The American dream, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful. The passage sees Richard Rodriguez describing a past Christmas experience. Rodriguez uses language and details about his siblings, parents, and himself to suggest the American dream of material success. Rodriguez comments on the American dream of material success using language and details about his siblings. Rodriguez immediately begins by letting the reader know that his two sisters “are business executives.” It is generally known that being a business executive not only takes a tremendous amount of exertion, but …show more content…
He begins the article stating that his mother ‘is not surprised that her children are well-off.” This may possibly be hinting at the fact that he and his siblings are doing well prosperity-wise likely due to hard work. He immediately sets the tone for the passage with this statement that draws back to the passage’s theme of the American dream of material success. He then describes an experience in which his mother “stands waving toward no one in particular.” It can be inferred that the particular event being described is the departure of his siblings - possibly back to work. In addition, he also speaks of the only thing his father had said to him that entire evening - stating that he asks if he’s “going home now,” again, possibly back to work. One can infer that his father likely encourages them to work their hardest, considering that being the only thing he had said to …show more content…
Rodriguez seems to be quite observant as after the Christmas gift unwrapping he states that “everyone seems very tired.” Knowing this piece of information, the reader may infer that they, quite obviously, had an immense amount of gifts to unwrap. The significance of the amount of gifts may lie in the fact that a lot of money went into purchasing said gifts; again, tracing back to the idea of the American dream of national success described throughout the passage. Later in the passage, he notices that his mother “seems sad” and ask himself if she’s possibly sad that he and his siblings are “all going home.” He also asks himself whether it’s because it “was not quite, can never be, the Christmas one remembers having had once;” very likely referring to when he and his siblings were still living with their parents as children. It appears as though his mother is the opposite of his father as his father likely encourages them to keep following their own path and working hand. While on the other hand, his mother reminisces about the past when her children didn’t have to worry or stress about any of that. Rodriguez shows how the idea of the American dream affected the quality family traditions. He does this by describing an experience while using language and details about different family members and even himself. Although different
The introductory paragraph started out to be very interesting. He opened his essay by focusing on himself as a young child. I felt a little sympathy as I read along, and that seemed to be what Rodriguez was aiming for readers to feel.
The importance of family is considered one of the top priorities to most people this is the case of Enrique and his family. There are many themes in Enrique’s Journey written by Sonia Nazario about a young boys path to his mother but the most prominent theme is family is the most important thing. This is evident when Enrique crosses numerous borders daring death just to see his mother and, when Enrique’s mom leaves for America to give her kids a better life even though she will miss them everyday, and when Enrique forgives his mom for leaving so they can have a good relationship. Around 11.5 million immigrants come to America each year all for different reasons and they all have different stories with them.
In the passage when Rodriguez states, “Every Christmas now the floor around her is carpeted with red and green wrapping paper and her feet are wreathed with gifts.” This shows that the family had a lot of gifts for each other, showing their love for one another. “Another Christmas,” my mother says, she says that same thing every year, so we all smile to hear it again.” Christmas is a time for loving each other and the Rodriguez family does just that. Rodriguez’s younger sister kisses his mother and he take the jacket out to his father.
He makes his family out to have followed the original way to wealth, hard work instead of the noble stature his family believes in coming down from
What is the American Dream? It is defined as the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work and determination. Logan Killocks, Janie’s first husband, was perfectly content with where he was in life. He did not see any reason for that to change and for him to prosper further.
This lets him know that he can do it, especially since they are making it which is shown in the following quote. An significant aspect of this story is when Mabry writes “Somewhere in the midst of all the misery, my family has built, within me ‘a proud feeling. ’As I travel between the two worlds it becomes harder to remember just how proud I should be- not just because of where I have come from and where I am going, but because of where they are going. ”(101) The author Mabry uses this quote to show how self reliance due to him not focusing on the negativity in his life instead he uses it as amo to push forward and make a better life for himself
The American dream is not as easy as people say it is. The American Dream is being able to afford the necessities you need, without having to struggle and suffer just to put food on a table for their families. People think it’s easy to live the American Dream, but little do they know that there are people out there struggling to support their family. The American Dream is difficult to achieve but very possible if people could find the opportunity and available to them.
Rodriguez stated in the first portion of his essay, “Proudly I announced that a teacher had said I was losing all trace of my Spanish accent.” He wanted to be more like his teachers and less like his parents. People started to tell him, “Your parents must be so proud!”, and all he could do was smile awkwardly. This is one of the first moments in the essay where you get the sense of Rodriguez’s conflicted feelings. He knew that his parents didn’t really understand all of his awards and they didn’t understand his obsession with knowledge and authority that he’s teachers possessed.
The Pursuit of “The American Dream” The “American Dream” has always existed as a primary fundamental of American culture. The basis of the “American Dream” is that every US citizen has the right to receive equal opportunity to attain success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative because it is a given right offered for everyone, personal to each individual, and extremely rewarding. The pursuit of the American Dream is chased after by many individuals from numerous diverse backgrounds. Thomas Wolfe once said, "…to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the
Besides hope, family was the most important element that strived them through the hard times. It was the mean of survival and without each other, the Joads would have never been able to get to California. It tells us that family is a commodity that shouldn’t be given up on. As the book is read through, it is noticeable that Ma Joad is the one who always tries to keep the family together and is willing to accept new members to join the family. For example, Ma says “we don’t want you to go’way from us.
Family reunions are often used to dwell upon the past and reflect upon one’s life. Richard Rodriguez, in is his passage, goes to extreme lengths to explain to the reader his carefully taken observation of his family’s life. Looking deeper into the words and feelings of the passage, Rodriguez portrays a sense of strong family values. It is apparent (by his selective use of diction and narrative structure found throughout the passage) that Rodriguez is writing to a more mature, experienced audience. As a mature writer, Rodriguez knows that the best way to connect with his audience is through the one day responsible for some of their greatest childhood memories -- Christmas.
The American dream influences the American people to have the opportunity to achieve success through work, determination and self- motivation. Many Americans were motivated and commit themselves to having their perfect life. However, not all Americans were able to achieve their dreams. Fitzgerald’s rhetorical device affects the American dream that characterizes the morality of people’s social classes and gender. Daisy, wealthy young woman living in East Egg, loved a young man named, Gatsby.
American Dream James Truslow Adams, in his book which was written in 1931 and called “ The Epic of America” wrote about American dream, that American dream is about being richer and living in better life. Also that American dream is more materialistic, that people work a lot of hours to gain things which they want to have. Such as luxury cars, big houses. They want to be wealthy, rich and have all expensive things and live in a world of money and wealth.
The American Dream is often known to be a great thing, giving new lives and jobs to immigrants, but are their lives really better in The United States? Chimamanda Adichie reveals how The American Dream is not what it seems to be in “The Thing Around Your Neck.” Her short story follows the life of Akunna as she deals with all of the hardships like stereotypes, racism, and the struggles of finding a comfortable life that come from moving to the United States. From all of these hardships, the reader thinks about whether The American Dream is still relevant, and about if The American Dream still takes place today. Through the characterization of Akunna’s boyfriend as an inconsiderate person on the inside and the symbolism of the fortune cookies, Adichie implies that The American Dream is an illusion and lie towards people coming in from other countries.
His idiosyncrasy remains loving and understanding, even when his younger son returned home after many of been away with not a penny to his name. The young son showed disobedience to all the goodness his father had offered to him. The young son showed traits such as selfishness as well as being ungrateful. He had no worth for his father’s property nor did he want to work alongside his father on the family farm.