The American Dream

A two story home, a plush green yard accompanied by a dog and enclosed with a white picket fence.The nuclear family who resides there comfortably with great careers and little worries. This is usually what one would think of when the words American dream are heard. I too imagine this in my head when I hear those words but for me, my personal conception of the American dream is one that goes beyond just having a great house or a perfect family. Rather than focusing on the outcome of hard work that gives us this sense of achievement I think of the American dream as the journey in which you strive for the fancy house or the high salary. For me, I am living the American dream with every path I take toward my dreams and goals and every struggle and challenge that I must overcome. Only once I have achieved these things, have I lived the American dream. In many ways, Britney Spears represents the stereotypical American Dream as previously stated above. She has the fame and fortune, the fancy houses and cars, and despite some personal issue she has struggled with- She has what everyone dreams of. She has the "easy" pass that life only deals a select few, which is why it is so tempting for us to all try to achieve.

The scene from The Pursuit of Happyness is very applicable to the Youngers- especially Walter. Out of all the people in the play, he most closely relates to what Will Smith was saying because he believed that if it was something that you desired to have whether it be fortune or living a comfortable life, you have to take risks and challenging things to achieve it. In the play Walter stated, "Mama you know it's all divided up. Life is. Sure enough. Between the takers and the "tooken". I've figured it out finally."(141).  This shows that he realizes that in order to get anything in this world you have to get it yourself. 

There are a lot of factors holding back the Youngers from achieving what they want out of life. Factors that are holding them back outside of their family unit are social and racial challenges that affect them because they are African American and in this time period the window of opportunity for blacks was very small. Inside of their family unit, the main thing holding them back from achieving their dreams are each other. There is a lot of doubt that they have for each other and it consequently made them begin to think that their life was a good as it was ever going to get. Lena was especially doubtful and scared that even attempting to go after her dreams after her husband died was too risky. After living so long in that old apartment she had gotten set in her ways because of the cards life dealt her. Even after she had gotten the courage to go out on the limb and strive for better by buying the family a new house, she let her son, Walter once again discourage her and made her rationalize settling for mediocrity. She stated, "Just aimed too high all the time-......No I sees things differently now. Been thinking 'bout some things we can do to fix this place up". In these lines you can clearly see how Lena reverts back to giving into pressure. She often sacrifices her dreams because of her fear with uncertainty. Ruth has just had it with life and her position as the wife of Walter as she tries to come to terms with how bad their relationship has gotten as well as the constant get rich quick schemes that Walter always tries to force on her. In Act one, scene one, the play states, "We can see that she was a pretty girl, even exceptionally so, but now it is apparent that life has been little that she expected, and disappointment has already begun to hang in her face" (24). Walter and Beneatha  are always butting heads which affects not only how they view each other but how they view the world. Beneatha is confused as to what path she wants to take in life and Walter is still struggling to strike gold. 

I do think that the ending of the play offered a hopeful and happy ending in that they did realize their dreams and also realized that their happiness was not dependent upon how much money they had, but by the attitudes that they held towards life, making what is seemingly bitter into something so sweet. In a sequel, I think that all of the characters would be in a better position in life because they have all realized that true success and accomplishment isn't measured by how rich yo are but what you get out of you struggles and triumph as a life lesson. Walter said it best stating, "Well- what I mean is we come from people who had a lot of pride. I mean- we are very proud people...........And we have decided to move into our house because my father- my father- he earned it for us brick by brick."(148). Walter showed that he finally came to realize what was truly important in life in his American dream that he was longing for so long is right in front of him. 

As far as optimism and determinism are concerned, I do not think that they are enough to achieve one's American dream nowadays. I say this because in such a fast paced and competitive world that we live in today, it needs to be more added to the equation. Whether it be continuing education or having a solid background and drive for what you want to pursue, there needs to be more added to an attempt at success. Sure, optimism and determinism are essential because without them- no one would have dreams and goals but they are not enough by themselves to accomplish what you want in my opinion. 

I truly believe that the recent economic situation has rained on everyone's parade. It has caused a lot of people to loose hope and had a great impact on the mentality of us all. What once was the primary agenda of going out and making it big in society is now only an exhausted hope that bills will be paid on time and families can maintain a comfortable life. For the others who are a little more optimistic about our current economic condition and feel that there is still a sunny day on the horizon  I see these words as Walter stated, "Just tell me, what it is you want to be- and you'll be it... Whatever you want to be- Yessir! You just name it, son and I hand you the world!"(109).

One connection that I made with this play is another play called "Death of a Salesman". Willy Lowman, one of the main characters lived his whole life trying to achieve the American dream. Along the way he made bad choices that affected his family, drove away his eldest son Biff, and ultimately led him to his death. I just found it interesting how both of these plays brought up the notion of striving for dreams and in the end having to realize and re-evaluate what you were striving for in the first place and if you really achieved it. 

The question I have for today is about Walter and Ruth's son, Travis. In the play Lena often refers back to her Later husband Big Walter who was of course, Walter's father. She hints that Walter is like his father in many ways and even questions his will to live by his father's values when he found out his wife was pregnant. Do you think that young Travis will grow up to become like Walter, a risk taker, or do you think that he has learned from his father desperate attempts at fortune and will go a better route?