Sister Carrie and the American Dream - 1618 Words

The American Dream is surely based on the concept of â€Å"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness† but it is above all, a matter of ambition. James Truslow Adams, an American writer and historian, in 1931 states: life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement†, which not only points towards a better standard of living for Americans but also denounces a degree of greed in the US society. Ambition not only â€Å"killed the cat† but killed relationships as well in texts like Sister Carrie and Death of a Salesman. While the American Dream was supposed to be a collective success at its initial stage, ambition, along with a pinch of greed and materialism were perfect ingredients†¦show more content†¦When I walked out I was twenty-one. And, by God, I was rich! Through Ben, Miller’s play suggests that one must be ruthless, sometimes even wild, in order to achieve success. This very dynamic approach towards the American Dream is what makes Willy Loman envious of his brother’s success and machismo. The contrast between a passive approach and dynamic ambition towards the realization of the American Dream is the cause of rift in a brother relationship between Willy and Ben. Another instance of rift in relationships in regards to ambition and the American Dream can be found in the father-son relationship between Willy and his son Biff. Willy always believed that personality, not hard work or innovation, was the key to success. His personal views even justified adultery. This is where conflicts arose; Biff was against this trait of his father’s personality. It is only after learning about Willy’s infidelity that Biff decides to pursue his own American Dream. However, he is torn between two American Dreams: becoming a s alesman like his father or immersing himself in nature. Different ambitions and perceptions of the American Dream eventually led to Biff being convinced that his father had the â€Å"wrong† dream. At this point, the arising question is: is ambition contributing towards the realization of an AmericanShow MoreRelatedThe Naturalist Known as Theodore Dresier Essay1214 Words   |  5 Pagesnovel, â€Å"Sister Carrie†. This specific piece of work is unlike any novel before it because it displays the idea of the â€Å"American Dream† in a completely different way in which no other author could do and as such it still stands as a very influential novel today. â€Å"He was the first to point out the fragile vulnerability of the facade that was understood to be the American Dream and to depict the awful but beautiful reality that supports the facade† (Johnson). The theme of the American Dream makesRead MoreTheodore Dreiser: Novelist1202 Words   |  5 Pagesnovel, â€Å"Sister Carrie†. This specific piece of work is unlike any novel before it because it displays the idea of the â€Å"American Dream† in a completely different way in which no other author could do and as such it still stands as a very influential novel today. â€Å"He was the first to point out the fragile vulnerability of the facade that was understood to be the American Dream and to depict the awful but beautiful reality that supports the facade† (Johnson). The theme of the American Dream makesRead MoreNaturalism : The Great. Who Has Read American Literature1368 Words   |  6 PagesNaturalism the Great Anyone who has read American literature will know of the significance of naturalism as a literary genre in American literature. Merriam Webster’s definition of Naturalism is as follows: A theory that art or literature should conform exactly to nature or depict every appearance of the subject that comes to the artist’s attention, specifically a theory in literature emphasizing the role of heredity and environment upon human life and character development. Naturalism went fromRead MoreNaturalism As A Literary Genre1367 Words   |  6 PagesAnyone who has read American literature will know of the significance of naturalism as a literary genre in American literature. Merriam Webster’s definition of Naturalism is as follows: A theory that art or literature should conform exactly to nature or depict every appearance of the subject that comes to the artist’s attention, specifically a theory in literature emphasizing the role of heredity and environment upon hum an life and character development. Naturalism went from being a movement in theRead MoreSister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser and Stephen Crane ´s The Open Boat, Examples of American Naturalist Literature959 Words   |  4 Pagesany and all underlying forces that may influence the characters’ actions. Naturalist writers often write about taboo subjects, such as sexuality, but also many other subjects, such as Theodore Dreiser’s â€Å"Sister Carrie,† which is about a young country girl who moves to the big city to follow her dream of making it big. Stephen Crane’s â€Å"The Open Boat† is another example. His story is an autobiographical story about how he and three crew members survived a shipwreck. Other subjects often written aboutRead MoreThe Protagonist in Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser1396 Words   |  6 Pagesthat Theodore Dreiser’s novel, Sister Carrie, portrays is only a half-truth. 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Within the bustling empire, the wealthy were able to live lavish lifestyle that inspired the idea of the â€Å"American Dream.† The â€Å"American Dream† was a common belief that the poorest person in the United States could achieve success. With the circulation of this idealRead MoreCarrie Underwood: A Brief Biography765 Words   |  3 PagesCarrie Underwood is a beautiful, young, amazing, creative, and outstanding woman. She is now a country singer because of American Idol. She went to American Idol in May of 2004 and reached finals in May 2005. She won American Idol because of her amazing viewers. Carrie has now received many awards being a country singer. Through everything Underwood is now one of the most popular country singers alive today. (La Bella, New York: Rosen Central, 2008.) 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It has already been decided that they are heroes. Therefore, the question is not whether or not they are heroes. The question is to what extent do they fit this notion of heroism? To what extent