Unpacking the American Dream
The American Dream is a concept that is fundamental to American literature. More than this, it is a notion that underpins the American way of life itself. However, when delving deeper into the idea of the American Dream, cracks begin to appear: is America truly a nation of equal opportunity, of hard work rewarded by prosperity, of endless possibilities of success? Or was the 'Dream' simply that all along - a dream? This course will delve into this prevalent theme in American literature and seek to understand how it relates to the nation's history, society, culture and politics.
The course will focus on the study of two classic American texts: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller. Students are advised to read the texts before the course begins.
Students must have a copy of the books ready for the course. The Penguin Classic for Of Mice and Men and the Penguin Modern Classic for Death of a Salesman are recommended. You can purchase the books from the office.
