In this work, what will be analyzed is the evolution over time of the famous phenomenon known as the American Dream. The next three chapters will mainly focus on whether or not the dream led more immigrants to success or failure, and also paying particular emphasis to how the dream was and is interpreted by most of the women living the American Dream.
This work is divided into three chapters, starting from the discovery of the continent where the dream is best associated: the United States of America. Secondly, understanding the meaning of the term ‘American Dream’, its formation and who has used it throughout the course of its history. It will also focus on how the dream will be analyzed in a more current twentieth century context and understanding, nevertheless assessing the female dreamers through close analysis of a novel and a poem.
People have always had dreams. We could acknowledge that today’s dreams might be unrealistic because of corruption, however, the dreams that people had in the past were of a different nature. Success only meant having the bare necessities: a job, food for your family, new clothes a couple of times a year, a house or an apartment, and maybe even enough money to commute by transit. Achieving this success, implied much struggles, sacrifice and hard work.
Looking back at the scenario, it appears to have been a very harsh experience for those who had immigrated to America. As a result of the many sacrifices that were made in pursuit of their own personal and familial goals; such as monetary success and a better life of freedom and opportunity for their descendants. Their goals consisted of only the basic life values such as personal freedom through equal rights and opportunity that we today consider to not only be essential to life, but entitlements. Thanks to the millions of hard-working immigrants, and the hundreds of thousands of soldiers and protestors who have died in the name of democracy and the rights and freedoms that today allow us to live a better life: in pursuit of their own personal and familial goals, it was the first immigrants to America who also helped build and sustain what is today a global economic and military powerhouse and international authority – the United States of America.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Roots of the American Continent
1.1 The Native American Tribe
1.2 First practical idea of the discoveries of America
1.3 The English Colonial period
1.4 The Land of possibilities
1.5 The contrasts in reaching the dreamland
Chapter 2: Analyzing the American Dream
2.1 “Dreaming”
2.2 The birth of the terminology “the American Dream”
2.3 The possible definition
2.4 The wide spreading of its creation
2.5 The exploration of the American dream through Crèvecœur
2.6 Crèvecœur’s distorted vision of the dream
2.7 Dream turning into nightmares
Chapter 3: The Female Dreamer
3.1 Towards the Expansion
3.2 The power of Women
3.3 The modern woman: the Flapper
3.4 The American Dreamer: F. Scott Fitzgerald
3.5 Analyzing The Great Gatsby
3.6 The Utopian couple: Gatsby and Daisy
3.7 The feminine’s presence in the Great Gatsby
3.8 Ruth Forman: today’s dream
3.9 Analyzing Stoplight Politics
3.10 The Relationship of the two works
Objectives & Core Themes
This work examines the evolution of the American Dream from its historical origins to the modern era, specifically investigating how the concept is perceived and pursued through a female perspective in literature and poetry.
- Historical roots of the American continent and initial immigration waves.
- The linguistic evolution and definition of the "American Dream" as a cultural phenomenon.
- The shifting interpretation of the dream from a utopian vision to potential nightmare.
- Feminine ambition and the role of the "Flapper" in 1920s American society.
- Comparative analysis of literary depictions in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Ruth Forman’s Stoplight Politics.
Excerpt from the Book
2.6 Crèvecœur’s distorted vision of the dream
Due to the War of Independence from 1775 to 1782, the perspective of the American Dream changed, ruining the peace that existed. This period was critical for many people and worried them a lot. Some of them were not able to choose between the colonial present or future by being independent. Crèvecœur was among these people, he was worried and frightened for himself and his family. In fact, from his optimistic writing in the third letter, his interpretation of the dream changes and becomes pessimistic by his twelfth letter, Distresses of a Frontier Man. In this letter, we see a completely different man that wants only to escape,
… I wish for a change of place; the hour is come at last, that I must fly from my house and abandon my farm! But what course shall I steer, inclosed as I am? The climate best adapted to my present situation and humour would be the polar regions, …
During the years, Crèvecœur’s humor has changed as well; he was not the same as before, he was even more depressed, he could not handle this period:
… Once happiness was our portion; now it is gone from us, and I am afraid not to be enjoyed again by the present generation! Whichever way I look, nothing but the most frightful precipices present themselves to my view, in which hundreds of my friends and acquaintances have already perished: of all animals that live on the surface of this planet, what is man when no longer connected with society; or when he finds himself surrounded by a convulsed and a half dissolved one? …
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: The Roots of the American Continent: This chapter reviews the history of early settlers and colonial discovery, framing the foundations of the American Dream in the context of migration and early settlement.
Chapter 2: Analyzing the American Dream: This section explores the conceptual and historical definitions of the American Dream, highlighting its transition from a promise of success into a source of potential disillusionment.
Chapter 3: The Female Dreamer: The final chapter analyzes the American Dream through the lens of women's ambition, focusing on 20th-century socio-cultural shifts and specific literary case studies.
Keywords
American Dream, Immigrants, Jamestown, Crèvecœur, The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ruth Forman, Stoplight Politics, Flapper, Women, Ambition, Utopian, Nightmare, Social Class, 1920s
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this work?
This paper analyzes the origins, development, and evolution of the "American Dream" phenomenon, specifically exploring how it is interpreted and pursued in literature.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The work covers historical colonial migration, the semantic history of the term "American Dream," and the representation of women as "dreamers" in 20th-century societal and literary contexts.
What is the primary objective of this research?
The objective is to understand how the American Dream has evolved over time and to contrast the pursuit of this dream between different social classes and genders.
Which scientific or analytical methods are utilized?
The author employs a qualitative literary analysis, examining primary historical texts and literary works (novels and poems) to compare cultural perspectives on the American Dream.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The body chapters detail the history of the American continent, the critical and dictionary definitions of the American Dream, and the specific analysis of female ambition through the characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald's work and the poetry of Ruth Forman.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include American Dream, immigration, Flapper, literary analysis, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and social inequality.
How does the author analyze the "Flapper" figure?
The author views the "Flapper" as a modern 1920s archetype of the female dreamer who rejects traditional roles, seeking independence, luxury, and social status.
What is the relationship between the two main literary works analyzed?
Both The Great Gatsby and Stoplight Politics are used to highlight the female perspective of the American Dream, showing how different social classes approach the same ambition for wealth and success.
- Quote paper
- Marzia Interdonato (Author), 2011, The American Dream. Success, Failure and the Female Dreamers, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/318863
