The question will be explored, whether America is still a land of liberty, independency and equal opportunities for all like the Statue of Liberty, one of America’s best known symbols, stands for. Two scenes out of the film “The Visitor”, directed by Thomas McCarthy, where this problem is debated, will be analyzed. The movie shows how immigrants are exposed to the idea of liberty and how quickly this dream actually might end.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- America as a land of promises
- Restrictions to the American Dream
- The Symbol of Liberty
- Paradox about the American Dream
- The Statue of Liberty in the Deportation Center
- The Journey Toward Green Cards
- A land of illusions and paradoxicality
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper explores whether America remains a land of liberty, independence, and equal opportunities for all, as symbolized by the Statue of Liberty. The paper analyzes two scenes from the film "The Visitor" directed by Thomas McCarthy, which depict the struggles of illegal immigrants in New York City.- The American Dream as a False Promise for Immigrants
- The Contradiction between Symbolic Liberty and the Reality of Immigration Restrictions
- The Paradox of Equality and Freedom in a Land of Illegal Immigration
- The Statue of Liberty as a Symbol of Broken Dreams
- The Dehumanizing Effects of Immigration Restrictions and Detention Centers
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
America as a land of promises
The first chapter introduces the concept of the American Dream and how it is often portrayed as a land of opportunity for immigrants. The chapter highlights Arnold Schwarzenegger as an example of someone who achieved success through hard work and determination, despite coming to the US with little English. However, the chapter also emphasizes the significant number of people who immigrate to the US each year, both legally and illegally, seeking a better life.Restrictions to the American Dream
This chapter focuses on the film "The Visitor," which tells the story of an illegal immigrant named Tarek and his girlfriend Zainab. The chapter analyzes two scenes in which the film confronts the contradictions between America's ideals of freedom and the harsh realities faced by immigrants. The first scene, which takes place on a ferry to Staten Island, depicts Zainab's recollection of Tarek's excitement about arriving in New York and the irony of their current illegal status. The second scene portrays the juxtaposition of a graffiti depicting the Statue of Liberty with its iconic flame torch and the actual reality of Tarek being detained in a deportation center. Both scenes demonstrate the chasm between America's symbolic representation of liberty and the experience of those who seek to live there but face restrictions and limitations.A land of illusions and paradoxicality
The final chapter draws conclusions based on the analysis of the film "The Visitor." It argues that many American characteristics, such as liberty, independence, and equal opportunity, are no longer universally applicable. The chapter suggests that the film's depiction of the struggles of illegal immigrants highlights the limitations and inconsistencies surrounding the concept of the American Dream.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This paper examines the concept of the American Dream, focusing on its implications for immigrants. Key themes include the contradictions between symbolic liberty and the reality of immigration restrictions, the paradoxical nature of equality and freedom in a land of illegal immigration, and the dehumanizing effects of detention centers. The paper also explores the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty and its role in perpetuating a false hope for immigrants. Additionally, it delves into the challenges faced by legal and illegal immigrants in their pursuit of a better life in the United States.
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- Lena Groß (Author), 2012, Broken Promises of Liberty. Illegal immigration in „The Visitor“, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/269071
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