...Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream (2000) will blow your mind. It may be one of the most disturbing films ever made, not in the sense of gore, but in the sense of commonplace situations that are relatable to any person in today’s society. Requiem for a Dream grabs you emotionally and gives you a slap on the face, with its intense drama and striking visuals. This is the simple story with a plot concentrating on addiction and human weaknesses, based on the novel by Hubert Selby, Junior. Aronofsky narrates the tales of four addicts. Three of them are young junkies, Harry Goldfarb (portrayed by Jared Leto); his girlfriend, Merion (Jennifer Connelly); and his buddy Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). The movie is memorable for Ellen Burstyn's role as Sara Goldfarb, the mother of Harry. Her most memorable quote, summing up most of her character: “Purple in the morning, blue in the afternoon, orange in the evening, and green in the night.” It shows that even things that are considered normal, such as medication prescribed by doctors, can backfire and jumpstart an addiction for naïve patients. Sara’s dream is to get back into a red dress, nostalgic of her younger days when she was thin and conventionally beautiful. A lonely house, a refrigerator, a television set symbolizes the empty and mundane life of the elderly Sara Goldfarb. Striving for her dream, she seeks medical help to go on a diet. The doctor does not hesitate to prescribe her four medications to take daily. She is hopeful about...
Words: 830 - Pages: 4
...Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman uses a revolutionary technique to portray the protagonist, Willy Loman. He juxtaposes the scenes of present with those of the characters past to provide insight into Willy’s behaviours and beliefs and thus reveal how Willy has been victimized by the American Dream. The concept of developing a protagonist’s character by depicting formative experiences is one that offers an excellent approach to analyzing Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman. By juxtaposing scenes of the protagonist’s present with scenes from Willy’s past, Miller provides insight for Willy’s behaviours and beliefs. Through lighting and sound techniques, Miller recreates significant moments in Willy’s life that shape him. Miller’s staging...
Words: 990 - Pages: 4
...The American Dream 1. In text no. 2, Arnold Schwarzenegger has written a comment in the U.S. News & World Report. The American dream is interpreted as something you make yourself worthy for. Schwarzenegger came from Austria to the States in 1983, hoping to fulfill his dreams, instead of becoming a police officer like his father. Schwarzenegger succeeded, especially in his acting-career, but also in his political career. Today he is the governor of California. But there wasn’t anything given to him for free. According to this text, he had to work very hard to accomplish these achievements. In line 13 he writes that “Hard work and determination” was what it took for him to be successful. Schwarzenegger is very humble, when it comes to moving and adjusting to a new country, and he claims that it’s important that immigrants give something back, when they receive so much. Text no. 3 is an article from Yahoo! Finance. It has a much more negative/pessimistic point of view about the American Dream and the time we live in. Anya Kamenetz, the author of this article, supports her opinions on surveys and studies. For instance she found out that once people earn more than $50,000 a year, their level of happiness does not rise with the money they earn, as it should, according to the general idea of the American Dream (page 7, line 17). The last text is called “Is the American Dream still possible?”, and as the name of it indicates, it’s written with doubtfulness. David Wallechinsky...
Words: 905 - Pages: 4
...Critical Response 1. The article "Keeping the Dream Alive" by Jon Meacham main subject is based on the American Dream. In this article, the author is talking about the American Dream. He says back in the post war era (WWII) life was much different than it is today. Back then people were better, richer, and happier. People made more money, the unemployment rate was a lot lower and overall life was a lot better. 2. The purposes the writer has for presenting this argument are pretty simple. He is trying to make a point that the American Dream began centuries ago. Immigrants who migrated to this great country had a dream in order to make their dreams a reality migrating to America would be their goal. It was more easily seen to succeed in America than in their country. 3. The position the writer takes would have to be looking back in history and creating an idea of how it must have been how people struggled to come to this great country. He also must had quite a good amount of research done to make his article approved. 4. The writer mostly supports ideas mainly with facts every piece of information was taken from pieces of history. Every fact he states was very well put together research was his main focus for this article. He had to look back and try to make a comparison of todays history relevant to way back. Seeing the some changes were made but people still kept the goal of the American Dream. 5. The evidence the writer presents to support the position he states would...
Words: 666 - Pages: 3
...English 1520 16 May 2013 American Education In the article “American the Illiterate” by Chris Hedges he argues about the growing concern on the American people. In the argument he states that Americans everyday are less and less dependent on their ability to read and write. He explains how society over all is more dependent on image based information. In his first couple of paragraphs he describes this growing epidemic. How literacy affects us as a country and as a nation over all. He brings evidence and proof about his argument from various different creditable sources. He explains that illiteracy is such a minor priority to most Americans that doing things like their taxes or electing a new president doesn’t require them to be experts in illiteracy. Bringing in emotional story and a good slogan with words like pro-life, hope, maverick, war on terror. The American people are easily manipulated and are reeled in to the fight between truth and lies. He explains that America is so blind when it comes to signing a contract, policy agreement, or a legal document. Most if not all the time they barley even start reading. It’s hard to admit but at the end even I agree with Hedges logic. Every time I download a new software or log into my bank account never have I set there and read the agreement start to end. Just the other day I was reading the fine print in my insurance contract and I was amazed at some of the things that we assume are covered like roadside assistance. I always...
Words: 964 - Pages: 4
...The American Dream' is based on the 'Declaration of Independence': 'We believe that all men are born with these inalienable rights - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' (Thomas Jefferson, 1776). This 'dream' consists of a genuine and determined belief that in America, all things are possible to all men, regardless of birth or wealth; if you work hard enough you will achieve anything. However, Miller believes that people have been 'ultimately misguided' and Miller's play, Death of a Salesman, is a moving destruction of the whole myth. The origins of the American Dream seem to have been rooted in the pioneering mentality of the 18th and 19th century immigrants, most of whom came to America because of a promise of a new and better life. In particular, the opportunity to own one's land. But land 'ran out' and so cities developed and massive variations arose in wealth, which meant that this 'American Dream' changed from being a potential reality, into being a dream, like the name implies. Most of Miller's plays are directly or indirectly about the American Dream, because ultimately this dream wasn't going to succeed as lots of people wished. Death of a Salesman written in 1949, is a moving destruction of the whole myth. To be hard working, honest and have ambition were the ways of the American Dream. This lead to success, wealth and in due time - power. But this dream for everyone developed, and encouraged greed, selfish behavior, pride and rivalry between one another...
Words: 2052 - Pages: 9
...century, America was looked upon by the world as the superpower and dream continent where people’s visions came true. America became the melting pot of world and all the cultures of the world met here. There was a thirst for fame, power and money. This opened a door of commercialisation of the society. Many people became greedy and inhuman in their pursuit of fame and money. A famous essayist, Bacon is of the view, “Certainly fame is like a river that beareth up things light and swoln, and drowns things weighty and solid.” (Of Praise 133) Instead of a healthy competition and right path towards success, many were blinded by the materialistic aspect of life. American society also saw mushrooming of commercilisation and competition among the section of people, who were ready to sacrifice anything and everything for power and fame. This destroyed their family life and career. One of the most dominant beliefs of American society goes by the name of “the great American dream”. This concept is based on the doctrine of self-help, which assumes that a person having self-confidence and self-initiation can rise from a lower to a higher position. This doctrine is mostly highlighted by referring to famous personalities like Benjamin Franklin and John Garfield, who became role models for the posterity. Though many benefited by aiming high goals in their lives, a section of people attached false notion to the American dream. They became fervent believers of the romantic concept that anyone...
Words: 815 - Pages: 4
...Zheng fan Advanced Communication Strategies - ESLG 0610 - G04 Jeremy S. Gillette-Newman Date: 3/04/2013 American dream The American dream like the Statue of Liberty exists for people to have hope for a better future. In The Great Gatsby, it illustrated a man called Jay Gatsby was trying to win Daisy back by his richness. Recalling Gatsby’s life, he was always full of American dreams and his so-called success was also based on his American dream. Gatsby cared for Daisy so much but he failed to win his back because of his death. Jay Gatsby is merely a small character compared with the great American dream. He doesn’t represent the American dream since he misunderstands what is American dream. He uses illegal method to become rich and takes advantage of money to buy love. Eventually no one attend to his funeral. Before talking about Gatsby’s American dream, we take a glance of what is American dream. According to James Truslow, the American dream is, “Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement’. In other words, American dream is an optimistic belief. It should have no connection with his or her original social class. The American dream evokes people to pursue their dream by hard- working. The Great Gatsby settings in 1920s, which is called Jazz age. In that period, the society was super flourishing; money and pleasure blinded people’s eyes. People were too passionate with physical material...
Words: 1179 - Pages: 5
...The American Dream or the American Scream? A thought that runs through the minds of Americans from the beginning up until present day. Does it really exist? Is it worth it? Is it a goal someone will be able to achieve? One thing people know for sure is that the American Dream is common for everyone but the views of it differ for each individual. It depends mainly on your surrounding and someone’s social status. Americans have seen this ‘American Dream’ in everything from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book ‘The Great Gatsby’, to Thomas Jefferson’s ‘Declaration of independence’, and even to Martin Luther King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. All of those individuals are have the same idea of the American Dream throughout their piece but their view on what that Dream actually is differs. Patrick Henry does an exceptional job on portraying his view on the American Dream through strong imagery, allusions, tone, and appealing...
Words: 1168 - Pages: 5
...The American Dream is the idea of coming to america and being able to do what you want. America is the land of opportunity. There are many different ideas of the American dream, but it still present in today. The American dream does exist today because people come to america, the land of opportunity to accomplish the impossible goal and to succeed in life. In the text “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes, Challenges the American dream. It shows how the American dream is not what it seems. How the American dream is different for everyone. The text states “They send me to eat in the kitchen”(Hughes). The meaning of this quote is that he does not get to eat with everyone else when people come over. This challenges the american dream because this man should be free to eat wherever he wants to. The text also states, “Nobody’ll dare say to me, ‘Eat in the Kitchen,’(Hughes). This quotes meaning is to show that he will fight for his right to be and equally treated American. This challenges the right of the American dream because he has to fight just to be treated...
Words: 689 - Pages: 3
...The American dream can be defined as the of pursuit of happiness in a person’s life. In today's society, some people believe the American Dream is in their grasp, but others do not see how that dream is achievable. The American dream is a reality because the more work that the person puts in is the further more in the future he gets. If a person works hard enough for most of their life, they can definitely achieve their dream. In the book, The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald, there is a character name Gatsby and shows that people need dreams to move forward in life beside moving back. In the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby went from rags to riches overnight and he was living the American dream by cheating his way social, and financially. In the novel Gatsby had a big house and inside the house had extravagant parties all the time. Gatsby lifestyle was and still is the definition of the American dream. But Gatsby was still searching for his dream and that was Daisy “Fifty...
Words: 625 - Pages: 3
...It’s called The American Dream, it’s where people’s hopes and dreams laid. The American Dream was first publicly introduced by James Truslow Adams in Epic of America, in 1931. Adams proclaimed that he wanted everything better and richer and fuller for everyone. The American Dream in the 1920’s was to capitalize on the Booming Economy, to rebel against social and legal expectations, and to embrace the “New Women”. The Booming Economy was a wild success and had people walking all throughout the night! Because of the investors investing in stock markets and margins, people saw the stock market as a short term investment rather than a long term investment. This was where people got the idea that buying stock and auctioning it...
Words: 488 - Pages: 2
...“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 of achievement.” James Truslow Adams For many, this quote perfectly defines the american dream. A dawn of a new era seemingly encourages a life filled with glamour and prosperity as millions began their journey to the promised land. But does this dream live up to its expectations? Perhaps not as it reasons the corruption in today’s society. Despite the amount of hard work and dedication expended in attaining this goal, very few are able to obtain this degree of luxury. A man by the name of Jay Gatsby is a prime example of this. Although he worked to his literal death, Gatsby was unable...
Words: 277 - Pages: 2
...effects of capitalism. Although represented in entirely different ways, the two stories both have the same underlying idea. It is clear that both stories show that capitalism renders the ability to not only be a moral person, but creates a void from having a family and relationships. In Death of a Salesman, Willy’s relationship with his family slowly deteriorates and inevitably his job is what leads him to the demise of his family and his life. The pressure to succumb to capitalism and to be a salesman is all that he grasps onto in fear of being seen as a failure or unsuccessful in society. In Glengarry Glen Ross, the film mostly took place in the office, representing that these men have no life outside of their work. In search of “The American Dream” each of the characters seemed to have lost what it is that they were essentially working towards. Instead they invest all of their time and energy into being a salesman that they don’t have time to invest into making a family. So as one story tells that capitalism destroys families, the other depicts it as a barrier from non-business relationships and keeps people from obtaining a family. The irony of it all is that by complying to this business world, these characters all feel that they are achieving this ideal life, but in reality it takes over their lives and becomes their identity as a whole. The more distant they all get with reality, nature, family, etc the more they lose touch with reality. And over time without family values...
Words: 431 - Pages: 2
...is an independent young girl fighting to achieve the American dream and create a life of her own. Throughout the novel, one uncovers the struggle Sara overcomes, the “real” person she eventually is, and how she ultimately succeeds in becoming an American. Sara is seeking for a better life without her father and attempts to find her true identity in several ways. For example, Sara finds the room she wants to rent on her own and is the basis of her new independent life. ”This door was life. It was air. The bottom starting-point of becoming a person. I simply must have this room with the shut door.”(158-159). After Sara enters the door; she feels that she can now truly begin to identify herself and exemplifies her financial freedom. She can now study for an education that will help her reach the goal of employment as a teacher. This room also gives Sara a small glimpse of her goal. As Ms. Smolinsky said in America only the rich can afford privacy. Sara truly appreciates her new taste of the American dream and can now look forward to reaching the goal of a teacher. If Sara had stayed living with Reb and Ms. Smolinsky, she would have gotten nowhere towards her goal and remained the same she had grown up to—a mere image of her father. Sara dreams about how good of a time she would have, but finds herself desperately searching for someone to talk to, which proves that she has yet to completely reach the goal of becoming an American. For Sara, the feeling and accomplishment of living...
Words: 1251 - Pages: 6
