How to Attain and Maintain the American Dream in Imbolo Mbue’s "Behold the Dreamers"

Brygida Gasztold

Abstract


My article offers an analysis of Imbolo Mbue’s novel Behold the Dreamers (2016), with a special focus on the representations of the concept of the American Dream. Through the lens of the protagonist’s legal status, social class, race, and gender, I explore the factors that obstruct the attainment of the American Dream for the underprivileged. Furthermore, I argue that it is equally problematic for affluent Americans to maintain the Dream in the 21st century socio-economic environment, while its accessibility has been increasingly questioned. Finally, I demonstrate that the novel represents the waning of the American Dream of happiness, educational mobility, and economic justice for all, as it no longer depends on hard work and self-discipline but is buffeted by economic and social forces beyond the protagonists’ control.

Keywords


The American Dream, African immigrants, white privilege

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/lsmll.2024.48.2.49-61
Date of publication: 2024-07-10 11:05:31
Date of submission: 2023-06-18 20:01:53


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