The American Dream

In my opinion, the American Dream consists of good health, a comfortable home to live in, a decent paying job, and friends and family to share your happiness with.  I believe that through hard work and determination, anything is possible.  Britney Spears on the other hand, lives a different version of the American Dream.  Her idea of the American Dream includes talent, fame and wealth.  Her voice has easily led her to the materialistic lifestyle she lives today.  Even though she owns fancy cars and multiple mansions, those objects do not complete her life.

Walter Younger's thirst for owning his own business  is similar to Will Smith's character's dream of a better lifestyle.  Both Younger and Smith dream of a better, richer lifestyle, and will do most anything to make their dreams come true.  Smith's quote "You want something. Go get it. Period." is applicable to Walter and Beneatha's view of life.  Walter and Beneatha are both chasing their dreams of owning a business and saving lives.  Walter attempts to achieve his dream by constantly meeting with his "business partners" and performing numerous amounts of paperwork, whereas Beneatha attempts to achieve her dream by going to school and dating intelligent men.  Unlike Walter and Beneatha, Mama seems to be very content with the humble life the Youngers are living in their cramped apartment.  Mama doesn't seem to have the passion for change and wealth that Walter and Beneatha do: " Oh- so now it's life.  Money is life.  Once upon a time freedom used to be life-now it's money.  I guess the world really do change..." (74).  Mama believes that the thought of money and a better lifestyle is consuming her childrens' thoughts so much that they have forgotten who they really are.  Mama, in a way, is holding her children back from achieving their dreams.  As well as Mama, poverty is holding the Youngers back from achieving a better lifestyle.  For example, Ruth doesn't even have fifty cents in her pocket to send with her son to school.  Furthermore, being African American held the Youngers back from chasing their dreams: "You mean you ain't read 'bout them colored people that was bombed out their place out there?" (100).  During that time period in Chicago, whites formed angry riots that would harm the African Americans living in their areas.


I believe the end of the play brings about a feeling of hope for the Youngers.  They already conquered one obstacle: moving out of the shabby apartment, and I believe that they are capable of conquering many more.  I envision Beneatha moving to Africa to pursue her dream of being a doctor, I envision Ruth having a new baby and caring deeply for it, I envision Walter finding a new job, and I envision Mama planting her poor plant in a beautiful garden where it will soak up the rays of sunshine with Travis by her side.  Being able to move into a new house should give the Youngers a strength inside of them that they never knew existed.  Sometimes having something good happen fuels a family to want to pursue more greatness. 

Unfortunately, the economic downturn has discouraged many families from living their version of the American Dream.  I think that if a family has a strong sense of determination, they can achieve what they want out of life.  Peoples' American Dreams may not be as elaborate as they used to be during this time of economic hardship, but if a family has food, shelter, a paying job, good health, and support, they should be living a happy life full of blessings. 

Question:  Was Mama's plant a symbol of herself?

Connection:  I really like how we had to answer a question about the movie The Pursuit of Happyness.  This is one of my favorite movies, and I was able to see the area in San Fransisco where they filmed the movie last summer!  Will Smith's struggle for a better life is an excellent comparison of the Younger family's struggle to make ends meet day by day.