American Dream Essays (804 words) - Harlem Renaissance, Free Essays

American Dream Essays (804 words) - Harlem Renaissance, Free Essays American Dream What is the AMERICAN DREAM? I concluded the matter of dreaming about lifes basics wants that are exclusive to North America. The American Dream is the following: Go to college, get a good job, and finally get your own family. If we think about it, the American Dream is indeed a UNIVERSAL DREAM. The concept of the American Dream is created by this value system. The American Dream is intended to be a way of life attainable to all Americans. Whatever maybe the case, the act of trying to escape reality and the result such an act brings, is evident throughout the three novels Jews without money, by Michael Gold, Street Corner Society by William Whyte, and Passing, by Nella Larsen. All three of these books confront the myth of the American Dream. The American Dream can either be a reality or a nightmare depending upon the cultural prejudices and availability of freedom. Individuals who are united through some common bond, which may be religion social status of color, create a group or class of people. While individuals are subject to racial prejudices, which often makes up upward mobility not possible. Without equal opportunities to move upwards within society, the American Dream is not attainable. But it is possible in cases where people are willing to sacrifice their heritage culture etc. Nella Larsen, show us through this novel, that if people want, they can achieve the American Dream, but they would have to pay a price for it. This is especially true of Clare Kendry. Her passing is motivated by her desire to improve the conditions of her socioeconomic life. She is successful in achieving her American Dream, but in the end she does face the consequences of her actions. She manages to rise from being a poor girl to settling down in a well household. Using her white skin color and blond hair as commodities, she escapes the reality of her true character. She gained wealth and respect in the community through marrying an affluent successful white man. But the truth is that she paid the price of passing because she couldnt express who she was and her true identity in the fear of being caught and then left aside abandoned from the whites and the black communities. In her case, her decision to pass was self-initiated. Clare was afraid to face everyone, especially her husban d, with her blackness. When one cannot stand in front of a mirror and except him or herself, that person is bound to be doomed. In Clares case it resulted in her death. So it can be said, that in this case Clare achieved the dream of being accepted into society and a well off rich husband, but in the end she did pay the price for that sacrifice she made. Jews Without Money is a novel of life of Jewish immigrants in the tenements of New York City's Lower East Side in the early part of this century. It's a day-in-the-life tale of thieves, gangsters and honest folks just trying to get by in a new country. The novel Jews without money by Michael Gold explores the fundamental discrepancy between the American Dream v/s the American Reality due to the warping of poverty. The immigrant Jews step from steerage in search of the American dream and instead find themselves crowded in filthy, roach-ridden tenements, at the mercy of factory owners, and gangsters (the American Reality). Social depression arising due to extreme poverty led to the establishments of ghettos a completely new lifestyle. Thus the fundamental discrepancy between the American Dream v/s the American Reality exists due to the existence of poverty. Poverty seems to be the underlying cause of every misfortune in life, and thus even in their make believe world, everything they v ainly want is due to poverty and nothing else. The novel displays different forms of struggles that immigrants go through in order to escape the reality. Michael Gold wishes to be rich, but he is not able to fulfill his dreams and he believes that the American Dream is a lie. His family is unable to lift itself from the bottom of the ladder and prosper. One of their main struggle, is

Ti-Jean and His Brothers essays

Ti-Jean and His Brothers essays "Ti-Jean and His Brothers" is a very rich play in all the aspects one would expect. There is comedy and tragedy as well as the effects of music, sound and light. In the play we also see how the english language has evolved in such a way as to complement the culture of the caribbean. Ti-Jean and His Brothers is an engaging and enjoyable play. The comical aspects of the play permeate the entire story. The comedy mainly comes into play during the interaction between the Devil and each of the three brothers. When Gros Jean is working for the planter the Devil, as the Planter, deliberately goads Gros jean by calling him by all sorts of names except his own. Soon after the Planter enters he says : "Thats right Gros Chien, Gros Jean, Gros Jean, Sorry". The Planter goes from calling Gros Jean, Joe, to Mac, to Gros Chien, to Charley, back to Mac, then to Horace and then francis, Joe again, Henry and ends with Benton then Mervin near the end of the scene. "You're worth more to me, Benton than fifty men. So you should smoke, after all. And such a pleasant disposition, always smiling. Just Like a skull. But Remember Mervin, I'd like you to try and finish this, you see I have a contract and the harder you work the more I . . . ". The humour would be more apparent if one was actually visualising the way it would be acted on stage. Th e Planter would probably say the different names in an absent minded fashion while Gros Jean gets more and more frustrated. Gros Jean would probably feel as if his identity was in jeopardy. Identity is very important to Gros Jean, this is illustrated by the various references he makes to his strength, something he considers integral to his identity. Unlike Gros Jean, Mi Jean is not worried so much about the questioning of his identity as he is about the questioning of his learning. The author, Derek Walcott, uses the pompous, self important attitude Mi Jean has towards his learning to create comedy. Mi Jean is very ...

Impact of import and export on the economic growth of Sweden Literature review

Impact of import and export on the economic growth of Sweden - Literature review Example Sweden, also sometimes known by the name Holland is located in North West Europe. Trade, energy sector and services industry are some of the major contributors to the Swedish GDP. Sweden also enjoys the honor of being the 16th largest economy in the world. Moreover, the total annual GDP of Sweden stands to be 4 percent higher than the average European GDP. Sweden favors an open trade policy and happens to be one of the top ranking free market economies in the world. Sweden accrues roughly 66 percent of its revenues through foreign trade. Import and export constitute the primary engine of economic growth in Sweden. Sweden is a very small nation that has an economy that is predominantly dependent on import and export for its sustenance. Going by the pivotal role of the import and export in the economic setup of the nation, the Swedish government had made it a point to design and administer the requisite, supportive trade policies and infrastructure. Over the last two decades, Sweden has tried its best to evolve into a net exporter of goods. Hydropower, engineering goods, iron ore and timber constitute the primary Swedish exports. Besides, Sweden also imports to its trade partners, cars, pharmaceuticals, telecommunication and IT products and services. A large number of Swedish companies responsible for a good chunk of imports and exports have managed to establish themselves as global leaders and top brands the like of Electrolux, Volvo and Sony Erickson. A majority portion of the trade and industry in Sweden are manage d by private concerns. It is largely owing to the highly professional and competitive approach of these private stakes in the Swedish economy and trade that Sweden is garnering an impressive and more or less stable economic growth. As per the World Economic Forum 2008, Sweden happened to be the fourth most competitive country in the world. One major reason responsible for the success of Swedish exports in the global markets is the impressive investment Sweden makes in research and development. Thus the products exported by Sweden do have an inalienable technological edge tagged to them, which sets them apart from other competitors. A fair estimate of Swedish panache for competitiveness in imports and exports can be judged from the fact that in 2007, Sweden invested roughly 3.5 percent of its GDP in research and development initiatives. To sustain its industrial and trade framework, Sweden also needs to import a variety of goods and services. One salient reason behind the economic po tential of Sweden is that it suffered a severe recession in the early 90s. At that time, the Swedish government decided to place international trade at the core of its economic recovery plan. So, no doubt, import and export have a central and crucial role to play in the overall economic growth of Sweden. In the current times marred by recession and economic slowdown, Sweden with its trade setup, backed by apt import and export policies and favorable infrastructure, is more likely to chart a smooth course as compared to other developed economies. The trade sector in Sweden is quiet robust and relatively less vulnerable to global