This term paper deals with the origin of the American Dream, with the American Nightmare and with the two novels "The Rise of Silas Lapham" written by William D. Howell (1885) and "The American" by Henry James (1877). The term paper mainly concentrates on the main characters and their social life and shows that the protagonists, who live the way that the term “American Dream” implies, experience the seamy side of the American Dream. The American Dream has a long history which goes back several hundred years. For some
people the American Dream might stand for property, for others it might be the image of
freedom and equality. By all means, the American Dream promises a more comfortable life
and the realization of the deepest dreams. But reality can turn the American Dream into the
American Nightmare. Searching for a well paid job to raise their standards of living, people
acknowledge that it is difficult to move up the economic ladder. Longing for equal
opportunity, people face discrimination due to their race or social class.
This term paper deals with the origin of the American Dream and two novels The Rise of
Silas Lapham written by William D. Howell, originally published in 1885, and The American
by Henry James published in 1877. The term paper mainly concentrates on the main
characters and their social life and shows that the protagonists, who live the way that the term
“American Dream” implies, experience the seamy side of the American Dream. Before Europeans had moved to the new continent, the first immigrants living in America
were Asians (Jordan, Winthrop D./Leon F. Litwack. The United States, Conquering a
Continent Volume 1. California: North West, 2003: 1). In 1492, Christopher Columbus
discovered an unknown continent which was named “America” after the explorer Amerigo
Vespucci. Reports of America visitors connected the impression of America with “a paradise
on earth” and the “El Dorado” and thus attracted people (Freese, Peter. The American Dream
and the American Nightmare: General Aspects and Literary Examples. Paderborner
Universitätsreden 7. Paderborn: Universität-Gesamthochschule, 1987: 8). Terrible and
dangerous life situations, daily suffered by men and women during the “Protestant
Reformation”, forced victims of “religious persecution” to flee the countries (Freese 1987:
10). Searching for protection, they moved from the “Old World” to the “New World” (15).
Table of Contents
I. The American Dream often turns into the American Nightmare
II. The American Dream and the American Nightmare in literature by William D. Howells and Henry James
1. The Origin of the American Dream
2. Summary and Comparison of William D. Howells’ The Rise of Silas Lapham and Henry James’ The American
3. Success and Exclusion
3.1. “From rags to riches”
3.2. Negative influence on the personality by business and wealth
3.3. Individual progress
3.4. Irreconcilable differences
3.4.1. Futile endeavors for social acceptance
3.4.2. Antagonism between America and Europe
III. People partially acquire the fruits of the American Dream
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the inherent tension between the idealistic promises of the American Dream and the harsh realities—or the "American Nightmare"—that protagonists experience in late 19th-century literature. It examines how pursuit of wealth, social status, and individual progress impacts the moral and personal development of characters in William D. Howells’ The Rise of Silas Lapham and Henry James’ The American.
- The historical origins and core components of the American Dream.
- The correlation between material success and the dehumanization of social relationships.
- Comparative analysis of upward mobility and the failure of social integration.
- Cultural clashes between American democratic values and European aristocratic traditions.
- The ethical transformation of characters following professional and personal downfall.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2. Negative influence on the personality by business and wealth
Wealth and the fact that both, Silas Lapham and Christopher Newman, are involved into business partly have an effect on their personality and on their attitude towards other people. First of all, to Newman’s mind, the “world” is a “great bazaar” (James 1935: 87). Since a market provides different products, customers have the option to select from the offer. Newman, who wants a female companion for his life, tells his friend in Europe that he searches for “the best article in the market” (49). Thus, he regards his wife to-be as an object. Thinking like a businessman, he aims to make a good deal. What is more, Newman wants other people to think highly of his bride, because their respect and positive reaction will show that his choice emerges as a “success” (50). In Claire de Cintré, Newman sees a “rare and precious” as well as “a very expensive article” (165).
Summary of Chapters
I. The American Dream often turns into the American Nightmare: Introduces the thematic dichotomy between the hopeful ideals of the American Dream and the reality of discrimination and social failure.
II. The American Dream and the American Nightmare in literature by William D. Howells and Henry James: Provides a deep dive into the literature, starting with historical roots and comparing the specific narrative arcs of Silas Lapham and Christopher Newman.
III. People partially acquire the fruits of the American Dream: Concludes that while protagonists chase the American Dream, they frequently find that success, wealth, and social acceptance remain elusive or come at a significant personal cost.
Keywords
American Dream, American Nightmare, William D. Howells, Henry James, The Rise of Silas Lapham, The American, Social Acceptance, Materialism, Individual Progress, Class Struggle, Cultural Divide, Puritanism, Capitalism, Social Status, Literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the dark side of the American Dream by analyzing how the pursuit of success and social mobility creates conflict and dehumanization in the lives of main characters.
Which literary works are central to this study?
The analysis focuses on William D. Howells’ The Rise of Silas Lapham (1885) and Henry James’ The American (1877).
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate that characters living according to the promises of the American Dream often experience a "seamy side," revealing that success does not guarantee fulfillment or societal belonging.
What methodology is applied?
The study utilizes a comparative literary analysis, evaluating how the protagonists' personalities and social lives are shaped by their business endeavors and encounters with different social classes.
What aspects of the "American Dream" are explored in the main body?
It covers the "rags to riches" ideology, the negative influence of wealth on human relationships, the concept of individual progress, and the cultural friction between American "New World" values and European "Old World" traditions.
Which keywords characterize this study?
Key terms include American Dream, American Nightmare, materialism, social acceptance, moral growth, and the cultural divide between America and Europe.
How does Silas Lapham’s business failure influence his moral character?
Despite his financial ruin, Lapham achieves an ethical rise, as his loss frees him from the obsession with material gain and forced social climbing.
Why does Christopher Newman fail to marry into the Bellegarde family?
Newman encounters the rigid hierarchy of European aristocracy, where his status as a "commercial person" is deemed incompatible with the family's traditions and notions of honor.
- Quote paper
- Carolina Hein (Author), 2008, The american dream and the american nightmare in literature by William D. Howells and Henry James, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/92625
