Analysis Of The American Dream In The Film Revolutionary Road

The American dream was at one time the idea of visionaries and people willing to sacrifice everything to achieve the best life possible. But like everything in life, things begin to lose their luster. As seen in the film Revolutionary Road, this American dream is more of an idea of comfort. Quite relatable to a participation trophy, people are content with doing just enough to never leave their comfort zone. There isn’t much risk in owning a home in the suburbs with a wife, two kids, and a pet dog. Although, with a life like that you will often never experience the pain of catastrophic failure or the loneliness in going against the grain everyone else chooses to follow. But without the opportunity to fail, how you can you ever feel like you won? The cookie cutter life previously described also has no opportunity for

John Givings has a mental issue, but one of his best qualities is his brutal honesty. The Wheeler’s present John with April’s idea to leave for Paris so they can pursue a happy life. Unlike everyone else John agrees with the idea, expressing how it takes real courage to see the hopelessness and emptiness that everyone else seems to overlook and ignore. John’s approval of the decision to leave is based on the courage to strive for a better existence, to not just conform to what everyone else has done and to not pretend that the life everyone around them is living is a good life. John is honest about both the good and the bad things in life. He doesn’t accept the small talk and artificial happiness presented by his mother. John also doesn’t accept Frank being a coward after the Wheelers decide against pursuing April’s idea of leaving for Paris. In a world as unjust, as portrayed in the film Revolutionary Road, having the approval of the outcast, John Givings is a sign that April is doing the correct