How the American Dream Doesn’t Exist Regardless of the person, everyone has an idea of what the “American Dream” is. Whether it be success, or something more, the connotations held with that phrase almost always symbolize an ideal, a goal. Truman Capote contrasts this idea in his novel In Cold Blood by detailing the lives of those who were involved in the Clutter murders in Holcomb, Kansas. Capote utilizes his novel to illustrate to [specific readers] that the idealistic American Dream varies from individual to individual, yet it is one of the most elusive goals of all.
A typical run of the mill rural family. What could go wrong with their ideal American Dream? The Clutter family of Holcomb, Kansas lived a quiet and serene life. Passing their days on their family owned farm, the Clutters had almost achieved their American Dream of self-sufficiency and security; the only thing preventing that goal
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However, once they had been brutally murdered, their dream slipped through their cold, dead fingers. Capote used the Clutter family as his first example of the fleeting American Dream because they illustrated that even the picture perfect family couldn’t have their fleeting version of the American Dream. Specifically detailing their lives prior to the murders, Capote manipulates the his language to portray a specific image: “respected,” “cherished by churchgoers,” but overall, “average” (Capote 6, 35, 36). Through the use of his precise diction and the anecdotes leading up to their untimely deaths, Capote elucidates the reality that the American Dream is elusive to practically all, even those who lead seemingly perfect and average lives. Capote also utilizes the story of Bonnie Clutter to illustrate how the American Dream is different for all, but hardly attainable. In utilizing the anecdote of her life, Bonnie was described to be “the only daughter,” and
If there was a favorable circumstance under which one could endeavour all their hopes and visions, wouldn’t one pursue it? The American Dream was introduced as an interpretation to cause the people of America in the early twentieth century to work tougher. The American Dream is the opportunity to reach the goals one sets for themselves. It is about having your dream job and life one has always fantasized about. The dream is also about having freedom and equality. In the novel, “Of Mice & Men”, John Steinbeck uses symbols and motifs such as the vicious slaughtering of virtuous animals, Crooks’ rubbish bunkhouse and Lennie and George’s deception of an ideal farm to exhibit the perception that materialistic success results in happiness is a major flaw in our thinking about the American dream, and it is this thinking which makes the dream unattainable for many.
The Clutters’ were a wealthy and prominent family in Western Kansas. They were the living examples of the American Dream, yet they were not conscious of this. The family did not have the fear that is associated with the American Dream. This is the same fear that drives many people to continually achieve success. To define, the fear that comes with the American Dream is simply losing it. For example, the Clutters’ never locked their house door despite living in an isolated area. Moreover, when Nancy Clutter was approached by Dick and Perry on the night of the murder, her response was “Good grief, what is this? Some kind of joke?” She and the family had never believed that something terrible could happen to them, which is rightfully justified
When speaking of Mr. Clutter, “He was not as rich as the richest man in Holcomb - Mr. Taylor Jones…” (Capote 6) Capote emphasizes the economic status of Herb Clutter. By comparing him to the richest man in the county, the audience can assume he is neither rich nor poor and classify his family as middle-class citizens and most anyone else in his town. Through exemplifying the economic status of the Clutters, Capote is trying to convey to the audience the prevalence and rise of middle-class citizens during the time period.
The American Dream is prominent within the novel from the varying perceptions of the characters. The Clutter family was perceived to be living the American Dream along with their community. They had the luxury to live a comfortable lifestyle without reliance on anyone but themselves. Capote impeccably captures the contrasting stories of the idyllic family and the flawed murderers and suggests that the American Dream is delicate and requires the corporation of others, but despite the best efforts by some, it is unobtainable. “Always certain of what he wanted from the world, Mr. Clutter had in large measure obtained it,” (Capote 6). Mr. Clutter, a determined man who had worked for the life he envisioned, would have lived a prosperous life on his
It is the natural inclination of all men and women to dream. In John Steinbeck’s novel “Of Mice and Men,” the American dream is sought after by many different characters. However, the main theme in the story is how these dreams are unattainable, and how because of the Great Depression, all American dreams were dead. But what is the American dream? A unitary definition does not exist, however, the meaning of living the American dream is something that differs for everyone. For some people, the American dream might be acceptance and equality. On the other hand, for others, it might mean fame and fortune. In the short story called “Of Mice and Men” the American dream seems unreachable for a number of characters, such as George, Lennie,
The American dream is an example of a national spirit that represents different ideologies. The set of ideas may be of democracy, equality matters, liberty, rights, and opportunities. The American dream believes in freedom for prosperity and success for its citizens. The idea suggests that upward social mobility for individuals can be achieved only through hard work. In a story done by George Saunders, the American dream is exemplified in several instances. The author, George, tells the story of contemporary America through a diary. The main character in the story is a father to three daughters. The family’s struggles are examples of how individuals will go extra miles just to provide for their families and also
The American Dream is something many Americans desire. The desire to the mind – set or belief that anyone can be successful if they worked hard for what they’ve been yearning. It is considered to be a ‘perfect life’; it can be full of money, contentedness or even love. There are many divergent opinions given by people. Walter Younger from Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ and Willy Loman from Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of the Salesman’ both have their own views on the American Dream and how it can be achieved. Walter Lee Younger, a
Herb Clutter has risen from modest beginnings to becoming a ranch owner with a comfortable lifestyle. He encapsulates the concept of the self-made man, which is a central theme in the American dream.” Herb Clutter shows that the aspiration of becoming a self-made man can fall apart at any moment. The murder of the Clutter family serves as physical proof that in our society, a utopia does not exist.
America. A country that exudes so much hope into an individual: the hope of the American dream. From the founding fathers of America to today’s immigrants, America has always been a land for new beginnings and a chance at new opportunities. In the novel In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, Herb Clutter can be seen as an individual who has accomplished the American dream. On the other hand, the murderers of Mr. Clutter, Dick and Perry, can be seen as opposites of Mr. Clutter; the individuals who have failed to accomplish the American Dream. All three of these characters intertwine because of the American dream, which unfortunately leads to their deaths. Capote’s purpose is to expose the American dream and he uses the lives of Herb Clutter, Dick Hickock, and Perry Smith to accomplish that.
The American Dream has long been thought the pinnacle idea of American society. The idea that anyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, or financial status, could rise from the depths and become anything they wanted to be with no more than hard work and determination has attracted people from all around the world. Two writers from America’s past, however, have a different opinion on the once-great American Dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Steinbeck have given the public their beliefs on the modern Dream through the novels they have written, The Great Gatsby, and Of Mice and Men, respectively. One novel placed during the Great Depression and the other during the Roaring Twenties both illustrate how their author feels about the Dream
People from all around the world have dreamed of coming to America and building a successful life for themselves. The "American Dream" is the idea that, through hard work and perseverance, the sky is the limit in terms of financial success and a reliable future. While everyone has a different interpretation of the "American Dream," some people use it as an excuse to justify their own greed and selfish desires. Two respected works of modern American literature, The Great Gatsby and Death of a Salesman, give us insight into how the individual interpretation and pursuit of the "American Dream" can produce tragic
Each character in the novel has their own interpretation of the ‘American Dream – the pursuit of happiness’ as they all lack happiness due to the
The American dream is an ideology, a vision that’s form varies from individual to individual, based upon one’s own experiences. Although the one thing that remains constant in every single definition is that this ideology, just as the name states, is only a dream. It is meant to merely drive people to unlock their hidden potential and become their best self, for the sole purpose of living one’s out one’s own definition of success. In “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the American Dream is Jay Gatsby’s inspiration and his opportunity, however, as the book progresses it becomes more evident that not all people share the same opportunity.
Dreaming is essential for the human spirit, the reason homo sapiens sapiens wiped out the neanderthals was because we could believe in something bigger than ourselves. Even when our dreams are far from fruition, we as humans still believe in them as it is in our nature. S.E. Hinton’s novel The Outsiders and in John Steinbeck’s book Of Mice and Men have certain characters that possess dreams that they believe in and work towards, whether they’re achievable or not. Many unique personalities such as Crooks the stable buck, Dallas Winston, Curley’s Wife, Darry, and other characters in both books are disenfranchised from a notion henceforth referred to as “The American Dream”. “The American Dream” is a very vague phrase. However, it can be amounted to being a lower-class citizen (frequently an immigrant) and then moving to America. Then (in America) they get a stable job with good income, buy a house, have a family, and live happily ever after. The frequency and large application for the term “The American Dream” is what initially drew a large amount of immigrants in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s because it was viewed as the land of freedom and most importantly, opportunity. “The American Dream” can be, and is a widely used phrase but in this essay shall be used to refer to many characters’ own hopes and dreams for their future. Characters in Of Mice and Men and in The Outsiders are frequently disenfranchised and held back from ‘The American Dream’ by an aspect out of their
Ralph Waldo Emerson, he stated “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” The quote explains how originality and being truthful are the best qualities of all time. American dream has so much to offer, and there’s one for everybody. Some examples of an American dream are opportunities, liberty, equality, and republic.