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American Dream

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American Dream and American Society: A Study of F. Scott. Fitzgerald’s The
Great Gatsby, Arthur Miller’s The Death of a Salesman and Ernest
Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea
Dr. Ajoy Batta
Professor and Head
Department of English
Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411

Merry Baghwar
PhD Scholar
Department of English
Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411

Abstract

Who wouldn’t like aspiring American Dream, me, you, everyone and anyone would desire for.
“American dream has become a nightmare”. (Pearson 645) This research paper delineates the
concept of ‘American dream’ with resilience of myth and politics, the success and failure,
illusion and disillusion, by providing characteristic examples from various works of 20th century.
An equal opportunity applicable to every human to achieve anything which can make life better
and richer is defined as American dream. It’s a recurring theme in American literature. The
disappointment comes when the American dream seems to fail in one’s life, for instance in The
Great Gatsby by F. Scott. Fitzgerald, the helpless and feeble Willy Loman from The Death of a
Salesman by Arthur Miller, on basis of ‘psychomachia’ on the other side the determination and
enthusiasm of the old man from The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Azar Nafisi
quotes – “the negative side of the American Dream comes when people pursue success at any
cost, which in turn destroys the vision and the dream”. (Nafisi) May be Willy Loman could not
reach to riches but one should always be secure and content like the old man to restart after fail.
Fitzgerald claims American dream a myth and lack of optimism, but where Gatsby craved for the
dream at any cost by any means, which led to isolated death. The victory of Obama has been
claimed by American dream without considering colour, race, creed, etc.
KEYWORDS

American dream, Myth, Wealth, Rags, Politics, Symbolisms, Psychomachia, illusion, Self-
Esteem, Determination, Obama, Victory.

Introduction

Pearson in 1970, states, “Emerson saw American dream as the opportunity…. Whitman it was
‘the word Democratic”. (Pearson 638) in simplest terms: a belief that any human despite of the
caste, creed, colour, race, religion, language etc can twirl themselves from rages to riches. This
sounds to be very phenomenal and wondrous. The Old Testament prophets were predicting the
coming of a golden age, and the epitome would be Messiah of the word ‘American’. And
Fitzgerald’s answer is Gatsby. The picture imagined for American dream might probably be:
“house, car, beauty, youth, talent” (Schudson 566) but Cullen believes in Puritan dream- the faith
in utmost effort and struggle, tings might go different, and in a better way.

In order to abandon any unpleasant consequences, the point of view is to be implemented of

achieving American dream from easy wealth to hard work. People rush to find solace on
American shores either by choice or might be a need. What concerns here is multiculturalism
should be embraced. The ultimate objective is to build in a faith, if efforts do not pay off,
inculcating patience and strong belief in oneself is most crucial in this life, rather losing self. For
instance Willy Loman commits suicide after his failure in achieving a better and richer life.
Those contradictions he highlighted and implied to fiction, heightens the dream for every
individual.

According to Jennifer Hoschschild, in 2004, American dream is “tenets about achieving

success.” (566) President Bill Clinton observed, “If you work hard and play by the rules you
should be given a chance to go as far as your God-given ability will take you”. (566) For
Fitzgerald, it’s the American dream, similarly, “the theme of separate peace” (Pearson, p.638) is
for Ernest Hemingway. Bernard Tanner’s ‘The Gospel of Gatsby’, (639) takes this work in a
different direction- towards ‘Jazz Parody’ (369) dealing with the life of Christ. The characters are
related such: Gatsby as ‘inverted Christ’. Not to mean it literally, “Nick Carraway as
Nocodemus, Dan Cody as St. John the Baptist, Meyer as St. Peter. Comparing other events viz;
Wedding feasts at Cana, Judas betrayal, Christ Crucifixion.” (369)

Political Behaviour of the American Dream

If one discusses about the political behaviour of the American dream or American popular
culture during twentieth century along with the elevation of mobility, there followed the
disengaged houses of a single-family, resulted to such chief support. “The economic crisis of
2006-2007 profoundly shook confidence in this myth”. (Archer, p.7) This ‘myth dream’ (p.7)
was revealed to desert criticism and to fit in a proper way. The spark of appropriateness is likely
to be visible when there comes a suitable understanding between the relationship of human
consciousness and the physical environment. The way a human considers his/her daily life. “The
American dream is, and always has been, critically allied with American politics”. (8)
Conjunctionally the human consciousness and physical environment were similar in both the
lives of Willy Loman and the old man, the only difference was the poor human consciousness of
Loman could not equally qualify with the intense mindset of the old man. Both of theirs physical
environment were not at all favourable. “It was on frontier after frontier of his vast domain that
the American dream could be prolonged until it became part of the very structure of the
American mind”. (10)

In 2008 US Presidential election, “the former looked to restimulate the ‘American dream’,
investing ‘faith’….. eminently in political schedule. (Maass, p.25) Barrack Obama’s own book
entitled ‘The Audacity of Hope’. Therefore, if one witnesses the current political debates, one can
render that it’s a competition over a strong, consolidating myth in American society or American
dream. The American dream not only conceptually defines but also it restores a friendly
relationship with the elements of American Creed. American dream was under tension during
21st century. “A political struggle has emerged between the progressive sides of American
society that carried the Democrat Barrack Obama to election victory in 2008”. (26) This led
claim towards American dream. Many a times we discuss, no sooner Obama encountered
controversy, his candidacy got withheld. The explanation proceeded towards the furiosity of
blacks and white Americans and then chained the issues of race in America to American dream.
Now arises a question if that dream is possible to all citizens, could those (race, colour) problems
be solved. Translow Adams or more like Calvin C. Jillson of classical study mark the American
dream as parallel to American history because of the colonization of North America.

Myth and lack of optimism

Fitzgerald proceeds on to make people realise that American dream is unattainable. The ethic
themes the book includes: “moral growth, Gatsby's life of illusion, the withering of the American
Dream, and the parallels between the 1920s and the 1980s. Fitzgerald's fiction analysis is then
tied to the '90s via current social science and philosophical evidence addressing Fitzgerald's
1920s concerns”. (McAdams, p.653) The protagonist, Jay Gatsby represents the ‘American
dream’, who being a self-structured man achieved to bring himself out of slum, only to see his
end with hell of sufferings. But when going through the story, the fact that’s not highlighted is
the earning of wealth by hook or by crook, for Gatsby it was easy and correct to consider the
illegal means in order to achieve American dream. People, most probably choose the easy path of
fetching easy wealth. The novel challenges the idea of the American dream. “Fitzgerald’s unique
expression of the American dream lacks the optimism” (Pearson, p.638) which he assures
through his work ‘Gatsby’. Why is chapter five important, in Gatsby? Nick arranges their meet.
It’s a reunion of Daisy and Gatsby, where they explore and experience themselves, at the end
Gatsby is disappointed because he planned few ideas to impress her, but she was already
impressed and satisfied by the wealth, material, house, and richness of Gatsby. So he might have
nothing to work for impressing anymore.

Fitzgerald portrays irony in the novel. According to the readers, Daisy seems to have found love
in her revisit with Gatsby; it reveals that the case is just leading to different scenario. Daisy’s
tears were not the tears of happiness, but the cry was for the pure satisfaction all his material
wealth. Those wealth and riches, Gatsby assembled taking serious risks to let him out from
poverty and to get his love back, which was insincere from Daisy’s part. Lately Daisy realizes
Gatsby’s true feelings. She is a material girl and ignorant of the hardships taken by Gatsby to
become wealthy though it was an illegal means but all he did was for love. Fitzgerald has
tragicized the irony of Gatsby’s death, none arrive for his funeral neither of those friends who
daily partied with him only to benefit themselves.
Pearson believes Fitzgerald is much like Hemingway in use of symbolisms. To chart the
symbolisms in Gatsby, this paper would begin with Gatsby that infinitely exhibits: passion, and
vigour. Green represents Gatsby’s hope, and the wealth he earns, helps him get Daisy back. Blue
represents lost time, the clock can be interpreted as the time lost with Daisy and now Gatsby is
ultimately making it up to catch the opportunity. Including Daisy is a symbolic character. Like
few other novels, Gatsby is also not a happy ending; Gatsby includes his love in his American
dream but is betrayed and finally killed. He might be successful in achieving the dream of wealth
and riches but no permanency, neither found his lady love. The reason why Fitzgerald and
American dream is not in good term will be convinced after reading Gatsby. “Harpoon is the
power of fishermen in the sea. Simply the loss of harpoon symbolizes the loss of power of
Santiago amidst the sea and the strength. ―He hit it with his blood – mushed hands driving a
good harpoon with all his strength.‖ ―He took my harpoon too and all the rope, he thought, and
now my fish bleeds again and there will be others‖ Santiago fights with Sharks by using his
harpoon”. (Sandamali, 127) Though Santiago went down physically since he was an old man, but
eyes stay in same color. Those eyes symbolize the “unchanged determination of Santiago”. (127)

Psychomachia

The drama ‘The Death of a Salesman’ can be “interpreted as ‘psychomachia’.... a confused

mingling of expressionism and naturalism”. (Hoeveler 1) Willy not able to stabilize his mind, he
could notice his downfall, Willy has a very poor human consciousness, that he kills himself and
gets rid of debts and pursuing American dream. Willy hears Linda’s (wife) voice- “why must
everybody conquer the world? You’re well liked, and the boys love you”. (3) Although his son
Biff acknowledges his father as fraudulent with heavy debts and in supporting his father makes
himself the same. At the age of 63, Willy is a mess. “Willy Loman’s adultery, which by
alienating his son, Biff, has destroyed the strongest value in Willy’s life”. (Parker 145) He is
broke and about to get fired. Linda is an ever-supportive and loving wife, Biff is surprised by
seeing his father engaged in affair, he lost trust and faith on his father and begins suspecting all
through. “Fitzgerald embodied in his tissues and nervous system the fluid polarities of American
experience: success and failure, illusion and disillusion, dream and nightmare”. (Callahan 374)
Fitzgerald at times becomes orthodox and even formulistic. T.S. Eliot’s Wasteland is similarized
to Gatsby’s spiritual life.
Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea prompts us to realize the difference between “how
something appears and who someone is”. (Cain 114) On second day sunset, the old man
Santiago, an aged Cuban fisherman, still fighting with the gigantic Marlin, after half an hour or
some he takes rest, leaning at the edge of the boat, staring up on the sky, tired and exhausted
physically yet strong mentally. “Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the
same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated”. (113) Santiago is fearless and surreal,
self-conscious and out of reason, he gives his full effort to any task offered. Where, time doesn’t
matter to him. After eighty four days he returns from the sea along with Marlin, but failed in
bringing fish and flesh. Tired old man plans for the next move in the morning again to the sea.

While comparing and contrasting these two characters Santiago and Willy Loman, both
exclusively lead towards divergent ways. These characters explore various human psychologies,
how an individual contrivances the situations and consequences, depends upon one’s own
determination. This reflects from Santiago, whose unending effort pave the way to his success,
all that he struggles to fetch the giant Marlin, the only he had targeted. The stubbornness visible
in his effort assures that he gets the fish and fortunately survived. Age does not define strength
it’s the willpower that would well explicate an individual.

Once man reaches to the shore, realizes his past struggle, pain, effort, and all hardships taken in
life, now the only act is to dive in the sea and be rewarded as vast as the ocean. When the past
seems empty with no struggle, ache, suffering, but life with ease, illicit acts, lethargical living,
which results to ultimate failure, like Gatsby. Taking a strong decision, with lack of
determination, willpower, tends to fail, and poor human consciousness, destructive illusions like
Willy, would provoke to end life immediately, leaving the entire life to be summoned as coward.
There’s no dream without pain. The concept of American dream varies according to the
experiences. Either it can be a myth or history.
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