During William Faulkner's Nobel Prize for Literature Acceptance speech in 1950, he stated "The human heart in conflict with itself is the only thing worth writing about". This statement connects to the three elements of the American experience: taking on the road, the American spirit of rebellion, and the tragic pursuit. Many people have published written works about these three elements because they are all conflicts of the heart in their own way.
The American idea of taking on the road and exploring new parts of the world is a journey. This journey is a representation of one's journey through life of coming of age. Something new always comes about. As you are growing up, it never gets easier. Life just presents new challenges and things to adjust to as you reach new chapters of your life. When people graduate college, they get excited to adjust to their new life with their new job and as soon as they get used to this lifestyle, before they know it, they are getting married. Now, a person must adjust to not only looking after themselves, but two people. Then along comes two or three kids and people discover parenthood. The challenges continue to present themselves as life continues. Life on the road presents conflicts and adjustments just as the aspired "American Dream" does. These challenges and constant adjustments through the journey of coming of age cause a conflict of heart as the heart is always readjusting itself.
The American spirit of rebellion is caused by a conflict of the heart. The American rebel is always fighting a conflict of the heart in their struggle of self versus society. Their heart tells them to be one thing, but society is telling them to be something else. Their refusal to conform to society's standards makes them an American rebel. Some people find it hard to go against society, but some experience a conflict of the heart trying to stay true to themselves in a phony society. These people are the American rebels.
The tragic pursuit also causes a conflict of the heart for many Americans who thought they could achieve all of their dreams. The tragic pursuit has become the modern day American dream. Many people come to America or grow up here with the idea that America is the "land of opportunity" and anyone can make their dreams a reality in our beloved country. This may have been the case many, many years ago, but unfortunately, this is no longer reality. Today in America, there are of course people who successfully achieve their dreams and this is not easy for all, but some do get there. More often, however; people do not live the perfect life they imagined they would. The idea that America was once the place where one could chase their dreams has diminished and has become the place where people attempt to chase their dreams and end up on the tragic pursuit with everyone else. People who grow up imagining themselves pursuing their dreams often are left with a conflict of the heart when they find themselves at a stop sign and can no longer fight for their imagined life. This is the never ending tragic pursuit which has become the modern tragedy of the American dream.
The American Experience has become a series of conflicts of the heart caused by taking on the road and coming of age, the American spirit of rebellion, and the tragic pursuit. These conflicts have been analyzed through many pieces of American literature as well as other forms of media. Explore this website to discover the modern day American Dream.
The American idea of taking on the road and exploring new parts of the world is a journey. This journey is a representation of one's journey through life of coming of age. Something new always comes about. As you are growing up, it never gets easier. Life just presents new challenges and things to adjust to as you reach new chapters of your life. When people graduate college, they get excited to adjust to their new life with their new job and as soon as they get used to this lifestyle, before they know it, they are getting married. Now, a person must adjust to not only looking after themselves, but two people. Then along comes two or three kids and people discover parenthood. The challenges continue to present themselves as life continues. Life on the road presents conflicts and adjustments just as the aspired "American Dream" does. These challenges and constant adjustments through the journey of coming of age cause a conflict of heart as the heart is always readjusting itself.
The American spirit of rebellion is caused by a conflict of the heart. The American rebel is always fighting a conflict of the heart in their struggle of self versus society. Their heart tells them to be one thing, but society is telling them to be something else. Their refusal to conform to society's standards makes them an American rebel. Some people find it hard to go against society, but some experience a conflict of the heart trying to stay true to themselves in a phony society. These people are the American rebels.
The tragic pursuit also causes a conflict of the heart for many Americans who thought they could achieve all of their dreams. The tragic pursuit has become the modern day American dream. Many people come to America or grow up here with the idea that America is the "land of opportunity" and anyone can make their dreams a reality in our beloved country. This may have been the case many, many years ago, but unfortunately, this is no longer reality. Today in America, there are of course people who successfully achieve their dreams and this is not easy for all, but some do get there. More often, however; people do not live the perfect life they imagined they would. The idea that America was once the place where one could chase their dreams has diminished and has become the place where people attempt to chase their dreams and end up on the tragic pursuit with everyone else. People who grow up imagining themselves pursuing their dreams often are left with a conflict of the heart when they find themselves at a stop sign and can no longer fight for their imagined life. This is the never ending tragic pursuit which has become the modern tragedy of the American dream.
The American Experience has become a series of conflicts of the heart caused by taking on the road and coming of age, the American spirit of rebellion, and the tragic pursuit. These conflicts have been analyzed through many pieces of American literature as well as other forms of media. Explore this website to discover the modern day American Dream.