In America, there’s hopes and dreams of becoming successful, but no one is willing to put in the work to do so. Many people have become successful, because either it’s passed on down from generations, or others work hard for it. People who are successful aren’t because they’re special, it’s because they’re unique from anyone else. Almost every Early Americans looked forward to living the American dream that everyone dreamt of, but rarely anyone has put in work to achieve that goal. The stories of, “Pecos Bill Rides the Tornado”, “John Henry: The Steel Driving Man”, and “Paul Bunyan Tames the Whistling River” by S.E. Schlosser all shows the unique features about these characters. In “Pecos Bill Rides the Tornado”, Bill is well known throughout …show more content…
Through the use of a myth-function Schlosser demonstrates how one must overcome great obstacles to achieve what their goal is. In this legend, John Henry was once a slave, and now that he was free he worked at the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company. Thereon forward he was known the be the hardest working man to the point where no one could have been compared to him. Later on a contest was set-up, because a salesman claimed that his product a steam-powered drill could out-drill anyone. But John Henry, he didn’t care, he had a mindset like no other, he had strength like no other and most importantly, he had determination like no other This is all revealed when Schlosser states “The foreman ran that newfangled steam-drill. John Henry, he just pulled out two 20-pound hammers, one in each hand. They drilled and drilled, dust rising everywhere. The men were howling and cheering. At the end of 35 minutes, John Henry had drilled two seven foot holes - a total of fourteen feet, while the steam drill had only drilled one nine-foot hole. John Henry held up his hammers in triumph” (Schlosser, 73). Early American Values are revealed when John henry holds up “his hammers in triumph”. John Henry was originally known for his strength and determination. When the salesman claimed that his steam-powered drill could out-drill any man, Henry did not hesitate to accept the challenge. Therefore a contest was set-up, …show more content…
Through man vs. nature, it is revealed how Early American values how one should overcome challenges instead of giving up. A river known as the “Whistling River” is known for its whistle that was heard for over six hundred miles. This river, was a disaster to those who worked it and to the people who were around it when it whistled, especially Paul Bunyan. Paul Bunyan was upset and took action and tried to plan on how to tame the river, when it “spat five thousand and nineteen gallons of muddy water onto his beard, adding a batch of mud turtles, several large fish and a muskrat into the mix. Paul Bunyan was so mad he jumped up and let out a yell that caused a landslide all the way out in Pike’s Peak” (Schlosser 74). Because of the way the river affected the people who worked it, and who were near it when it whistled, Paul Bunyan a victim of the river that “spat five thousand and nineteen gallons of muddy water onto his beard” upset him so much it caused him to think of a plan to tame the river and fix it for the benefits of others and himself. When Paul finally found a plan to tame the river, he goes great lengths to do whatever it takes to fix the whistling river. Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox “Babe” took a walk to the north pole to trap some icicles, to freeze the river which he
...could never fully satisfy the river or the ecosystem again (White, 48). White proves again how although the white people seemed to have control over the salmon and their industry, their successes would cease eventually. The river had the final say in dictating the terms of nature and the environment.
Barry defines the Mississippi’s unpredictability through an “uncoiling rope.” One cannot experience an act such as that of an uncoiling rope, in it’s smooth, but quick movements. Its destination cannot be anticipated and its course of action can only be speculated. By using a single phrase, like “uncoiling rope,” Barry guides his audience to a complete picture of the fascinating Mississippi. He gives life to the Mississippi by relating it to a snake. His snake-related diction, such as “roils” and “uncoiling” present the river with lifelike qualities that extend Barry’s purpose in saying that the incredible river can actually stand on it’s own. Furthermore, Barry describes the river in similes in order to compare the Mississippi to a snake, in a sense of both power and grace. The river “devours itself”, “sucking” at the surface around it, and “scouring out holes” in its depths. Barry’s combination of personifying diction and similes provide his audience with a relation in which one understands the Mississippi’s paradox of strength and unpredictability, and
Humankind has been facing and conquering problems, droughts, famines, and wars for instance, since the beginning of its existence. Throughout an individual’s life, obstacles arise and challenges present themselves in an attempt to inhibit the individual from moving forward. In her poem Crossing the Swamp, Mary Oliver utilizes a variety of techniques to expand on this idea, establishing a relationship between the speaker and the swamp as one of determination and realized appreciation.
The almighty American dream, commonly misconceived as the property of those who reap great materialistic wealth, has been analyzed and sought after through generations. However, this dream, “could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country” (Goldberg), and the numerous success stories of impoverished beings proves this. This subjectiveness stems from the great diversity within human nature and the variation of goals and pleasures. The characters in novels such as The Glass Castle, To Kill a Mockingbird and the play, The Crucible, act to portray several attempts towards achieving this dream. Ultimately, the almighty American Dream manifests itself through the novels as the desire to accomplish stability and content within one’s
In the article, "A Nation of Grinders," Brooks uses sagacious allusions as well as a pedagogic tone to accentuate the fact that the societal perception of success as being comprised of monetary accumulation is flawed and that success or joy is ultimately bred by assiduity. By constantly referencing a multitude of prominent historical figures the author is able to effectively generate common ground with his audience as well as make analogies that they find relatable through the usage ...
Jischke is the perfect example of an ordinary American who surpassed his limited boundaries. He proves that an American can come from a humble background and still move up in the success ladder. Martin C. Jischke is firm believer that the American Dream lies in the hands of our future graduates (75). After all, he was the president of Purdue University for almost eight years; as he gives the commencement speech he says the American Dream entails more than financial success, and more than popularity, that it is a matter of opportunity (Jischke 75). The power to gain knowledge freely, learn from past mistakes, and achieve the previously unachievable, is what the American dream has to offer (Jischke 76).
The pool of opportunity has grown smaller from what it once was, and it seems that opportunity parallels the wealth in capitalist America—a small number of individuals are successful in their endeavors, and the rest must settle for less with disappointment and disillusionment. While hard work and perseverance may push individuals to new heights, the power of optimism and positive thinking can only take a person so far. The great American dream and frontier is only available to those with certain circumstances, and those circumstances are becoming less available to the new generation coming into the
The rags-to-riches story is always a classical and inspirational tale that tries to touch our hearts. These stories seeks to arouse the warm, intrinsic emotions that all humans get when they proudly achieve a long-term goal. Andrew Carnegie’s life is the exception. Andrew Carnegie was an industrialist who guided the expansion of the American steel industry in the 1800s. During this period, the United States was a demanding country for steel to use in the rail roads. Andrew Carnegie was not a hero but a heartless capitalist because he sabotaged his competitors in the steel industry, applied his belief that “(competition) insures the survival of the fittest in every department” into social standards, and, maintained his employees in unfair working
The American Dream provides Americans hope that if they work hard, they will eventually be successful, no matter how penniless the person. To understand the construction of this topic, there is a need to understand the circumstances involved. The Epic of America, The narrative in which the American Dream was constructed, was produced in the nineteen thirties. During this time, the Great Depression was at the height of destruction, and the new president Franklin D. Roosevelt created the “New Deal,” which inspired newly-found hope. In his Second Inaugural Address, he voiced his vision for the expanded role that the government would take in American's lives by stating, “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little” (Franklin D. Roosevelt). This began the facade of hope towards the impoverished folks attempting to achieve success. In reality the optimism and dedication given towards this dream is disproportional...
Howard Zinn once declared :“I've always resented the smug statements of politicians, media commentators, corporate executives who talked of how, in America, if you worked hard you would become rich. The meaning of that was if you were poor it was because you hadn't worked hard enough. I knew this was a lite, about my father and millions of others, men and women who worked harder than anyone, harder than financiers and politicians, harder than anybody if you accept that when you work at an unpleasant job that makes it very hard work indeed.” In Fitzgerald’s classic short story Winter Dreams, reader’s watch Dexter’s life unfold as he immerses himself in the skewed popular culture of the nineteen-twenties F. Scott Fitzgerald cleverly critiques the side effects of chasing the 1920’s idea of the American dream through his text Winter Dreams.
Throughout the history of literature, a great deal of authors has tried to reveal a clear understanding of the American Dream. Whether it is possible to achieve lies all in the character the author portrays. The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye stand as prime examples of this. F. Scott Fitzgerald and J.D. Salinger, the authors of these titles, respectively, fashion flawed characters, Jay Gatsby and Holden Caulfield, with one vital desire: the longing to gain what they can’t have; acceptance and the feeling of belonging. Each retaining characteristics that shows their differences and similarities in opinion of the world around them.
A little girl dreams of a white wedding with white doves flying over the ceremony and the fairy-tale honeymoon. Only then to come home to the yellow house in the country, with the white picket fence included. Everyone has daydreamed about their future and having the “perfect” house, with the “perfect” car and the “perfect” marriage- everyone wants to live the “American Dream”. There are many people that believe that the “American Dream” is a concept that they are entitled to and expected to live. Then, there are those who believe that you should use the opportunities that America offers as a stepping stone to earn and create your own “American dream”. However, as time goes on the mainstream idea of “living the American Dream” has changed. This change is mostly due to the ever-changing economy, professions, and expectations of the American people. Throughout the book Working, by Studs Terkel, we meet many diverse groups of people to discover the people behind the jobs that allows American society to operate and how their choice of a career path has changed their lives.
Since the beginning of our nation, literature has attempted to define “American Dream.” For the Puritans, living the American dream meant building God’s kingdom in this world and practicing their faith without persecution, whereas other settlers sought adventure and financial success. But within the last one hundred years the concept of the American Dream has taken on new meaning as the values and principles of cultures have changed. The modern man has sought security in the unachievable goal. Throughout the twentieth century literary periods, authors have unearthed the corrupt nature of an evolving American Dream, which has led to loss the moral values and fulfilment in the present reality.
Authors’ Steven Crane and Jack London are known for their stories using naturalism, the struggle between man and nature. Naturalism is like realism, but it explores the forces of nature, heredity, and the environment on human beings, who are faced with the forces of nature. Both “The Open Boat” and “To Build a Fire” demonstrate how inferior and small humans’ really are to nature. Humans cannot control nature or determine its outcome. In both stories nature is the antagonist constantly challenging the humans’ ability to survive. I chose the topic over naturalistic elements because I enjoyed reading these stories. Both stories have a strong since of naturalism in it and both authors’ are known for naturalistic features existing in their writings. In this paper I will give you more of an insight to what naturalism is and what naturalistic elements are present in the two stories listed above.
Evensvold, Marty D. "The American Dream: Stories from the Heart of Our Nation." Library Journal Dec. 2001: 200. General OneFile. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.