Abstract This paper discusses how the idea of the "American dream" has been evident across the nation for decades and how the positive side of the American dream involves the hard work, perseverance, and dedication people put into reaching their goal. The paper then looks at how, in contrast to this positive side of the American dream, one of the main themes in Theodore Dreiser's "An AmericanTragedy", deals with the dark side of this dream. More specifically, the paper looks at how Dreiser outlines the dark and destructive pursuit of the American dream through the journey of his main character Clyde Griffiths.
From the Paper "As a child, Clyde does not grow up in prosperity. His parents find all comfort in God and never seek to better their fundamentalist lifestyle. As a result, Clyde and his siblings are deprived of a quality education and develop no practical life skills. Clyde "... appeared indeed to resent and even to suffer from the position in which he found himself. Plainly pagan life rather than religious life interested him, although as yet he was not fully aware of this" (3). He yearns for success when seeking a new job. "I'm working now down at Mr. Klinkle's store at 7th and Brooklyn, but it isn't anything like this one and I'd like to get something better if I could" (27). When given the opportunity to work at the Green-Davidson hotel as a bell-hop, he is for the first time entranced by luxury."
Abstract This paper presents a discussion about "An AmericanTragedy" by Theodore Dreiser. The author of this paper presents a clear-cut idea and discussion about the American Dream and what it truly represents in theory and foundation even as we advance in the future.
Abstract This paper explains that Theodore Dreiser's novel, "An AmericanTragedy," describes the life and eventual downfall of a young and ambitious Clyde Griffiths, as well as events in Dreiser's own life. The author points out that, throughout the novel, the reader learns of Clyde's unusual childhood, as well as the other events leading up to his misdeeds. The paper summarizes that Dreiser depicts a crime motivated by the pursuit of the American dream, which, in the end, reveals itself to be only an illusion.
From the Paper "Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Theodore Dreiser grew up poor in an extremely religious family, causing his fascination with the wealthy in his town. His adolescence was very similar to that of Clyde Griffiths, the novel's main character. Dreiser's father was "a fervent Catholic" who, like Asa and Elvira Griffiths, "never stopped preaching rectitude and self-control to his children, but his guidance was of little practical help." Escaping his rigid conservative family life, Dreiser moved to Chicago eventually landing his first job as a reporter for the Chicago Globe. He continued working as a reporter for varying newspapers, and published his first novel Sister Carrie."
Tags: ambitious, character, childhood, murder, society
Abstract This paper is a critical summary of the book "An AmericanTragedy" by noted author Theodore Dreiser. There is a brief summary and a description of the writing style used by Dreiser.
Abstract This paper explores the motivating forces behind Clyde Griffith's decidedly antisocial actions in Theodore Dreiser's novel, "An AmericanTragedy". The paper shows that Griffith's poor religious upbringing, his lack of a formal education, and his observation that money buys happiness, ultimately lead to his downfall.
From the Paper "Sin is most often exponential in nature"one hardly embarks on a lifetime of crime with a murder or rape; rather, a series of inconsequential slips that so often lead to one's downfall. The same is true in the case of Clyde Griffiths. By attempts at justification and rationalization of his first crime""What difference did it make if he stayed out late" Wasn"t he a man now, making more money than anyone else in the family" Couldn?t he begin to do as he pleased (56)???his road to sin and death became wider and more appealing."
Abstract This paper explains that works of literature often focus on the nature of what people strive for, questioning what society suggests people should try to attain, such as the ambition for American identity as seen in the standards set by society on what is ideal and the impact this has on people. The author points out that, in "The Bluest Eye", Toni Morrison shows the tragedy of what happens when an individual cannot achieve the standard and, in "The Great Gatsby", F. Scott Fitzgerald shows the tragedy inherent in achieving the dream. The paper relates that, while the characters and situations are quite different in the two novels, they do have the same basic reasons at their base; they are both novels about the tragedy of accepting the American dream and striving to become the American ideal.
From the Paper "It is also important to note that the life that Gatsby and Daisy have is what the American dream is about. They have becomes what the standards of society say makes them the highest class and the happiest people. However, they have not truly achieved happiness. Certainly, they have achieved riches. But rather than enjoy them, Daisy spends her time worrying about losing them. It is also seen that Daisy's wealthy upbringing has made her a shallow person who only cares about wealth. The greatest sign of this is that she seems to be incapable of love."
This paper discusses the "American Dream" as seen in the male characters in Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" and Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman".
4,125 words (approx. 16.5 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 110.95
Abstract This paper explains that Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" and Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" reflect the painful aspects of the American Dream by allowing the reader to understand the complications which arise as people plan their lives and set out to reach their dreams. The author points out that the plays contain elements of personal tragedy: (1) Hansberry's Walter Younger is able to turn his negative experience around and learn from it but (2) Miller's Willy Loman lives his entire life misled by his own misconceptions about his dream. The paper relates that each play represents very real segments of society, which help us understand the American Dream through different eyes: Walter Younger gives the reader insight into how African American men in the 1950s saw and pursued their dreams, and Willy Loman provides insight into how white men in the 1940s might have attempted to achieve their dreams.
From the Paper "We get a glimpse of Walter's dream early in the play when he is arguing with Ruth. He tells her that Charlie Atkins is grossing $100,000 a year now and she could not be on his side for just a little while and support him joining Charlie in the dry-cleaning business. Walter also knows that his key to success is getting his mother to support him as well. This is part of his mistake--he is trying to get everyone to be on his side rather than going about starting a business and doing things the hard way. He also tries to get Ruth to convince his mother that his idea with Willy is not a "fly-by-night proposition". Walter also expresses his skepticism about becoming rich when he tells Ruth, "Baby, don't nothing happen for you in this world 'less you pay somebody off!" When Mama tells Walter that she has no intention of giving him any money to invest in the liquor business, he tries to manipulate her with guilt."
Abstract This paper looks at the character, Clyde Griffith, in "The AmericanTragedy" by Theodore Dreiser, and his objectification of women and the world at large. The paper looks at his sexism, his self-centered view of the world, and his character traits.
From the Paper "Clyde Griffiths, the main character in Theodore Dreiser's novel An American Tragedy, is a self-centered young man whose relations with women are such that he could be classified as a sexist. He seems to seek and love women, but in fact he only uses them ..."
Abstract This paper examines the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II by comparing this action with the freedom experienced by German-Americans during the same period. The author questions the inherent racism of Americans that enabled such an occurrence to be legally sanctioned, while German-Americans lived their lives freely, although Hitler and Germany were also enemies of America during World War II. The paper then presents a detailed background of the Japanese immigrant experience in America, contrasting this with the American ideal of freedom and the reality of racism. The experiences of African and Native-Americans are also considered. The paper then describes the actual Japanese internment, which was unprecedented event in American history. The paper further states how the Internment still has an effect on the psyche of the Japanese-American population today. The author concludes that the internment of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War was one of the great tragedies of American history.
Outline:
Introduction
Background: The Japanese Experience in America
Prejudice Unleashed: The Internment Experience
Conclusion
From the Paper " Naturally, the situation was worse the further removed from the Anglo-Saxon ideal a group might chance to be. After the Civil War, the newly reunited nation demanded a huge supply of cheap labor to build its rapidly expanding railroad network. In the West, this labor was provided, to a large extent, by settlers from Japan and China. Labor Contractors, generally Japanese or Chinese themselves actively recruited these workers and brought them to America. They helped to lay the foundations of America's industrial prosperity. White American racial attitudes combined with a nationwide railroad strike in 1877 to create the necessary conditions for a crackdown on Asian immigration. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was soon followed by other, stricter acts, in 1892, 1902, and 1904. And as White America saw little, if any difference, between Japanese and any other Asians, the anti-Chinese immigration laws were followed by a Japanese Exclusion Act in 1907. By 1924, the United States had imposed an almost total ban on all immigration from East Asia, ..."
Tags: Japanese-Americans, internment, World, War, II, immigrant, experiences
An in-depth analysis of this English Renaissance tragedy, the various factors involved which lead to the tragic ending and the struggle between good and evil.
2,800 words (approx. 11.2 pages), 2 sources, 2001, $ 83.95
Abstract In this paper the author examines the theme of tragedy that runs through this play. In so doing he looks at the primary relationships in the play - the relationship between the Cardinal, the Duchess and Ferdinand and the relationship between the Duchess and Antonio which he suggests is central to the play. He also suggests that the character of Bosola is an additional factor in the events that lead to the tragic end. The author examines each of these factors in turn, looking at the characters involved, their characteristics and the meaning of each factor and concludes by showing, not only how all these events led to the tragic ending, but also what meaning this has for the reader.
From the paper:
?The central tragedy of the play is that of the Duchess. She is represented as a fine woman in terrible circumstances. Her tragic flaw is her need to follow her heart. She defies the reality of the situation and makes the decision to marry Antonio and ultimately suffers for this choice. The tragedy of the situation is that she does nothing wrong. Her relationship with Antonio is pure. Even with the tragedy that results, she accepts this as a consequence of loving Antonio and accepts her fate.?
Abstract This paper summarizes and reviews William Shakespeare's tragedy, "The Tragedy of King Lear". The author compares the relative quiet opening of "The Tragedy of King Lear" to other works of Shakespeare and goes on to describe how the complex journey of King Lear's journey towards death manages to explore the tragedy of the human condition.
From the Paper "As the play opens with a ritualized and multivalent gesture of division as the aged Lear, preparing for his retirement from power, parcels out his territory, and in doing so dissolves his kingdom and his family into fiercely competitive fragments, a problem exacerbated when Cordelia refuses partake in a public love test only to be rashly disinherited by her father. And although critics often cite this opening act as a sign of the ultimate failure of Lear's vision, it is the conditions that Lear embarks on his quest that prove equally cursed and equally fraught with failure."
Abstract This paper studies the term "tragedy" and defines it using the thoughts of Plato and Aristotle and plays written in ancient Greece and by Arthur Miller's works. In order to do so the paper proceeds to examine each of these thinkers and writers and their works. It details Aristotle's notes that defined tragedy and his play 'Antigone' and 'Oedipus Rex', Arthur Miller's 'On Tragedy', 'The Crucible' and 'Death of a Salesman'.
From the Paper "The simplest, most reasonable definition of tragedy is that found in dictionaries and the definitions of laymen and theater -goers everywhere: ?a story with a sad ending.? However, literary theorists and critics would quickly be out their jobs if they simply left the common law of art alone. Thus for centuries there have been disagreements as to what constituted "true" tragedy. In ancient Greece, both the merits and ideal qualifications of tragedy were under debate. Plato suggested that tragedy might be best defined as people pretending to be villainous or sad for no good reason, and thus corrupting society. Aristotle, on the other hand, said that tragedy was a form of social good, for it allowed the rational soul to vent its emotions in a process he referred to as a ?catharsis.? He went on to define the trademarks of a tragedy it in some detail, including such plot elements as the noble birth of the protagonist, and the inevitability of the ending. Works that followed his model, such as Oedipus cycle, set the standard for centuries to come. Aristotle's conventions became a measuring stick for literary critics, though they were not always followed by poets and playwrights. In the modern era, many of these conventions were challenged, and this was particularly noticed in the case of Arthur Miller. After his play, Death of a Salesman, was lambasted by critics for not being a "real" tragedy, he responded with a seminal work on the modern adaptation of tragic conventions. The ideas put forth in his "On Tragedy" were deeply important to parts of his later play The Crucible. It is fascinating to see that despite the fact that many critics saw Miller's works as antithetical to ancient ideas of tragedy, and assumed that ancient tragedies would not be based around the ideals embraced by Miller, in many ways there are distinct parallels in thought between such works as The Crucible and older masterpieces such as Antigone. The inevitability of each play is iron-wrought, and each is driven by the inseparable division between the straight edge of power and the personal freedom of choice and self-definition. "
Abstract The paper examines "Death of a Salesman," written by Arthur Miller and first performed in 1949, that is often said to be a play about the failure of the American Dream. The paper explains that there is some dispute about whether or not the play should be ranked as a tragedy, but most people agree that it deals with the subject of the American Dream. The paper considers the argument that the play is indeed about the confusion and pathos of a man and his two sons deluded by the American Dream, so that they waste their lives chasing a dream that is not only impossible for them to attain, but in fact not even worth attaining.
Abstract This essay discusses the main differences between Elizabethan and Greek tragedy by examining Shakespeare's poems and plays. The writer examines the use of violence on stage in Shakespearean tragedy as opposed to Elizabethan's.
From the Paper "There are various differences between Elizabethan tragedy, particularly through the works of Shakespeare, and Greek Tragedy. Some of these include the mixing of prose and Poetry, the linear formula of a character with a suffers from a tragic flaw, which leads to the character's downfall, versus the Elizabethan idea of the Wheel of Fortune. However, one of the largest dramatic differences between Greek tragedy and Shakespearean tragedy has to be the use of violence on stage. And what it boils down to is that the perfect combination of dialogue and action that Shakespeare uses in Othello can be more powerful than just the allusion, emotion, and metaphor that Sophocles uses in Oedipus the King."
A detailed examination of how tragedy can glorify an individual, through the discussion of August Strindberg's "Miss Julie" and Ibsen's "Ghosts" as examples to illustrate this point.
Abstract This paper examines the contention that characters of literary works often are put through physical and emotional torment in order to strengthen their character and emerge as heroes. In "Ghosts" the writer shows that the character of Mrs Alving is the hero after she suffers greatly from her husband's death and unfaithfulness and her son's illness. Despite all this she rises above her troubles. In the play "Miss Julie" the heroes are the rich daughter and a house servant and their love for each other which cannot be. This paper compares the way in which each of these literary works uses tragedy to strengthen their characters.
From the Paper "Authors of literary works often use their writing to convey the character worth and strength of their protagonists. They may put them through grief and tragedy but in the end they come out on top and even in spite of the horrors they have suffered they look very moralistic and glorified. Two classic works, August Strindberg's Miss Julie and Henrick Ibsen's Ghosts are illustrative of this ability to glorify an individual through the use of tragedy."
