The Myth of the American Dream - 1269 Words

THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM A Raisin in the Sun is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry in the period following the Second World War. It is divided into three acts and explores the circumstances of the Younger family, a colored family living in the ghettos of southern Chicago. In particular, the play deals with the efforts of Walter Lee, the scion of the family to bring his family out of poverty and into riches by entering into a business venture. The play highlights the psychological and societal barriers to Walters goal of becoming rich like the white people he sees around him. In effect, Walters ambitions typify the American dream and the play discusses how the American dream is only a myth against the reality of financial inequality, racial prejudice and constricted social mobility. A Raisin in the Sun does not illustrate that the American dream consisting of material well-being in the form of wealth, educational and economic opportunity, and religious and social freedom is not available to everyone. In fact, the play shows that the American dream is for anybodys taking, provided that they are willing to pay the price. The play reveals the price that the Younger family needs to pay for getting the prosperous future promised in the American dream. But it is not easy for them to pay the price for it because it goes against their values and their pride that is a defining characteristic of their culture and family. Mama is the matriarch of the family andShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream : The Myth Of The American Dream1296 Words   |  6 PagesThe Myth of The American Dream   Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Over the years immigrants have come to America in hopes of achieving their dreams and finding success. But is America really what it’s thought to be? 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However, in the past few decades, the American Dream has grown to become a myth since AmericanRead MoreThe American Dream Myth : Anastasia And Anastasia1422 Words   |  6 Pagesinheritance, wealth, and assets. The power associated with social class affects how one operates in life when it comes to making decisions and motives for committing actions. A childhood motion picture that depicts this idea is Anastasia. Anastasia is an American produced, fictional musical loosely based off of the Russian Empire Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova. Anastasia follows the orphaned Grand Duchess Anya, who suffers from retrograde amnesia, on her quest to find her family. She is joinedRead MoreTortilla Curtain: the Myth of the American Dream1253 Words   |  6 Pagesimages of well off middle-class families, shown alongside multiple cars and a large house that is filled with shining appliances and cupboards full of food. 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In fact, thats a bitRead More Myths of the American Dream Exposed in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman828 Words   |  4 PagesMyths of the American Dream Exposed in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman    Willy Loman, the lead character of Miller’s play, Death of a Salesman, believes in the myths of the capitalistic society(DiYanni 412). This essay will examine the impact of the capitalistic myths on Willy Lowman.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Willy believes in the myth that popularity and physical appearance are the keys that unlock the door to the â€Å"American Dream†. We are first introduced to the importance of popularity and physicalRead MoreThe Myth of Individualism1209 Words   |  5 PagesThe Myth of Individualism America is famous for the reputation of being the land of opportunity, and for generations immigrants have fled to the United States to experience the freedom and equality our government lays claim to. The fundamental of this reputation is the American Dream, the belief that life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each by hard working regardless of social class or circumstances of birth(by James Truslow Adams). The American DreamRead MoreThe Idea of the â€Å"American Dream†1101 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream Final Exam By: Uday Govindswamy Period 2 The idea of the â€Å"American Dream† was first used in the book The Epic of America, written by James Truslow Adams, in 1931. Adams stated that the American Dream is, â€Å"the dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement†¦(31) â€Å". The key elements of the American Dream include: access to a college education, owning a home, enjoying political