- Comparing and contrasting the attitudes of various authors
Novel Reflections on the American Dream is a collection of narratives that explores themes, character and plots of various novels that reflect a number of issues in America such as poverty, wealth and success in America. Some of these novels address the issue of conflict and struggle. This part of the paper analyzes three authors and the attitude they have towards the American dream.
No author brings out the struggles of life in America better than Ann Petry. His novel, which was published in 1946, is set in Harlem in the period believed to be around 1940. Petry centers the novel on Lutie Johnson’s life. Through exposing the life of Lutie, Petry succeeds to describe the vast trials and tribulations that face black people who live in New York’s 116 street. The experience is even worse for women. This shows the differences in class and how discrimination is rampant. This is better explained when Boots sexually harasses Lutie. Through the novel, we learn Ann Petry’s attitude as she believed that wealth can only be achieved through hard work.
F. Scott Fitzgerald is another author in the novel who addresses conflict struggle in the society. In his ‘The Great Gatsby, he reveals the negative and dark side of that prosperity brought in the 1920s. He uses Jay Gatsby as the main character. Gatsby’s believe that he is capable of buying lost love clearly shows the determination he has to make everything work. He believes that with money and power, everything is possible. This motivates him to work hard.
Novel Reflections also makes use of Gish Jen’s ‘Typical American’. Jen uses the character of Ralph Chang and Tommy Wilhelm, both of them failures in life. The author portrays Wilhelm as finding solace in ‘SEIZE THE DAY’. Through the lives of the main characters, we understand the negative attitude the author has towards the American Dream.
- Analyzing two characters
This is the novel’s protagonist as everything revolves around her. She is a determined woman as she moves to Harlem, leaving her family alone. She is confident that success can only be achieved through hard work. She constantly drew inspiration by reading about her hero, Benjamin Franklin. She tries to emulate Benjamin’s work-ethic.
Text examples about the characters
There are several examples from the texts that are significant. Mrs. Hedges is a good example of how people in the society look for shortcuts to become wealthy. She deals in illegal business of running a whore house to benefit herself, even bribing the police not to arrest her. This is different from Lutie who believes success can only be achieved through hard work. Although Lutie asks for help from Boots, she seeks to keep her dignity by not acting desperate.
Importance of these characters in the study of conflict in the society
The above characters are very important in the study on conflict struggle in the society. The two adopt different approaches to ensure they survive. Through Lutie, one gets to understand how they can use just and legal means to succeed. One should also be encouraged to follow the footsteps of their heroes. This, however, is not the case with Mrs. Hedges who uses inappropriate means to get wealth.
