Dreams are the only universal liars who never lose their reputation for veracity because "hope is the poor man's bread" said Gary Herbert to his people. This is how the American Dream emerged and survived to be a legend that knew its way to people's hearts all over the globe. It is the dream of freedom, equality, opportunity and making fortunes; the golden chance to those who can obtain the green passport. It is what drove millions everywhere to immigrate both legally and illegally to the US in search for a better future for them and their children.
Unfortunately, one cannot make dreams come true unless he/she wakes up because in fact they are always too good to be true. Americans have realized that their dream is slipping away due to their financial crisis, deteriorating economy and growing population. However, they had to keep promoting their merchandize, entertaining their audience to maintain their superiority, leadership and grandeur. For years, American playwrights praised America's alleged welfare offered to the oppressed and the persecuted. Later, dramatists started disillusioning their audience; revealing the ugly face of reality behind the perfect dream.
In an attempt that is unique of its kind, this research traces how the American Dream (the notion that shaped a nation) was depicted in different works of art by various playwrights with special reference to two towering figures of American literature; Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. Throughout my project, I was exposed to different points of view of both American and Un-American writers. Some stated their resentment directly in newspaper and television interviews while others made it clear through their characters who depict the suffering average everyday American facing reality by illusion. Modern American theatre is rich with these examples. One can only read between the lines to realize the fallacy of the dream and this has been my favorite part.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER ONE : “THE AMERICAN DREAM” AS PROPAGATED BY EARLY WRITERS
CHAPTER TWO: THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE AS PORTRAYED IN THE MODERN AMERICAN THEATRE
- A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
- The American Dream by Edward Albee
- The Buried Child by Sam Shepard
CHAPTER THREE: THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM IN TENNESSEE WILLIAMS' THEATRE
- The Glass Menagerie
- A Streetcar Named Desire
CHAPTER FOUR: ARTHUR MILLER'S THEATRE OF "MISFITS"
- Death of a Salesman
- A View from the Bridge
- All My Sons
CONCLUSION
Objectives & Themes
This dissertation examines the historical evolution and subsequent disillusionment of the "American Dream" as depicted in the works of major 20th-century American playwrights. The research aims to trace how the foundational notion of American opportunity and prosperity transformed into a "nightmare" of social dysfunction, disillusionment, and broken identities within the modern American theatre.
- The conceptual history of the American Dream from colonial times to the 20th century.
- The portrayal of domestic disillusionment and family corruption in modern American drama.
- Comparative analysis of how theatre reflects societal struggles with materialism and identity.
- Exploration of the "memory play" and expressionistic techniques used by Williams and Miller.
- The failure of individual ambition and the critique of capitalist values in American society.
Excerpt from the Book
INTRODUCTION
Dreams are the only universal liars who never lose their reputation for veracity because "hope is the poor man's bread" said Gary Herbert to his people. This is how the American Dream emerged and survived to be a legend that knew its way to people's hearts all over the globe. It is the dream of freedom, equality, opportunity and making fortunes; the golden chance to those who can obtain the green passport. It is what drove millions everywhere to immigrate both legally and illegally to the US in search for a better future for them and their children.
Unfortunately, one cannot make dreams come true unless he/she wakes up because in fact they are always too good to be true. Americans have realized that their dream is slipping away due to their financial crisis, deteriorating economy and growing population. However, they had to keep promoting their merchandize, entertaining their audience to maintain their superiority, leadership and grandeur. For years, American playwrights praised America's alleged welfare offered to the oppressed and the persecuted. Later, dramatists started disillusioning their audience; revealing the ugly face of reality behind the perfect dream.
In an attempt that is unique of its kind, this research traces how the American Dream (the notion that shaped a nation) was depicted in different works of art by various playwrights with special reference to two towering figures of American literature; Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: The introduction outlines the research’s intent to trace the evolution of the American Dream and its eventual subversion into a nightmare within American theatrical works.
CHAPTER ONE : “THE AMERICAN DREAM” AS PROPAGATED BY EARLY WRITERS: This chapter contextualizes the American Dream as an ancient ideal, rooting it in colonial myths and the founding documents of the United States.
CHAPTER TWO: THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE AS PORTRAYED IN THE MODERN AMERICAN THEATRE: This chapter analyzes how modern domestic dramas by Hansberry, Albee, and Shepard reflect the collapse of familial stability and the emergence of the "American nightmare."
CHAPTER THREE: THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM IN TENNESSEE WILLIAMS' THEATRE: This chapter explores Tennessee Williams' utilization of memory, illusion, and expressionism to critique the erosion of the American Dream in plays like The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire.
CHAPTER FOUR: ARTHUR MILLER'S THEATRE OF "MISFITS": This chapter examines Arthur Miller’s critique of the American Dream, focusing on how systemic failures and personal delusions lead to tragedy in Death of a Salesman, A View from the Bridge, and All My Sons.
CONCLUSION: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that the American Dream persists as a powerful but often destructive myth, reflecting deep-seated social anxieties.
Keywords
American Dream, American Theatre, Disillusionment, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Drama, Materialism, Social Critique, Identity, Memory Play, Modernism, Realism, Family Corruption, Capitalism, Existentialism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this dissertation?
The research focuses on the decline of the American Dream in the 20th-century American theatre, specifically exploring how it transformed from an ideal of success into a portrait of national disillusionment.
Which playwrights are the primary subjects of this study?
The dissertation centers on the works of Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, while also incorporating perspectives from Lorraine Hansberry, Edward Albee, and Sam Shepard.
What is the primary objective of the research?
The objective is to trace how the American Dream, as a notion that shaped a nation, was depicted in works of art and how that depiction evolved as the reality of the American condition grew increasingly complex.
What scientific or academic methods are employed?
The study employs a literary analysis method, examining text, character development, and symbols within the plays, while contextualizing these narratives within historical and social frameworks.
What is covered in the main section of the work?
The main section explores the themes of family decay, the struggle between appearance and reality, and the impact of socioeconomic pressures on the individual's pursuit of the American Dream.
How are the characters described in the context of the American Dream?
Characters are frequently portrayed as victims or participants in a system of "false promises," where individuals cling to materialistic illusions, leading to alienation and internal destruction.
How does Edward Albee’s "The American Dream" function within the study?
The study highlights Albee’s play as an allegorical critique that personifies the "American Dream" as a shell-like figure, reflecting a society obsessed with surfaces and appearances.
What role does the "memory play" concept play in the analysis of Tennessee Williams?
Williams' memory plays are analyzed to show how the distortion of time and memory acts as a defensive mechanism, allowing characters to shield themselves from a harsh, unfulfilling reality.
How does the dissertation interpret Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman"?
It is viewed as a critique of the capitalist system and the "everyman" myth, where Willy Loman's obsession with being "well-liked" ultimately blinds him to his true potential and leads to his demise.
- Quote paper
- Dr. Silvia Elias (Author), 2011, "The American Dream" disillusionment in the American theatre with special reference to Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/283182
