THE AMERICAN DREAM

1)
2.) Connection to the Declaration of Independence
=> Beginning of the American Dream
- The early settlers hoped for a better life in America
In Europe : religious persecution, political oppression, poverty
- Declaration of Independence => No longer a part of the British Empire
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
Consequences of the Declaration of Independence
- freedom, equality, the pursuit of happiness are laws, which have been given with the help of the
Declaration of Independence
=> Origin of the American Dream
- still basic parts of the social structure and culture of the American way of life
Independence Day (4
th
of July)
- The Declaration of Independence was adopted by all thirteen colonies on July 4, 1776
- Now every year the July 4, is celebrated with parades,
- Since the 19
th
century the July 4 became a popular spectacle
- Today it is the national holiday in the USA
3.)Important words:
The Puritans
- 16th. / 17th century: social, religious movement
- wanted to cleanse Church of England from remaining influence of Roman-Catholic Papacy:
abolition of human inventions and traditional church hierarchy
- read Bible literally , purify it message
- 1620-1640: emigrated to America (promised land/ New Canaan)
- shaped many aspect of American civil religion
New Canaan
- Canaan (Bible): country to which Moses led his people when people told him to free them from
Egyptian slavery
- Promised land for those fleeing to America from religious persecution
Ellis Island
- 1892-1954: headquarters of the US immigration authority (because of increasing flood of
immigrants) almost 20 million people entered the US through Ellis Island
- 1990: reopened as a museum for four centuries of immigration
The Stars and Stripes (Old Glory)
- designed in 1777 (thirteen stripes founding states, fifty stars every state)
- meaning: white = purity, red = endurance & bravery, blue = justice
Uncle Sam
- nickname for American government (/ people)
- popular: used to recruit volunteers during World Wars I and II
Manifest Destiny
- John L. OSullivan: Americas mission to democratize the world
- Used to justify territorial expansion and imperialism
- Role of the US as a global mediator in political conflicts
Frontier
- originally: line of settlement moving westward (reached Pacific in 1890)
- distinguishes Americans from Europeans (Frederick Jackson Turner)
- need for new frontiers (i.e. science), kept alive in American culture
Multiculturalism
- two competing concepts: assimilation and pluralism / cultural: mainstream vs. minority culture
and subcultures
- more rights for minority groups vs. cultural fragmentation
Individualism
- central concept in the way Americans see themselves and are viewed by others
- idea of self-reliance and responsibility for ones own fate; If you work hard, you prosper if
you fail, it is your own fault. no restriction or interference (government or church), great
degree of personal freedom
4.) Capture the myth/ social mobility:
- Its difficult to define the American Dream because of the complexity of the different ideas
referring to it. In general: The chance of everybody to improve his situation or position in
society by working hard.
- The American culture is highly influenced by the American Dream. This concept is visible in
e.g. Hollywood as a symbol of financial success
- The war in Vietman became a nightmare for the American Dream: The USA fought for
democracy and liberty, but the line between good and bad vanished in the war (massacres
etc.) the ideals of the American Dream resulted in a catastrophe
Representative of the American Dream:
- Elvis Presley was a trucker before he became a symbol of RocknRoll and youth culture of the
1950s
- Marilyn Monroe worked in a factory, when a photographer discovered her qualities
These careers are examples for the idea of from rags to riches.
Social mobility in the United States:
- There is no or only very little class envy in the USA. Most Americans accept the social
differences and believe the wealth of Americas wealthiest people is the consequence of hard
work and talent.
- most people accept the great economical differences, because
poverty in the US is poverty in a rich society and in comparison to other countries there is
quite little severe poverty
the belief in the American Dream and as a part of it the belief in individualism
There is indeed a high social mobility in the USA in comparison to the mobility of European societies.
Thesis of Jonathan Freedland (well known British journalist)
There was no necessary for a system of social help as in Europe, where the aristocrats took care of the
worker class. In the USA was neither an upper class nor a worker class. To Freedland the non-existing
social protection is not a mistake of the United States, but the reason why visions like from rags to
riches can by realized.
5.) A raisin in the sun
Exposition: Ruth and Walter talk about their unhappy life; they keep mentioning a check which
Walter wants to use to invest in a liquor store Ruth disapproves of; Beneatha wants to become a
doctor, which requires tuition fees; Mama dreams of buying a house for the family; she is worried
about the distance between her children and herself.
Rising action: The Youngers clean their appartment; Mama is upset because Beneatha has invited
over a friend from school who is from Nigeria, Asagai; Ruth returns from seeing a doctor, who has
told her that she is two month pregnant; finally the check arrives; Mama tells Walter that she does not
want to invest in a liquor store. Beneatha performs a tribal dance in the apartment in the Nigerian
clothes from Asagai; Walter returns home drunk and joins her; George Beneathas wealthy suitor,
arrives to take her out; Walter tries to talk about business with him; Mama has bought a house in an
entirely white neighborhood; Ruth is happy about that but Walter is very depressed.
Climatic moment release of tension: Beneatha comes home from a date with George, but is not
interested in him any more; Walter will probably lose his job because he has not been to work for the
past few days; Mama gives Walter a big sum of the money to shake him out of this misery; he dreams
of a bright future for his family.
Rising action turning point: It is moving day; there is a changed mood around the household; Mr.
Lindner visits to tell the family that they are not wanted in their new neighborhood; Walter tells him to
leave; Bobo arrives to tell them that Wolly has disappeared with their money; Walter confesses that he
also took Beneathas money; everybody is shocked.
Falling action/ dnouement: Beneatha and Walter are depressed in their rooms; Asagai visits and
suggests that Beneatha should go to Nigeria with him; Walter calls Mr. Lindner to sell the house to
him, but when he arrives, Walter stands up to him and tells him that they will move.
Group: Joachim, Kerstin, Rebecca, Sonja, Thorsten