Introduction
The novel The Day of the Locust by Nathaniel West was first published in 1939. On its part, Play it as it Lays by Joan Didion was published in 1970. In these two novels, West and Didion suggest that the pursuit of the American dream has evolved into some kind of a nightmare. The two books are based on the movie industry in Southern California. Both novels can be viewed as a representation of the failures and emptiness associated with the American dream. West and Didion show that the dream is unattainable to some people. The books revolve around a debased society that does not recognize the values that formed the American society (Rogers 380).
This paper aims to explore the themes relating to the American dream and its associated emptiness and un-attainability as depicted in the two novels, The Day of the Locust and Play it as it Lays.
A Brief Overview of the Two Books
The loss of identity for such characters as Harry Greener and Faye in the novel The Day of the Locust can be seen in their treatment of serious situations as simple acts (Rogers 377). Play it as it Lays, Maria Wycth takes on the identity determined by others for her. In their novel, Didion uses nature to illustrate the direction the American dream has taken (76). Nature is also used to portray the pervasive influence that Hollywood has on those who dare to dream. In this respect, Didion uses nature to depict this change or shift (76). In the novel Play it as it Lays, the author depicts the Californian landscape as barren, empty, and poisonous. The society is shown to be in constant pursuit of wealth, fame, promiscuity, and drugs. At the same time, a dearth of spirituality is evidenced. West’s novel, The Day of the Locust, focuses on individual dreams of the people who went to California in pursuit of a better life. However, these people ended up being disillusioned. Resentment sets in as a result. The author resorts to the use of Biblical references to prophesying the possible apocalyptic end of Hollywood. The same references are used to foretell the death of the film industry and the American dream. Death will take place as a result of the changes in American values.
Emptiness and Materialism in Joan Didion’s Play it as it Lays
Joan Didion, the author of Play it as it Lays, opens the book with images of snakes. The images are used to portray the material greed witnessed in Hollywood society. Hollywood society is focused only on material acquisition. There is a general lack of the essential values that were used to shape the American dream (Bloom 4). The society is depicted as destructive and toxic. The promises once posited by earlier generations with regards to the American dream have been replaced by the glitter and glitz of Hollywood. Also, the snakes, which are pursuing Maria, are a depiction of her recognition of the evil in the society (Murugan and Kumar 2). The animals pursue her in her dreams, in food, and on the highway (Murugan and Kumar 2). It is also a reflection of how individuals are affected by the evil in society. Furthermore, Didion portrays the inability of these people to escape or break away from evil (200). Maria’s mother had prophetically warned her about the dangers of turning rocks. The reason is that one is bound to reveal a rattlesnake (Didion 200). As such, it can be argued that Southern California is a nightmarish place. The people are always in danger of snake bites. The same line of thought is represented by Maria’s life. To this end, she views life as a simple game of chance. As a result, she is unable to claim the benefits promised by the American dream. The dream is achievable through hard work and access to the rights to liberty and happiness. The values are embedded in the American dream.
Didion seems to suggest that the American dream has shifted from the original goals (49). The author uses the Hollywood scene to illustrate this claim. Didion sees the pursuit of happiness as a mass-mediated search for little pleasures. The result is moral debasement and spiritual death. To symbolize the destructive nature of the change, the author uses the American landscape. The landscape is described as barren and empty. It is also characterized by endless freeways. The endless freeways are only punctuated by artificial Hollywood scenes. The barrenness and emptiness are also reflected in the lives of the characters. Such characters as Maria seem to have resigned themselves to their fate.
Materialism and Emptiness in Nathaniel West’s The Day of the Locust
The novel The Day of the Locust by Nathaniel West is viewed by many critics as a response to the Great Depression of the 1930s (Schug 8). The novel, like Didion’s Play it as it Lays, is set in Hollywood, California. It depicts the troubling reality of eking out a living in California. The challenges encountered by the “dream chasers” in Hollywood are clearly illustrated (Schug 8). Nathaniel West achieves this by visiting the vulgar landscape that is used as a commentary of the poverty that exists in the society (Rogers 368). Many people view Hollywood as a place where they can realize their dreams of making wealth. However, West views the American dream as both a material and spiritual betrayal during the economic depression (12). According to West, Hollywood is falsely depicted as a city where people can become rich and famous (11). The book tells the stories of people who desired to be famous and rich. In essence, the author highlights the experiences of people who went to Hollywood to pursue the American dream (Rogers 369).
According to Bloom, the American dream is shown as a desire for fulfillment (22). However, with time, it has turned into broken values (Bloom 22). West further observes that the origins and roots of the dream can be traced back to early American life (89). During this time, many adventurers sought overnight fortunes from mining and farming. They congregated in California and other cities, such as Las Vegas. However, the dream is most vivid in the Hollywood culture. Hollywood, then and now, is a mythical place. It is a place where individuals imagine they can achieve fame and fortune without making an effort.
Rogers observes that most of the characters in the novel by West harbor dream about living a life of luxury and debauchery (370). Such characters as Todd Hackett, Homer Simpson, and Faye Greener travel to California to seek success in Hollywood. They are pursuing their American dreams. However, all of them failed in their endeavors. The characters can be compared to the early European settlers. The settlers landed on the American shores for different reasons. Despite the differing reasons, their objectives were the same.
Todd Hackett, the main character, goes to Hollywood after a talent scout lures him after viewing some of his paintings. The paintings were in an art exhibition at the Yale School. Todd was supposed to go to Hollywood to learn about set and costume design (West 60). On arrival to the city, he is immediately enchanted by the place and its inhabitants. In his excitement, he fails to note that most of the people are curious. They are wearing somber and badly cut clothing. They are the people who went to Hollywood but became disillusioned when their expected dreams were not realized. In the end, Todd becomes part of this jaundiced, empty, and disillusioned populace.
Faye is an untalented actress. She is used by the West to depict the emptiness characterizing the life of the characters in the novel. She is depicted as a heartless, shallow, and manipulative person. With regards to her acting, the author says that: “She was assigned to take part in a movie as one of the dancing girls with only a short line to speak and she spoke it badly” (West 67). She landed in Hollywood with a dream of making it big. She wanted to become rich and famous. She opines that she was going to be a star one day. If she fails, she says that she will commit suicide (West 98).
Faye is fond of seducing, using, and dumping men. Like Hollywood, every man wanted her. Todd is one of her admirers. His infatuation is even though he is supposedly the voice of reason in the novel. Consequently, Faye represents the depth of Hollywood. Hollywood is tempting and provides the right grounds for success. However, it is an empty place. Faye is the face of the failure to achieve the American dream. She fails to fulfill her promises since all she gives are false hopes (Schug 10). But like Hollywood, people are constantly after her. They misunderstand her empty flirtation and affection, which lack any romantic intentions. In this modernist novel, the West announces the death of the elusive American dream. The author shows that it is hard to attain success and happiness due to the inherent chaos of daily life led by most people.
Conclusion
The two novels present a Hollywood world that is largely characterized by emptiness and disillusionment. The characters went to Hollywood in search of a better life. However, their dreams were shattered. The novels portray Hollywood as a representative of the hopelessness and debasing of the American dream. It is observed that the focus of the two books is the nightmarish aspects of American society’s competitive culture. In this society, individual career success is the major determinant of a person’s sense of self-worth. At the same time, the pursuit of dreams often turns into self-destructive behavior for the individual and society. For instance, the characters in Hollywood novels are enmeshed in their career pursuits. In the process, many lose their sense of identity. Also, the dreams become unattainable, while moral decay and disarray prevail.
Works Cited
Bloom, Harold. The American Dream. Edited by Blake Hobby, Chelsea House Publishers, 2009.
Didion, Joan. Play it as it Lays: A Novel. 2nd ed., Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2005.
Murugan, Murugan, and Santhosh Kumar. “Existential Struggle in Joan Didion’s Play It as It Lays.” Notions, vol. 7, no. 4, 2016, pp. 1-4.
Rogers, Martin. “Monstrous Modernism and The Day of the Locust.” The Journal of Popular Culture, vol. 44, no. 2, 2011, pp. 367-384.
Schug, Linda. Modernism in “The Day of the Locust” (1939) by Nathanael West. GRIN Verlag, 2009.
West, Nathanael. The Day of the Locust. Important Books, 2013.