Post by Liz McCarthy on Apr 4, 2008 18:58:20 GMT -5
The dawning of the twentieth century began to cast a transformative spell on the lives of the American people. The authors of Death of a Salesman, the Glass Menagerie, and the Great Gatsby echo the ideals of their societies by creating characters that live in false realities based on their personal perception of the “American Dream.” These three works expose the turbulent nature of the twentieth century American family who become disillusioned by the false promises and corruption of the “American Dream.” The delusions and illusions of these individuals consequently lead them to evasion in the form of cheating, and excess drinking.
The Great Gatsby shows that the “American Dream” has become less about the achievement of goals through honest, hard work, and more about becoming rich through easy or even illegal outlets. People throughout this story illustrate the immoral behavior motivated by these sets of goals. The marriage between Tom and Daisy Buchanan exemplifies the decaying moral values brought upon by the “American Dream.” It is established that Tom has a mistress when Miss Baker says, “Tom’s got some woman in the New York.” (Fitzgerald 15). The turbulent nature of this couple’s relationship illustrates the aristocratic emphasis on status over sincerity. Nick, the narrator of the story, who happens to be Daisy’s cousin, is disenchanted by this corrupt behavior. He represents the voice of reason or balance in this story. Tom takes Nick to a small party in New York City, with several people who have loose morals. After Mrs. Wilson mentions Daisy, Tom “proceeded to break her nose with a deft movement” (Fitzgerald 37). Nick remains distant from these people and considers himself more of a spectator than a participant. His actions in this section help to exemplify the destructive lifestyles of the “New Rich” class of New York. The perception of the “American Dream” in this story corresponds with the overall moral decline of Nick’s generation. People such as Tom portray the shallow, aristocratic culture of his society. The choice to be emotionally untrue and fulfill immediate material pleasures depicts these characters’ need to escape or rebel from the old traditions of their societies.
In Death of a Salesman Willy Loman’s fixation on achieving the “American Dream,” is not only for himself, but for his family. Since he could never achieve his goals, his family is burdened with his expectations. Willy stresses the importance of popularity in the business world. As he explains to his sons, his philosophy is that “the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want” (Miller 33). His emphasis on popularity leads him to other shortcomings. Willy Loman has an affair caused by his unhappiness with the reality of his economic situation. (Act I). His mistress makes him feel popular because she represented everything that he does not have. He is so embedded in this fantasy that he even puts its importance above his son. During the affair, Willy’s son, Biff, comes to see him about his declining school work. (Act II). Instead of having a reasonable conversation with his son, he chooses his mistress over his family. This illustrates how Willy’s perception of the “American Dream,” has come to override his sensibility in the business world and in his family life. Willy evades his realities because he is deluded by his desires for himself and his family.
In the Glass Menagerie, Tom tries to escape from his family in order to reach the goals set forth by his pursuit of the “American Dream.” Part of Tom’s escape is through excessive drinking and nightly visits to the movies. He feels smothered by the constraints of society, and the dreams and aspirations that his mother has set for him. His feelings of suffocation are shown when he says to his mother, “You know it don’t take much intelligence to get yourself into a nailed-up coffin, Laura. But who in hell ever got himself out of one without removing one nail?” (Williams 60). Tom reflects similar behavior to that of his father’s, who abandoned his family for a new life. Tom frequently narrates the story from the fire escape, a symbol of Tom’s inextinguishable desire to escape the turbulent life of his family. The desire to escape from actuality results from the promises rooted in the “American Dream.”
Death of a Salesman, the Glass Menagerie, and the Great Gatsby poignantly show the individual’s perception of the “American Dream” as a potential detriment to the twentieth century American family. While Willy puts a strong emphasis on the need for success, which leads to his own demise, Tom finds the need to escape from his family so that he can attain his own goals. Tom and Daisy, of the Great Gatsby, wish to depart from their own lives and involve themselves romantically with other people. This idea of escapism still persists in the twenty-first century. Today, the divorce rate in America is the highest in the world. This may not be for the same exact reasons as denoted in Death of a Salesman, the Glass Menagerie, and the Great Gatsby, but it can be surmised that the reason for this is linked to escapism. Most couples today cheat on their spouses because they are not sated with the reality of their own lives. In some cases people wish to leave their family in order to fulfill certain goals, which they feel can only be accomplished on their own. Also, some Americans are sustained by the antiquated aristocratic system, which places an importance on material possessions. At the same time, this system holds a place for individuals who seek frivolous and unsanctified pleasures. These Current trends of divorce, abandonment, and immoral behavior show that Americans, in some ways, are still guilty of previous vices.
The Great Gatsby shows that the “American Dream” has become less about the achievement of goals through honest, hard work, and more about becoming rich through easy or even illegal outlets. People throughout this story illustrate the immoral behavior motivated by these sets of goals. The marriage between Tom and Daisy Buchanan exemplifies the decaying moral values brought upon by the “American Dream.” It is established that Tom has a mistress when Miss Baker says, “Tom’s got some woman in the New York.” (Fitzgerald 15). The turbulent nature of this couple’s relationship illustrates the aristocratic emphasis on status over sincerity. Nick, the narrator of the story, who happens to be Daisy’s cousin, is disenchanted by this corrupt behavior. He represents the voice of reason or balance in this story. Tom takes Nick to a small party in New York City, with several people who have loose morals. After Mrs. Wilson mentions Daisy, Tom “proceeded to break her nose with a deft movement” (Fitzgerald 37). Nick remains distant from these people and considers himself more of a spectator than a participant. His actions in this section help to exemplify the destructive lifestyles of the “New Rich” class of New York. The perception of the “American Dream” in this story corresponds with the overall moral decline of Nick’s generation. People such as Tom portray the shallow, aristocratic culture of his society. The choice to be emotionally untrue and fulfill immediate material pleasures depicts these characters’ need to escape or rebel from the old traditions of their societies.
In Death of a Salesman Willy Loman’s fixation on achieving the “American Dream,” is not only for himself, but for his family. Since he could never achieve his goals, his family is burdened with his expectations. Willy stresses the importance of popularity in the business world. As he explains to his sons, his philosophy is that “the man who makes an appearance in the business world, the man who creates personal interest, is the man who gets ahead. Be liked and you will never want” (Miller 33). His emphasis on popularity leads him to other shortcomings. Willy Loman has an affair caused by his unhappiness with the reality of his economic situation. (Act I). His mistress makes him feel popular because she represented everything that he does not have. He is so embedded in this fantasy that he even puts its importance above his son. During the affair, Willy’s son, Biff, comes to see him about his declining school work. (Act II). Instead of having a reasonable conversation with his son, he chooses his mistress over his family. This illustrates how Willy’s perception of the “American Dream,” has come to override his sensibility in the business world and in his family life. Willy evades his realities because he is deluded by his desires for himself and his family.
In the Glass Menagerie, Tom tries to escape from his family in order to reach the goals set forth by his pursuit of the “American Dream.” Part of Tom’s escape is through excessive drinking and nightly visits to the movies. He feels smothered by the constraints of society, and the dreams and aspirations that his mother has set for him. His feelings of suffocation are shown when he says to his mother, “You know it don’t take much intelligence to get yourself into a nailed-up coffin, Laura. But who in hell ever got himself out of one without removing one nail?” (Williams 60). Tom reflects similar behavior to that of his father’s, who abandoned his family for a new life. Tom frequently narrates the story from the fire escape, a symbol of Tom’s inextinguishable desire to escape the turbulent life of his family. The desire to escape from actuality results from the promises rooted in the “American Dream.”
Death of a Salesman, the Glass Menagerie, and the Great Gatsby poignantly show the individual’s perception of the “American Dream” as a potential detriment to the twentieth century American family. While Willy puts a strong emphasis on the need for success, which leads to his own demise, Tom finds the need to escape from his family so that he can attain his own goals. Tom and Daisy, of the Great Gatsby, wish to depart from their own lives and involve themselves romantically with other people. This idea of escapism still persists in the twenty-first century. Today, the divorce rate in America is the highest in the world. This may not be for the same exact reasons as denoted in Death of a Salesman, the Glass Menagerie, and the Great Gatsby, but it can be surmised that the reason for this is linked to escapism. Most couples today cheat on their spouses because they are not sated with the reality of their own lives. In some cases people wish to leave their family in order to fulfill certain goals, which they feel can only be accomplished on their own. Also, some Americans are sustained by the antiquated aristocratic system, which places an importance on material possessions. At the same time, this system holds a place for individuals who seek frivolous and unsanctified pleasures. These Current trends of divorce, abandonment, and immoral behavior show that Americans, in some ways, are still guilty of previous vices.