Ann Petry’s novel, The Street, follows a single mother attempting simultaneously to raise her son and find success in Harlem. A crucial contrast is drawn between economic class and race as the protagonist, Lutie Johnson, struggles to obtain a balance between her hopes and her reality. An idealized version of the “American Dream” is critiqued in the novel to emphasize Lutie’s exclusion from the opportunity and equality given to white Americans as represented in the narrative by the Chandler family. Petry creates this disconnect between hope and reality to critique capitalist culture and to emphasize the unfulfilled promises of the American Dream in a Jim Crow era segregated United States. Beginning with the distinction between race and class, Petry …show more content…
They are a white family with intergenerational wealth and little to no obstacles, which are vastly different from Lutie’s position in society as a black, working-class, woman. Chandler’s wealth, clearly expressed in their physical belongings, could buy more than material goods. This wealth could also bring a sense of control through societal power. After the suicide of Mr. Chandler’s brother, “she didn’t lose her belief in the desirability of having money, though she saw that mere possession of it wouldn’t necessarily guarantee happiness.she was interested in the way in which money transformed a suicide she had seen committed from start to finish in front of her very eyes into ‘an accident with a gun’” (41). The idealized version of the American Dream that is communicated to Lutie is described by those who can alter reality to their own desires. Defining wealth alongside societal power increases the allure of those such as Lutie who are disenfranchised. Wealth has the power to alter reality, which is what Lutie is seeking, a change in her own
In the article The American Dream: Slipping Away? by Susan Neuman I found many things interesting to read, some even shocking. When Neuman speaks about a study done that found that middle and upper middle class families use a child-rearing strategy called concerted cultivation while working-class and poor parents use the strategy of natural growth, I realized that my mother definitely used natural growth. Neuman states, “These parents generally have less education and time to impress on their children the values that will give them an advantage in school. Their children often spend less time in the company of adults and more time with other children in self-directed, open-ended play” (pp. 166).
Lutie gets an apartment in a building that is in a sorry state, and the tenants are possible drunks who can afford to pay the rent, but could possibly become violent (Petry 4). The first person she meets in the building is Mrs. Hedges who runs a prostitution whore house. This operation takes advantage of depressed and impoverished women who want to escape the realities of living in the ghetto. The residents of the 166th street are poor and wrestled down by life circumstances. It is a representation of many black people who lived in the 1940s. Lutie is searching for an apartment to live with her son as his father has moved in with a new woman who is giving him alcohol. This new neighborhood does not seem any
In the end though, she becomes captive to the very thing she wishes to escape. Petry presents black motherhood, marriage and the black family as things that are marginalized according to the society in which they take place. The main image that Petry gives of the black mother is Lutie, though there are other images that are crucial in explaining this image. Lutie is a single black mother living on “the street.” Her world revolves around providing for her son, and trying to make sure that they are both able to survive in this corner of the world that they have been placed in.... ...
The American dream is defined as “...the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative” (Oxford Dictionary). The guarantee of economic and social opportunity attracts hundreds of thousands of immigrants to the United States and allows this nation to be so prosperous. As time has gone on, however, the American Dream dwindles to just a whisper of the past. Although there are still many hard working Americans, the success of each individual no longer correlates to the degree of effort that American’s put into their line of work, proving the barriers that separate many from a successful lifestyle. This epidemic is shown in Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel
In the novel, Typical American, by Gish Jen, the life of Ralph Chang's journey in America is cleverly unveiled. Jen focuses the story around Ralph's trials and tribulations as an foreigner living in America. At the beginning of Typical American, Ralph's character is shown about what he thinks about America. It is shown that he does not really respect America's beauty. "... famous mountains lumbered by, famous rivers, plains, canyons, the whole American spectacle, without his looking up once" (7). However, he realizes that America can bring new opportunity for himself. He wanted to become successful just like his father. He wanted to prove to his father that he also can become a scholar just like him. He wanted to pursue the "American dream", the idea that America can offer the lifestyle that is desired by many immigrants. When Ralph and his wife visits America, they tried to stay as close as possible to their Chinese roots. They did not want to be the "typical Americans" that they hated. Ironically, they slowly become the typical Americans that they wanted to avoid. In the novel, Jen shows how Ralph and Helen transformed from their Chinese culture to the new typical American lifestyle.
The Norton Anthology of AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE is filled with many awe inspiring writings that reveal the true literacy history of the African American struggle with their identification. Gwendolyn Brooks brought her own life experiences to paper, and showed the man different ways one can create their own identification through lives many difficult challenges. Gwendolyn Brooks made the purpose of her work clear, she wanted to give a voice to people who had no voice; to let all different types of black people feel united as one under one voice. In her writing of the Kitchenette Building Gwendolyn expressed her feelings of the small cramped apartment that was known to be overbearing which resulted in crushed dreams, and hopes. In the mother Gwendolyn Brooks takes a great political issue head on; she gives a unique perspective, giving a first person point of view that seems to be confusing by showing her pain through guilt and blame. The final writing of a song in the front yard, gives the audience an experience almost everyone can relate to; the struggle of a girl who was only allowed to play in the front yard eventually gets curious and wants to see what’s going on in the back alley. Through these different life experiences of the tough living situation in a kitchenette, the intense battle one has when going through an abortion in the mother, and the battle one has with herself when trying to not be jealous of others. A person creates their own unique identity once they have come out of their own struggle; they enter into the situation as a girl and come out a woman.
The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold? written by Brandon King discusses what the American Dream is, how it has evolved, and how to live it to the fullest. He writes that the American Dream in the past meant to live a wealthy, materialistic life, however the American Dream today is to live in stability. The American Dream also has the potential to be viewed from multiple perspectives as everyone is different and have their own opinion as to how live the American Dream. King also addresses that inequality is the main problem according to many; the government is only making the rich minority wealthier, ignoring funds for the lowers classes. The American Dream will never die as long as planning ahead and proposing policies to sustain economic growth are tirelessly acted upon.
Ann Petry’s The Street is more than a story of racism and poverty in America. This novel is about how the intersectionality of identities limit African-Americans from achieving equality in the dominant race’s society. The protagonist, Lutie Johnson has three barriers dragging her down. She is not only a woman, but a black woman that is also a lower class single mother. In the novel Lutie faces the realities of the American Dream, which for African- Americans is literally just a dream. Lutie also experiences the harsh effects of poverty and how it shapes one’s life.
Because the concept of the American Dream has been around for many years, it is something that is familiar to everyone. It can be agreed that people all have their own opinions and views about it; even decades have their own version of the American Dream. But what about for the 1990’s? What was the American Dream during that era? The American Dream in the 90’s was greatly influenced by three things: the expansion in technology, the thriving economy, and various, pivotal political events; based on those three components, the American Dream can be defined as individual success, such as money, power, fame, and development.
The term “The American Dream” sounds appealing but it is really not what others make it seem to be. The meaning of the American Dream is the idea that every single US citizen should have the same equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. What is the true definition of hard work? Is hard work the same amount of effort for different type of people? For some people, the journey to success will be smooth, but for others it will be more difficult. It will be difficult for others because of for an example, the color of someone 's skin. Is the Dream harder to achieve from a burden we cannot change like skin color? In the book Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates
In the book “They Say I Say”, Brandon King writes an essay bringing multiple perspectives on what Americans golden way of living is. The “American dream” is what most American citizens all strive for. Early settlers came in to try to achieve “the dream”. Those who already lived in America choose to stay because of its grand possibilities. The United States of America is the only place in the world where you have the rights to freedom of speech. What is the American dream? It used to be said that you could come to America and go from rags to riches; you could come with nothing and achieve everything you ever wanted. Take a second and think. We all ponder upon, is the so called “American dream” dead or alive? This has been a steamy topic
The American Dream is attainable for all americans. Just like Chris Gardner switched from being homeless to being a multi millionaire. You just gotta want it and work hard. “The American Dream is a delusion, an illusion meant to keep people dissatisfied and hungering to spend more money, in the hopes that the next purchase will be the one that buys them the happiness they are promised” (Obama). “Traditionally, Americans have sought to realize the American dream of success, fame and wealth through thrift and hard work. ”(Warshauer). The obstacles that have to be hurdled while trying to attain the American Dream are: getting a decent income, finding a lover and finding a home. Although it might be true that
The Catcher in the Rye is a historical fiction novel by J.D Salinger. The book starts with Holden Caulfield, the main character, explaining a little about himself and goes on to tell his story of what happened after he left Pencey. Everyone strives to set themselves to a place in life where they feel safe, comfortable, and secure, that is the American dream. The journey to achieve this dream is known as the American experience. In the novel, Holden tries to act and look older. He reflects on his shortcomings and the setbacks in life, and leaves to collect himself, all reflecting elements of the American experience.
Ever since America has emerged as its own nation, the idea of The American Dream has constantly evolved with ever changing ideas. During the Modernist Era, America was going through a time of prosperity and new economic wealth. These factors helped shape the American Dream during this time period. Americans' actions at the time, along with the fictional pieces from this time period, reflect these American ideals. The American Dream during the Modernist Era was best characterized by upward mobility and Americans bettering themselves, which is shown through Americans at this time, the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald and, The American Dream.
What is the American Dream, and who are the people most likely to pursue its often elusive fulfillment? Indeed, the American Dream has come to represent the attainment of myriad of goals that are specific to each individual. While one person might consider a purchased home with a white picket fence her version of the American Dream, another might regard it as the financial ability to operate his own business. Clearly, there is no cut and dried definition of the American Dream as long as any two people hold a different meaning. What it does universally represent, however, it the opportunity for people to seek out their individual and collective desires under a political umbrella of democracy.