This essay is - strictly speaking - a product of the Corona virus which so dramatically changed the world and which also showed us how vulnerable and fragile human life is, something which both novels discussed here also want to portray.
To keep the students of my Grundkurs working my aim was to connect both novels which we dealt with in class. In Ql the topic of our course had the title Ideals and Realities (America) and in Q2 it was The Encounter of Cultures (South Africa). Here both novels, The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Mother to Mother made a perfect match since they are not only linked by the topic of the American Dream but also as far as structure and elements of style are concerned.
The aims of intercultural learning which were important for this project dispose of a high number of elements important for a functioning communication. Reading and writing turned out to be central and could be spotted in the following worksteps.
My students first had to work with different types of texts to get background information on the subject. One central element consisted in reading these various texts. Some of them had different backgrounds such as a historical or religious one. Writing became another important issue since the texts handed in disposed of formal and non-formal characteristics whose different forms had to be considered. Text production as such had to be changed according to literary or non-literary sources. Working with several media and types of texts was necessary for summing up complex fictional and non-fictional texts in order to understand and structure them. To analyse, interpret and work with this material according to the tasks given to the students was a logical result from this.
In connection to the above mentioned courses dealt with in class (Ideals and Realities and The Encounter of Cultures) the aspect of the American Dream was focused upon catchphrases such as ‘Manifestation of Individualism’ and ‘The American Dream as a Manifestation of Individualism’ as well as the notion of the American way of life which both novels reflect as well.
I say 'Thank you' to the headmistress of our school, Frau Oberstudiendirektorin Ruf, who supported our project from the beginning knowing about the importance of narrowing the gap between school and university with projects like these.
Table of Contents
1.) Foreword
2.) “The Reluctant Fundamentalist“
2.1.) The Author
2.2.) Summary
2.3.) The concept and collapse of the American Dream
2.4.) The presentation of the Muslim
3.) “Mother to Mother“
3.1.) The Author
3.2.) Summary
3.3.) The concept and destruction of the American Dream
3.4.) The presentation of the Americans
4.) Critcal remarks
5.) Outlook
6.) Bibliography
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This scholarly paper explores the multifaceted and often contradictory nature of the American Dream by comparing two novels from non-American perspectives. It investigates how the pursuit of this dream is perceived and ultimately deconstructed when filtered through the experiences of characters from different cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds, specifically in post-9/11 America and post-apartheid South Africa.
- The subjective interpretation of the American Dream across different nationalities.
- The clash between personal aspirations and structural barriers (discrimination, apartheid, social tensions).
- The role of memory and narrative in shaping identity and social critique.
- The deconstruction of the American Dream through the lens of 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' and 'Mother to Mother'.
- The representation of cultural 'others' and the critique of Western-centric ideologies.
Excerpt from the Book
3.3.) The concept and destruction of the American Dream
In order to examine the way the American Dream is dealt with in this novel, it is about to define several approaches wherein the core thesis of the American Dream occurs.
To begin with, the novel continuously points out the historical period of white European colonialism and apartheid in South Africa which began in 1948. Based on this, Mandisa depicts how the national dream of regaining their human dignity by means of equal political rights grew in the course of the decades. Examples for this dream can be found in the numerous speeches of Nelson Mandela who intended to not only fight against white supremacy in order to reach black domination, but who dedicated himself for the idea of “a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities“ (Nelson Mandela´s speech at his second trial on April 20, 1964).
At this point, the similarity of this idea to one of the definitions of the American Dream (referring to James Truslow Adams, 1931) becomes apparent: „(…) 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“.
Summary of Chapters
1.) Foreword: Introduces the basic definition of the American Dream and establishes the comparative approach to the two selected novels.
2.) “The Reluctant Fundamentalist“: Analyzes Mohsin Hamid's novel, focusing on the character Changez, his pursuit of the American Dream, and its subsequent collapse.
3.) “Mother to Mother“: Examines Sindiwe Magona's work, centering on Mandisa's perspective and the impact of apartheid on the destruction of national and personal dreams.
4.) Critcal remarks: Synthesizes the findings, discussing the diverse national interpretations of the American Dream and the subjectivity inherent in the concept.
5.) Outlook: Reflects on the broader application of the study's findings regarding global mobility and education policies.
6.) Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary literary and online sources used for the analysis.
Keywords
American Dream, Mohsin Hamid, Sindiwe Magona, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Mother to Mother, Identity, Apartheid, Postcolonialism, Hybridity, Social Justice, Cultural Perspectives, Literary Analysis, Memory, Discrimination, Globalization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the concept of the American Dream and its destruction through a comparative analysis of two novels: 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' by Mohsin Hamid and 'Mother to Mother' by Sindiwe Magona.
What are the central themes addressed in the work?
Key themes include the subjectivity of national dreams, the impact of colonialism and apartheid, the struggle for identity, racial and religious discrimination, and the critique of Western ideologies.
What is the primary objective of the comparison?
The objective is to determine how nationality and personal background influence the perception of the American Dream and to analyze why this dream frequently collapses for characters operating outside the American mainstream.
What methodology is employed to conduct this analysis?
The paper uses a comparative literary analysis approach, examining the narrative structure, character development, and socio-political context of both novels to assess their commentary on the American Dream.
What content is covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body includes detailed summaries of the chosen novels, specific analyses of how their protagonists relate to the American Dream, and a critical discussion of the socio-political contexts of Pakistan and South Africa.
Which keywords best characterize this scholarly work?
The work is characterized by terms such as the American Dream, Postcolonialism, Hybridity, Identity, Social Justice, and cross-cultural literary analysis.
How does the protagonist Changez represent the conflict within the American Dream?
Changez represents the conflict through his attempt to balance his Pakistani heritage with his desire for professional success in America, eventually realizing that these two identities become incompatible after 9/11.
In what way does the novel 'Mother to Mother' critique the American Dream?
The novel critiques the American Dream by contrasting the idealistic, often naive, Western perspective of the American protagonist with the harsh realities of life in a South African township under the legacy of apartheid.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dr. Matthias Dickert (Autor:in), Amira Büttner (Autor:in), 2020, The collapse of the American Dream. A comparison between Sindiwe Magona's "Mother to Mother" (1998) and Mohsin Hamid's "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" (2007), München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/888903
