The American Dream In The Play Our Town

The American Dream has been a central theme in American literature for centuries. In the course readings thus far, including works by Kamp, Jillson, Cullen, Hochschild, and Weber, the American Dream is explored in various ways. The play, Our Town by Thornton Wilder, is a prime example of an American Dream narrative. This play explores the lives of people living in Grover's Corners, a small town in New Hampshire in the year 1901. Throughout the play, Wilder portrays the American Dream in both a positive and negative light, promoting it while also calling it into question. The play promotes and critiques the American Dream while also exploring the nostalgia versus reality of Grover's Corners in 1901. The American Dream narrative is a recurring

The play raises questions about the American Dream and its impact on individuals and society. Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" is a play that explores the concept of the American Dream and its effects on people's lives. The play is set in the small town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, and follows the lives of its inhabitants. Through the characters of George and Emily, the play portrays the American Dream narrative, where hard work and determination lead to success and happiness. However, the play also challenges this narrative by showing the limitations of the American Dream and its failure to provide true fulfillment. As T. Keller notes, "Wilder's depiction of small-town America emphasizes the limitations of the American Dream, revealing the emptiness of a life lived solely for material success." (Keller 56). The play highlights how the pursuit of the American Dream can lead to a narrow focus on material success, at the expense of more meaningful experiences and relationships. In the end, the play suggests that true happiness and fulfillment come not from the American Dream narrative, but from the simple joys of life and the connections we make with others. Through its critique of the American Dream, "Our Town" presents a thought-provoking commentary on the values and aspirations of American

The idea that through hard work and determination, anyone can achieve success and prosperity has been promoted and celebrated by politicians, business leaders, and the media for decades. However, the American Dream has also been subject to critique and scrutiny. Scholars such as David Hayden have argued that the American Dream is a myth that obscures the realities of social and economic inequality in American society (Hayden 2002). Hayden contends that the American Dream is a form of false consciousness that encourages people to believe that success is solely the result of individual merit and hard work, rather than acknowledging the role that social factors such as race, class, and gender play in determining economic outcomes. Critics of the American Dream also point to the fact that for many Americans, achieving economic success is simply out of reach due to structural barriers such as lack of access to education, healthcare, and other resources (Hayden 2002). Despite these critiques, the American Dream continues to be a powerful force in American culture, inspiring and motivating people to strive for success, even in the face of