this play, Miller tells the story of how the American Dream has gone terribly awry, in the way that a single-minded focus on acquiring wealth wreaks such havoc. He shows his readers how hollow the American Dream is and that one should always think about the consequences of our actions. Keller has worked very hard to provide his family with material comfort even though he was an uneducated man. But the material wealth which he and his family have today is quite meaningless.
While it appears that he has a nice family with two children and they live in a nice house, in reality, his family is undergoing a lot of suffering as his wife is ill, one of his sons is highly discontent and the other has committed suicide because of what his father did all those years ago. A letter which Larry wrote prior to killing himself shows Keller how wrong he has been, as though his one selfish, reprehensible act, he has not just killed one son but all of them. This is the recurring theme throughout the play, also the reason for the plays title. This means that he has to understand that the pilots that were killed in the War because of the defective parts he sold were also his sons, and he must take responsibility for his heinous act. This storyline of taking responsibility for ones actions is common to almost every character in All My Sons.
At the same time, this play also shows how the American Dream has now become more similar to an American Nightmare because it is built upon many paradoxes and illusions. The world has become a dishonest one, and in order to acquire wealth and a comfortable existence, one is often required, forced even, to make compromises. Kellers justification for selling defective parts was that he just wanted to keep his family happy by earning enough wealth. In the end, Kellers guilt leads him to commit suicide because he just wants to escape from the terrible act that he committed. He was also so obsessed with the American dream of success that he became its victim. When Freedman (1971, p.85) discussed All My Sons and Death of a Salesman, he said, The first records the destruction that comes to the successful man in America, for success came to him only through criminality; the second records the destruction that comes to the unsuccessful man who has dedicated himself to pursuing only the appearances of American success.
The Man Who Had All the Luck
The Man Who Had All the Luck is another play by Arthur Miller, based on the lead character of David Beeves, a young automobile mechanic who finds out that he is blessed with amazing luck, almost supernaturally so, which makes it possible for him to get over every problem or obstacle in his life, no matter how impossible, even when other people are not able to do the same. His fortune can be likened to that of Midas, where everything he comes into contact with turns to gold. He often wonders if and when his luck will change, and then he will also have to deal with problems and tragedies that come in his path. Eventually, he comes to the realization that his hard work, quick thinking and good intentions have played a bigger role in his success rather than just luck.
As the earlier discussion showed, Miller has exhibited the vainness and hollowness of this Dream of success. Joe Keller and Willy Loman were both struggling to attain or retain material comforts: Joe was a successful businessman while Wiley was an unsuccessful salesman. What Miller has shown, however is that while traditionally the American Dream was a possibility for anyone willing to put in hard work and effort, in this capitalistic, industrialist, dog-eat-dog society, success has become equal to survival of the fittest and this often means a compromise of ethical values. In The Man Who Had All the Luck, David is also pursuing success in the mink business similar to Keller and Loman in their respective professions. But David is not as desperate as these characters, as is shown in the scene where he explains to Hester why he is so devoted to the mink business, he says, I dont want you to worry, Hess. I promised youd live like a queen, remember?
As Miller (1957) says, The law of success is in sharp contrast to the system of love, and he believes that this conflict between the two is a major theme in his plays. In Death of a Salesman, Biff represents the system of love, and this conflict causes Wileys mental health to suffer. Because when the law of success is mixed with family, it conflicts with the ethical foundations in the family, which is what Miller refers to by system of love. As he creates storylines where there are elements of family drama, he tries to depict humans as social entities as well as individuals. In All My Sons, Joes conflict with his son Chris is an example of the system of love while in The Man Who Had All the Luck, Hester represents this concept. However, in the latter play, the theme of the Dream of success is a secondary or almost-hidden theme, with the play mostly focused on how invisible good luck beyond mans capacity, hard work or effort has the power to shape his life. Still, the play does manage to depict in a different way than the other two plays how the American Dream contradicts family values and leads to the downfall of the family unit.
Conclusion
As the discussion above shows, Arthur Miller has showed in his plays how the concept of the American Dream is completely at odds with the traditional family values and leads to the downfall of the family unit. Wiley Loman, Joe Keller and David Beeves are the protagonists who are pursuing success, and find out how acquisition of material wealth often leads to losses that can never be recovered. All of them are seeking the Dream of success, but this eventually leads to the downfall of their family lives because of the many compromises and conflicts which come in their path to success.
References
Adams, J. T. The Epic of America. London: George Routledge, 1931.
Freedman, Morris. American Drama in Social Context. Carbondale and Edwardsville: Southern Illinois Univ. Press, 1971.
Miller, Arthur. The Man Who Had All the Luck. London: Penguin Books, 2004.
Miller, Arthur. Collected Plays. New York: Viking Press, 1957.
Miller, Arthur. Introduction to the Collected Plays, Collected Plays. New York: Viking Press, 1957.
Oikawa, Masahiro. Terror of Failure and Guilt for Success : The American Dream in the Great Depression and Arthur Millers The Man Who Had All the Luck. Ritsumeikan Annual Review of International Studies, 3, (2004): 117-139.
All around us stories abound of how people struggle to attain the American dream. Wherever we go everybody wants to have a piece of this life and as a result, it has been the inspiration behind most of these great achievements in our lives. After watching Walt Disneys Cinderella and Ron Howards Cinderella Man, I became interested to analyze the process of the American dream, how the different genders work towards attaining them and what the society expects of every gender.
Comparing these two movies one comes to one very important conclusion; that a man has to struggle, act to lift himself and his family from the vestiges of poverty to becoming rich. This status is equaled to the American dream. This is in contrast to the woman, who like in Cinderellas case she is passive and waits for miracles in order to finally live the dream.
There are many ways to explain this concept, and many a times people have tried to break it down according to their understanding of the ethos. Listening to stories of big time multi millionaires or even billionaires and how they made it all the way from scratch may not be enough to make one understand the American dream.
The real surprise is how the actual dream is attained. Smith describes the American Dream as an idea, which suggests that all people can succeed through hard work and that all people have the potential to live happily, astride with their success in life (Hoobler, 63).
This, however, is a short description of what the dream entails, but he fails to mention the other cognitive factors at play that may propel or hinder one from living this dream, for instance gender and the society. There are many viewpoints towards which people relate to this dream; this has been redefined over time courtesy of the ever changing social and cultural norms in the American society.
The bigger picture
In order for us to gain a broader perspective into the idea that bore the ethos that is the American dream, we first delve into what, when and where it was originally launched. The idea is a philosophy that was founded by Americas forefathers, who enshrined it in their constitution as a matter of declaration of independence (Leo, 12).
This philosophy states that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights including Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness It is by these virtues that America has identified its statesmen, loyalists, heroes and the people that struggle daily to ensure that America remains the haven it is (Leo, 12). Many other people have tried to define the American dream and expound on their understanding of the philosophy.
James Truslow in his definition and understanding of the term explains that with the American dream, life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of birth (Hoobler, 24).
This is what has motivated the Americans to be the best in what they do, to provide the best to their people and embrace democracy full throttle. In this paper, I will analyze the different mirrors through which gender has played a huge role defining how the male and the female of our species are working towards attaining the dream.
To help us bring out the clear disparities that be, which almost always are the societal standards in most cases or rather the path through which man goes through, we shall analyze two different pieces of art. These are movies which were presented to various audiences over time, and their main agenda is one; the American dream.
The first movie, Cinderella man highlights the struggles man has to go through to get whenever his ambitions and dreams beseech him to be. The other movie called Cinderella was directed by Clyde Geronimi, it highlights and points out the womans role in the dream.
These two directors lead us through the different experiences and lifestyles the characters have gone through. There are obviously divergent perspectives on issues and the different social expectations they bear although they have one aspect that is common to the both of them; The American dream. This is the real motivation behind their daily struggles, and whatever they pass through in their struggles, it is the promise of the American dream that keeps them strong and going.
Walt Disneys Cinderella
In this classic story, we follow the tale of a beautiful girl who undergoes a torturous journey through life with her step family. She is hated, scorned and despised by even her family members. She is subject to her familys inclination, whatever it would be. This goes on until when her fairy godmother intercepts and helps her.
She makes her meet a handsome bride who comes along her path in life, falls in love and proposes to her. They get married and live happily thereafter. The movie is one of the most famous to have been used through time, and as such has sparked scholars interest to read it through, analyze and research on what it is about the book that continues to fascinate people across the different races and generations. Its universality and timelessness have also contributed to its popularity.
The story is pulled off from far- fetched context but the main idea revolves around the American dream. In her books, Disney creates a world that is beyond the real, with bigger parameters about the boundaries of life. It a wonder world, one that critics and fanatics a like claim was the perfect mirror for the American dream. Others just call it the perfect American dream (Ted 13).
Though a good number of people (the critics) feel that the world is fake, claiming that it is just a fickle of a persons imagination, it has been a sanctuary of hope and for most the inspiration behind their daily struggles.
To the critics, fanatics urge that there is no better presentation or any other means through which the dream has been so deeply yet vividly embodied, they urge that we live at a time when the American dream is getting bigger and bigger yet the platform to attain it is quickly eroding. This is attributed to the fact that the original ideas and the fundamental principals that founded the dream are quickly fading away given the changing fortunes of the average American.
Through Cinderella, Disney creates in us a platform where we revive our child hood dreams; we revisit our former worlds and the comforts they present in the midst of the confusion that surrounds us. Disney world provides a platform where families, friends and relatives meet once in a while. The comfortable and soothing atmosphere makes them to part with their sorrows and their myriad problems.
The movies and the soothing atmosphere provide an ample opportunity for one to revisit his fantasies. Much as Disneyworld is an artificial place, it still attracts people from far and wide, and researchers attribute this to its physicality. It is the peoples imitation of Disney world and their unwavering desire to attain and live the dream that compels them to work so hard (Lloyd, 16).
Ron Howards Cinderella Man and the American dream
Ron Howard has also directed a play that revolves around the American dream. His is a male character who, at the end of everything achieves the goal to see his wife and children live and operate within the world he worked so hard to build (Hoobler, 24).
His attainment of the American dream is however different from Clydes Cinderella because he has to bear the worst of circumstances and, undergoes the worst of situations to attain it.
In Cinderella man the play sets out to explore the life of a boxer, James Walter Braddock. Initially, we meet James doing well, he has everything he needs. This, however is short lived since sometime later he loses everything he has thanks to the great depression that swept the region he was operating in then.
He lost all he had, but this was not enough to pin him down to poverty, or living a low life; not even a broken limb. To get back on top, to living the life he had; to attain the American dream he had to struggle. In his world there were neither fairies nor fairy tales, it was stark reality staring him right in the face. He had a family that was looking up to him and children who expected much from their father, all these he had to shoulder and get his family back to the top.
How the male reaches the American dream
Man, according to the above plays and even in life generally, has to struggle and work hard to attain this dream. He shoulders everything if he has a family, and when he is just starting to venture out he is exposed to the harsh realities in life (Leo, 33). To fulfill his ambitions he has work from rags to riches.
He has to stand against all the odds, whatever society and life brings against him. He is expected to shoulder all these, get married and carry the burden that is his family and maintain the status quo; operate within his class, one of people who have attained the dream. It does not matter how he is faring on health wise, broken limb or not that burden is still his. How the female uses the American dream
On the other hand, the woman does not strive as hard to attain the dream. She may be poor and belong to the lowest of classes in the society she operates in, but when she gets married she gets elevated to the mans position (Ted, 16). She directly inherits the class the man operates in and this therefore becomes her new social class.
That is how women are depicted to attain the American dream. When the husbands fortunes dwindle or somehow they are lost she plunges into paucity with him, and will stay there till the man works his way and lifts himself up to regain his status in the society. The woman around him automatically takes up after the husband, and her lifestyle reflects her husbands.
Conclusion
From the readings above and the observations made from around, it is clear that the society has clear cut distinctions on how the man and woman attain this dream. It is collective to both genders in that they complete the cycle together, but the man struggles harder to attain it. He then provides this to the wife and family. This is the hallmark of a mans success in the American society. The woman on the other hand, stays passive patiently waiting for her turn to prosper which then would be brought about by the mans prosperity (Lloyd, 18).
Works Cited
Hoobler, Thomas. Captain John Smith: Jamestown and the birth of the American Dream, 20-65. London: Oxford university press, 2006. Print.
Leo, Lemay. Franklins Autobiography and the American Dream, Ed. J. A. Leo Lemay and P. M. Zall. 12-33. New York: Perennial-Harper, 2006. Print.
Lloyd, Brown. The American Dream and the Legacy of Revolution in the Poetry of Langston Hughes Studies in Black Literature. 16-18. New York: St. Martins, 1976. Print.
Ted, Ownby. American Dreams in Mississippi: Consumers, Poverty, and Culture, 1830-1998, 13-16. Utah State UP: University of North Carolina Press, 1999. Print.
The documentary film Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream throws light on the problem of economic inequality in the United States. In particular, the film-makers want to show why many people are deprived of the opportunity to raise their social status. This film should be considered because it shows how the existing social and political system can contribute to the growing inequalities within the community.
Nevertheless, the authors do not provide examples of those people who were able to acquire wealth even though they did not come from affluent families. Furthermore, many of them do try to support low-income people. This is one of the drawbacks that should be taken into account by the viewers who want to get a better idea about the causes of the problems described in the movie. These are the main questions that should be discussed more closely.
The authors eloquently demonstrate how closely affluence and poverty can co-exist in America. For instance, one can speak about the residents of the South Bronx and the Upper East Side (Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream). They represent two social groups that dramatically different in terms of income level. This is one of the details that can be distinguished.
This film is also interesting because the film-makers explain how politicians and legislators can widen the gap between low-income and affluent citizens. For instance, some of them may try to minimize the role of trade unions. Furthermore, they usually actively support the deregulation of the economy (Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream). Apart from that, they lobby for laws that reduce the amount of taxes paid by affluent individuals.
This discussion is important for understanding the reasons why the social gap may increase in the future. Additionally, one should keep in mind that Americans are not equal in terms of their educational opportunities. Many of them cannot afford high-quality education (Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream). These are some of the details that should be considered by legislators and public administrators who should design more inclusive policies.
However, it is also important to mention that the authors depict rich people as extremely callous individuals. Nevertheless, one should keep in mind that many of them donate to charitable organizations. Furthermore, these people do not necessarily come from very affluent families. One cannot say that their opportunities were limitless at the very beginning. Thus, one cannot perceive rich individuals, only exploiters who just want to make sure that poor people remain at the same level of social hierarchy. This is one of the pitfalls that should be avoided.
Nevertheless, even despite this limitation, this film should not be overlooked because it can show why inequalities may emerge and persist. To some degree, this movie urges political leaders to re-evaluate existing laws and regulations that stifle social mobility upward. Moreover, policy-makers should become more accountable to citizens of the country; otherwise, social inequality cannot be reduced. This is one of the key points that can be made.
Admittedly, this movie may not enable viewers to gain in-depth insight into the underlying causes of poverty and inequality. In order to achieve this goal, a person should ready many academic books and articles. However, this film can be a good starting point. Overall, this movie can raise peoples awareness of the main problems that currently affect the community. These are the main details that can be distinguished.
Works Cited
Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream. Ex. Prod. Alex Gibney. London: British Broadcasting Corporation, 2012. DVD.
Optimism plays an essential role in the overall approaches to interpreting the world around people. The piece explores the concept of cruel optimism in regard to Karl Marxs ideas and the American Dream. Delusional belief and thinking are the root causes of these underlying issues, which can harm both the one who promotes the view and oppose it. Therefore, it is important to critically assess the given notion of optimism.
The piece primarily revolves around the perseverance of Marxist ideas and the American Dream as one of the examples of cruel optimism. The author mostly adheres to the argument that both of these connotations are impractical and improbable to be realized as people expect due to their inherent flaws (Berlant, 2007). Despite numerous failures of the incorporation of Marxism into the political and economic spheres, people still try and continue to believe that it can be done. A similar comparison is drawn in regard to the American Dream, which is also an instance of delusional cruel optimism (Berlant, 2007). I feel that the author has done an outstanding job on the concept, which is why I am in full agreement with the piece. The questions to the article are as follows:
Is the idea of the Invisible Hand also an example of cruel optimism?
How can Marxist ideas can be realized in a realistic way?
In conclusion, cruel optimism is an integral part of understanding the world and its vital elements. The writing actively questions the very foundations of Marxist ideas as well as the American Dream. They are, indeed, seem to be the cases of cruel optimism, where they have shown their impracticality, but people still are trying to realize them. Therefore, the piece provides a critical analysis and insight into these important matters.
Reference
Berlant, L. (2007). Cruel optimism: On Marx, loss and the senses. Lawrence & Wishart Ltd.
As we approach elections and reflecting on the current economic recession, slow wage growth, increasing cost of living, punishing inequality, and shattered healthcare issues haunting our nation, a question worth asking is whether the American dream is still valid. Coined by James Truslow Adams in 1931, The American Dream has been a flourishing mantra in America until recently. The American Dream was an ideal of a land with equal opportunity for every American to prosper through tenets of hard work, determination, and initiative, which is fading for many Americans. Considering the political unrest of the previous presidential election leading to the current political incongruence, fundamental changes in the American economy, and the failing healthcare system, it is apparent the American dream is nowhere near attainable.
Rising political violence, differences, and civil unrest in America are upturning stability and validating violence as a political tool. The attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, painted a nation haunted by political instability. After the event, the rivalry and divide between the two partisan coalitions escalated, creating a politically polarized era. Moreover, after the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, coupled with other police violence scandals, ongoing civil unrest has culminated. Acknowledging we are heading to the 2022 midterm, political interests will likely affect policy issues. For instance, a review by Carter and May (5) highlights that political interests influenced the governments response to COVID-19. Essentially, political instability in the U.S. limits the conducive environment for optimal macroeconomic policies and performance relative to the American dream of equal opportunity to succeed.
The trending economic frustrations of the increased cost of living, rising inequality, and stable wages debilitate the American dream of better opportunities and the capacity to succeed. In a report recently published by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index hiked by 8.5 percent by the first quarter of March 2022 following a hike of 7.9% between February 2021 and February 2022, marking the most significant price uproar since 1981 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 1). As consumer spending skyrockets, wage growth is moderate, leading to rapid inflation. Economic performance is the principal factor for achieving the American dream since it creates capacity. The economic downfall trends underlie the fading dream and much frustration of the American people.
Despite the U.S. government allocating far more to healthcare, the healthcare system is broken, which indicates ominous signs. First, investments in healthcare are seemingly misdirected, such as Obamacare, which failed to meet the health problems it was supposed to. A report by Harvard Health indicated that compared to other high-income nations, the U.S. scales poorly on multiple metrics of healthcare quality, such as life expectancy and avoidable hospitalization (Shmerling 2). Contrary to the dream of equal opportunity, many Americans are yet to purchase medical insurance, leading to unequal access.
Ultimately, the American dream will remain a mirage, maintaining the current political, economic, and environmental challenges. Political instability and civil unrest marked by the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol inhibit the optimal performance of the government in making initiatives. Additionally, while a significant economic backdrop limits the capacity to succeed through hard work, determination, and initiative, failing healthcare presents a challenge to equality and a supportive environment. The coming elections are a chance for all Americans to save the situation and reassert the American dream.
Works Cited
Carter, David P., and Peter J. May. Making Sense of the US COVID-19 Pandemic Response: A Policy Regime Perspective. Administrative Theory & Praxis, vol. 42, no. 2, 2020, pp. 265-277. Web.
This paper introduced the concept of social stratification and mobility in the United States. In the USA, people are categorized into different groups based on their race, gender, age, ethnicity, and family ancestry. People further categorize others based on intellectual capabilities, personal and professional skills, appearance as well as achievements. This concept of grouping people based on their social factors is what sociologists refer to as social stratification.
According to Kerbo (2017, p.1), social stratification includes a ranking of people in a society. However, social stratification is more concerned with systematic inequalities other than individualistic differences. There exist certain predictable factors, rules, and justifications behind the ranking of individuals and groups. Economic factors usually influence societal stratification, which includes issues such as wealth, level of education, and income. As a result of social stratification, most societies have unequal distribution of goods and services.
Most people in society work hard to shift from one class to another. This is referred to as social mobility, where individuals and groups move from different social structures and hierarchies because of the changes in wealth, jobs, or income. Social mobility is either upward or downward (Strauss, 2017). In upward mobility, individuals or groups shift into a higher social structure, whereas downward mobility involves moving from a more upper class to a lower group.
Sociologists designed some theories to explain the concept of social mobility and stratification. Marxian theory views society as a relationship between two groups, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat based on the ownership and non-ownership of property (Sharma, Pathak, & Sinha, 2017). The Marxist theory understood that the social classes are influenced by economic factors of those who own the means of production and the working class who only offer labor. The bourgeoisie, owners of production methods, exploit those that do not produce, the proletariat (Sharma et al., 2017).
The relationship described in Marxs theory is adversarial in that it creates inequality because the exploited are forced to work for the exploiters to earn a living. Consequently, the bourgeoisie continues to live off the surplus obtained from this relationship, and the cycle continues. The Marxist theory recognizes the hostility that exists between different classes. For instance, Sharma et al. (2017) noted that laborers understand the role they play in the production process when compared to the owners. As a result, there exist intergroup tensions as each group tries to secure its interests. This conflict is witnessed in modern society in the form of various debates between the rich and the poor.
In contrast to the Marxist theory, functionalist theory view society as different components designed to work together in harmony. According to Sharma et al. (2017), functionalists assume that a community is similar to a human body, which is composed of different institutions that are integrated as a whole. Just like the various parts of the body combine to perform a task, different aspects of society must function together for there to be stability.
As a result, functionalists understand that each person plays a crucial role in society through shared responsibilities and tasks. For instance, Brym and Lie (2017) described how members in a nuclear family set-up play unique roles to achieve stability and efficiency. Functionalists view social stratification and class as inevitable because it maintains balance in society.
Cultural influence and societal values play a huge role in shaping an individuals personality or socio-economic success. The social learning theory explains that children imitate what they observe and learn from society (Bandura & Walters, 1977). Therefore, values held by the community model the emotional reactions, attitudes, and behaviors of children from a younger age. For instance, increased cases of school dropouts, high unemployment rates, teenage pregnancies, and criminal activities in the US inner cities reflect a deleterious society. Such a community affects the destiny and social mobility of an individual or a child.
Alternatively, societies with better primary schools, low-income inequality, and residential segregation have high mobility. Additionally, Bezin and Moizeau (2017) showed that children who grow up in homes where parents are at the 25th percentile of national income have a better chance of making 10% more in the future. The disparity between the two types of neighborhoods is apparent because of the social interaction where children learn from society or parents.
In conclusion, several factors influence social mobility and stratification. Contrary to the American dream, most people born in the middle and lower classes rarely move into higher social levels. The lack of upward mobility is explained by the Marxist and functionalist theories. It is also relatively easier for downward mobility compared to upward mobility. Additionally, cultural influence plays a huge role in social mobility and stratification. Children who grow up understanding the concept of hard work and have access to proper production tools have a higher chance of succeeding or moving up the social ladder than those in poor neighborhoods. As a result, it is essential to understand familys and societys contributions to social mobility.
References
Bandura, A., & Walters, R. H. (1977). Social learning theory (Vol. 1). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-hall.
Bezin, E., & Moizeau, F. (2017). Cultural dynamics, social mobility and urban segregation. Journal of Urban Economics, 99, 173-187. Web.
Brym, R., & Lie, J. (2017). SOC+. Cengage Learning.
Kerbo, H. (2017). Social stratification. The WileyBlackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory, 1-4. Web.
Sharma, C. B., Pathak, A., & Sinha, A. (2017). Unit-2 Education, Social Structure, Social Stratification and Social Mobility. Web.
Strauss, A. L. (2017). The contexts of social mobility: Ideology and theory. Transaction Publishers.