The House On Mango Street

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Recommended: The illusion of the American dream

Long has the image of the traditional American family been stamped into our minds. The image of a perfect family has been a staple for popular television shows and commercials hawking everything from luncheon meat to microwaveable TV dinners. It is a far reaching concept known by almost anyone living in the country, all over the world and people considering immigrating to the US. It is a fabricated dream, which does not truly exist. It is merely a false goal, striving to achieve this standard, and the aesthetic of the lifestyle is one which has been heavily marketed and changes frequently with the times. Sports utility vehicles, pristine lawns, massive backyards and home security systems are marketed as necessities for the modern American family. Traditionally, the ideal American family subsists of a working father, a housewife, two or more children, and a pet. The son is in little league or is the captain of the team, the daughter is a beauty queen and the pet is a golden retriever. The house is usually located in a suburb or small town, and has a two car garage. They are generally on good terms with their neighbors. Often the family as a whole encompasses “wholesome American ideals” such as supporting the Republican party, supporting military action, and attending church regularly. Economically, the family is well off and can afford the families needs and much more. The archetypal American family is usually white, and only recently has the presentation expanded to showing multiple ethnicities and economic situations. In reality, American families come from different countries, different economic backgrounds, embrace different ideals concerning government, morality and life. The scope of a real American family is not limited to the experiences of the rich Caucasian family. A set of circumstances contrary to the American dream is that of the family in I Stand Here Ironing. Their situation on many levels is the opposite of the ”ideal” American family. The story is about a young mother who’s husband leaves her, saying he could no longer bear sharing want with them. So initially, she and her daughter are in a bad position. As a single mother during the era of the Depression, work was hard to come by. She often had to leave her young child with neighbors while she was out looking for a job. Her oppor... ... middle of paper ... ...justify, internally the way she thinks about it. On the contrary, the traditional American child has their mind on the material possessions they have, and the material possessions they want. They can rest their worries on staying on top of the latest trends. Chasing the elusive ideals of the ever-changing traditional American family proves to be one that is full of consequences. Trying to meet the basic, essential needs of raising a family are becoming increasingly difficult in these trying times. What we do not need as a nation is the pressure to meet these ideals through consumerism and material gain. Brand name appliances, clothing and cars are not necessities for successfully raising a family. However, the pressure on the people is difficult to escape. TVs are blasting, budgets for advertising and marketing increase. No one is safe from this, every one is divided into a demographic. This culture of consumerism exploits everyone, and funnels money mostly towards the richest of the rich. The gap between the rich and the poor is ever increasing. Life is hard enough as it is, so we must not allow ourselves to be misled on how we should live our lives.

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