The American Dream -- Or Lack Thereof

By Jena Viviano

[1] From a very early age, Americans are programmed to have an unfaltering belief in “The American Dream.” We are destined to strive for the successes that come along with freedom, for “the Dream” promises us an endless supply of possibilities if we work hard enough. James Truslow Adams eloquently eludes, "The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” We devastatingly learn, through the trials of the Joad family in The Grapes of Wrath, however, that this ideal may not actually be attainable, and that its pursuit may actually bring a multitude of disappointments.

[2] As the Joad family is disturbingly evicted from their home and heads towards the Promised Land, California, we see a multitude of setbacks that befall them. One of the first scenes that exposes their vulnerability and pride takes place when Tom Joad exchanges dialogue with a gas attendant. The attendant clearly sees their misfortune as the dilapidated car rolls up to the station. He asks them if they “got any money” to pay for the gas. Tom Immediately defends the family: “What do you think we’re begging?” Innocently, the attendant says, “I was jes askin’.” And Tom snaps back, “Well ask right. You aren’t talking to bums you know.” This conversation, so early in their journey, is already latent with despair and a hurting pride. Tom, like many migrant workers during the Great Depression, does not want to be perceived as any less of a person because of his bout of bad luck. Being thought of as a beggar would insinuate that he lacked work ethic and a dedication to achieve a monetarily prosperous life. His insistence on not being destitute shows his internal struggle with success and his path to achieve that American Dream.

[3] Shortly after this scene, director John Ford exposes the viewer to a sadder, more pathetic image, one that evokes empathy towards the Okies and their struggles. Pa Joad enters the diner asking to buy a loaf of bread for Grandma Joad, when he is met with the hostility of the waitress that works there. She scolds him, saying that “This ain’t a grocery store” and “They only got 15 cent loaves” when Pa only had 10 cents to spare. He even tells the waitress, in an attempt to get his fair share, “Could ya see your way to cuttin’ off 10 cents worth.” When the cook resists this offer, Pa insists, “No sir, we want to buy 10 cents worth, that’s all.” His polite prose contrasted against the harsh words of the waitress, illustrates his wish to be treated as an equal, though he in a sense begging for food. Russell Simpson’s portrayal of Pa was exquisite, in that the audience really could see how uncomfortable it was for him to look so helpless, being the patriarch of the family. You could see in his eyes and the way in which he moved that his spirit has been broken. Not to mention that his embarrassment is evident as the waitress verbally expresses her disgust at the issue.

[4] The scene finishes with the other diners slyly paying for the Joad kids’ candies. The waitress poignantly states, “Burt, look -- truck drivers.” This line clearly illustrates the disparity in the country and how ambition and hours worked is not directly correlated with financial success. It shows that even lowly truck drivers could have more money than the Okies who worked just as hard, if not harder, to see their way out of a hole. This entire scene uncovers Pa’s struggle to keep up appearances and provide for the young ones, even in a time of desperation. It unveils the contradiction that even with hard work the ability to provide for loved ones is not as simple as it sounds.

[5] While the aforementioned scenes present an accurate depiction of the disheartening journey towards a better tomorrow, the Okies’ willingness to accept any type of work really shows their dedication and unfaltering belief in the power of the American Dream. The movie captures many migrant workers lined up outside the California orchards to receive work, even though their payment was little to nothing. They were willing to belittle their self worth and fall into hard labor in order to try to put food on the table. This, in essence, was actually a way to preserve their pride and provided the first steps towards rebuilding their lives. Unfortunately, the orchard managers took advantage of this knowledge by exploiting their workers and almost keeping them hostage once they entered the facilities. Their lack of kindness demonstrates greed and hatred and violently contradicts the patriotic, mutual understanding of Americans -- that with perseverance, anything is possible.

[6] The Grapes of Wrath is a magnificent masterpiece that reveals the truth behind the American Dream. It explores an idea that is so engrained in our very beings as Americans. The concept of the American Dream is a part of our innate beliefs and motivations. It says that a tenacious attitude, strong work ethic, and forceful ability will lead us towards endless possibilities. John Ford’s movie, through his visual representations and outstanding cast, illustrates to us that life can often get in the way of our dreams. It may throw us for a loop. Unprecedented events make this “dream” less of a reality and more of an unreachable goal.

[7] The Joads faced many hardships in their journey to California and even more once they set foot there, but they never seemed to lose sight of that vision. Though their spirit was broken, though they had witnessed first-hand a disintegrating family, though they made personal sacrifices in the hopes to achieve a better life -- they never lost their sense of identity and purpose. To better understand this notion, we can look at arguably the most famous line from the movie. Ma says, “Rich fellas come up an’ they die, an’ their kids ain’t no good an’ they die out. But we keep a’comin’. We’re the people that live. They can’t wipe us out; they can’t lick us. We’ll go on forever, Pa, ‘cause we’re the people.” So, though the American Dream, as defined by Adams, may not be fully attainable or true for everyone, successful dreams come in all shapes and sizes. They are different for everybody. They are met with setbacks and hardships. But the ultimate key to achieving them -- is just living.