Introduction
After reading The American Dream, I agree with Cullen’s view that contemporary American society is living at a time when the American Dream is flourishing and relevant to people. The American Dream has adapted and modernized to the current realities. Social and cultural change can be traced in Ellison’s “Flying Home” short story. The changed realities invite modern Americans to set new goals for themselves, affecting the American Dream’s transformation.
The Dream of Personal Fulfillment in a Modern Context
In conclusion to his work, Cullen says that the American Dream has not disappeared. Cullen (2003) states that “The saga of the Dream of the Immigrant is far from over” (p.188). Over time, only the context, the number, and the nationality of the immigrants who have become part of American society have changed.
Cullen (2003) observes that “Americans…may enjoy a greater sense of possibility [of] ‘independence’ than their predecessors” (p. 189). This statement is accurate, and the American Dream has been transformed, due to a new number of possibilities. A modernized version of the Dream can be called the Dream of Personal Fulfillment. As part of the belief in the payback of labor and the willingness to invest in achieving the goal, the American Dream has remained the same. The cultural and social context has changed, allowing us to highlight the Dream’s new branches.
“Flying Home”: Individual Aspiration and Collective Responsibility
Ellison’s short story “Flying Home” illustrates how the modern social context differs from the realities that could have been observed a century ago. A young black flight school student, Todd, is among the first African Americans to be accepted into the Air Force (Ellison, 1998). Todd says, “you could never be simply yourself”, meaning that he is responsible for the potential careers of all African Americans through his example (Ellison, 1998, p. 150). Todd needs not only to fulfill his childhood dream of flying, but also to show that he is no worse than his white colleagues.
This story illustrates what might be called the American Dream, in a variation of the Dream of Personal Fulfillment. However, Todd has a more responsible task: representing the entire black population. In today’s world, the realities have long moved away from collective responsibility and discrimination. The gap between these realities builds differences in the American Dream under a greater opportunity for independence.
The American Dream as a Unifying National Ideal
Modern cultural and political discourse aims to combat discriminatory manifestations, making it possible for the American Dream to transform, but not disappear. For example, even though income has changed radically over time, owning a house continues to be considered a sign of well-being. The unifying power of the American Dream, which has been observed for generations, is underlined by the political context. Politicians call for national unity to counter external and internal threats. The American Dream is so deeply rooted in the national consciousness that it cannot disappear, but only be transformed to meet the demands of the new time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, despite historical, cultural, and social changes, the American Dream has remained a unifying force in the national conscience. The common fight against discrimination and the rapidly changing conditions of the world offer more opportunities for the modern person, regardless of their racial identity. Changed realities provide more opportunities for self-realization, transforming the American Dream to meet modern society’s new needs.
References
Cullen, J. (2003). The American Dream: A short history of an idea that shaped a nation. Oxford University Press.
Ellison, R. (1998). Flying home: And other stories. Random House.