Introduction
The notion of the American dream is deeply entrenched in American culture. It is the idea that every citizen, natural born or of immigrant descent, can achieve great success in the country through the strength of character and hard work (Fox 442). However, the ideal and the reality of the American Dream do not always align. The ability to reach the American Dream is limited to a few categories of people. Furthermore, as the ethos of the country, it can clash with the cultures, beliefs, and values of people who come seeking a better life in the United States. The play Simply Maria or the American Dream by Josefina López is dedicated to the exploration of the American Dream and the clash of cultures and generations. The protagonist, Maria, embodies the essence of the American Dream, generational change, and the marriage of two cultures, while her parents cling to old ways and ideas.
Main body
The one-act play Simply Maria or the American Dream explores the idea of the American Dream and what it represents to different people. The story begins with Carmen and Ricardo, the parents of Maria, eloping in secret and the father fleeing to America. The family is reunited in Los Angeles five years later, with little Maria being overwhelmed by the new city and people who are strange to her. Ricardo reassures her, saying the phrase that defines Maria’s whole outlook on life: “You can be anything you want to be!” (López 124). However, Maria’s upbringing contradicts this early promise, and she is urged to dedicate more of herself to housework to prepare for the life of a good housewife in the future. After having a nightmare of what her life may become and realizing her parents’ marriage is not perfect, Maria leaves home to chase her American Dream.
Despite the decision to move to America, Maria’s parents’ dialogues illustrate that the American Dream equals betrayal of their culture and legacy for them. When Ricardo first arrives in the country, he is greeted by the Statue of Liberty, declaring that in exchange for life, liberty, and happiness, it expects the price of “your heritage, your roots, your history, your relatives, your language” (López 121). At first, Ricardo urges Maria to take advantage of the new opportunities (López 124). However, as Maria grows up, her father insists she “get married like most decent women and be a housewife,” implying she is disrespectful to her culture (López 129). The early notions of the American Dream demanded that the social and cultural ties of the immigrants with their countries of origin be cut (Fox 442). The country was portrayed as a melting pot of cultures that offered freedom from the shackles of the old world and the opportunity to build a better future. In Ricardo and Carmen, the play shows another extreme of clinging to one’s heritage without accepting the culture of one’s chosen country.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the play focuses on the role of women in society, in particular, contrasting Mexican and American cultures. Written in 1996, the play portrays the ideal of a Mexican woman: a good housewife and mother whose sole purpose is to serve her father, husband, and son (López 132). In her nightmare, Maria gives birth to six daughters, whom her husband names Sacrifice, Abnegation, Obligation, Frustration, Regret, and Disappointment (López 135-136). If the first three names represent what is expected of Mexican women, the latter three show disdain for Mexican men when they do not produce a boy. The original notion of the American Dream catered exclusively to white men, echoing the sentiments presented by Ricardo and Carmen. However, in the 1960s, American society saw many changes, with women and people of color demanding their civil rights to be respected as well as their rights to the American Dream (Fox 450). Thus, the expectations of women in the two societies differed substantially at the time, with Maria exposed to and caught between these conflicting beliefs.
In contrast, the inclusion of three girls visible only to Maria, her inner voice, helps to illustrate the gradual departure from her parents’ beliefs to a fusion of the American Dream and her Mexican heritage. In the first half of the play, the three voices urge Maria to be obedient and embody the ideal of a Mexican woman. Nevertheless, slowly, one of the girls begins to encourage the protagonist to ask questions of her parents and question their expectations of her. As Maria leaves her parents, one of the voices proclaims her sorrow and devotion to the family, the second acknowledges her heritage, and the third proclaims, “America is in my heart” (López 141). Overall, Maria is willing to lose her family to chase her American Dream while accepting everything they taught her.
Conclusion
In summary, the play Simply Maria or the American Dream by Josefina López shows that the American Dream is accessible to those who are prepared to risks and do not accept the status quo. It declares that the assimilation into the American culture and acceptance of the ideas central to it, including the notion that hard work is always rewarded, do not equate to the abandonment of one’s heritage.
Works Cited
Fox, Judith. “The American Dream: A historic perspective.” Washburn Law Journal, vol. 61, 2022, pp. 441-471.
López, Josefina. “Simply Maria, or the American Dream.” Shattering the Myth: Plays by Hispanic Women, edited by Denise Chávez and Linda Feyder, Arte Publico Press, 1992, pp. 114-142.