Features Of The American Dream Image In West Side Story - Case Study Example

Features Of The American Dream Image In West Side Story Introduction A thought that gets ‘inputted’ into an author’s mind is outputted in his or hers work. That ‘seeding’ of thought could be initiated or influenced by the ‘system’, in which the author lived or lives. ‘System’ in the sense, the author observing the society, events, especially the individuals who lived in his/her life time or before his/her lifetime, will ‘interpret’ it in a written form. Thus, written works including fictions will be constructed by the authors using the society and culture of his/her times, as the subject matter. When the author does that, he/she will be able to bring the real societal happenings or the opposite of real societal happenings into fiction, which in turn could be transferred to reel ‘life’ by some other person. Normally, human’s lives are composed of situations and incidents which sounds interesting, inspirational, innovative, ‘injuring’ etc, etc. Writers’ job is to bring these situations and incidents into a written form, using the realistic or fictionalized or even the opposite version of the real life happenings as the base. Background and Thesis Arthur Laurents, American playwright, stage director, and screenwriter, is one such author who have written many works basing it on the ‘system’ or the culture or the happenings of his times. His famous works include the stage musicals West Side Story and Gypsy, and also a film The Way We Were. Laurents wrote West Side Story, in 1957 as a musical play, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Originally conceived by Jerome Robbins (who directed and choreographed) as a twist on "Romeo and Juliet" using Jews and Catholics (and called "East Side Story"), it was transformed by Laurents and Bernstein into the tale of Polish-American Romeo and Puerto Rican Juliet, while their respective gangs fight a street war. (pbs.org). Laurents was influenced by many of the happening of his time to come up with this play. Apart from the inspiration to adapt a Shakespearean play, Laurents was influenced by the prevalence of Street gang culture and their nefarious as well as interesting activities. Along with these influences, Laurents decided to feature the Puerto Ricans as one of the one gangs because during that time only there was an heavy influx of Puerto Ricans into America particularly New York. Between Shakespeare, street gangs, and the influx of Puerto Ricans, the raw materials were in place for the making of West Side Story. (Jones 2003, p. 93). Although, it is not clear that the concept of American Dream also influenced Laurents, the fact is some of the elements of American Dream were incorporated into the play. However, the crux of the argument is that whether the play has incorporated certain elements of American Dream as it is or portrayed the opposite of American Dream. This paper will take the stance that the play portrayed the opposite of American Dream and will analyze to what extent and in what aspects does the play portray the opposite of American Dream. Overview of the Play West Wide Story is an adaptation of the classic love story, Romeo and Juliet. The story has been altered according to the needs of times, it was released or staged. The feuding families in Romeo and Juliet are replaced by the American gang, the Jets and the gang from Puerto Rico, the Sharks. The Jets led by Riff hate the Sharks led by Bernardo, for they think that the Sharks or the Puerto Rican immigrants in general have ‘invaded’ their territory. The young lovers in the movie are Tony, a member of the Jets gang and Maria who is the sister of Bernardo. Tony and Maria fall for each other when they meet at a dance party. But fate that makes it unfeasible for them to unite. In a fight between Riff and Bernardo, Riff is killed by Bernardo. Infuriated at the death of his best friend, Tony kills Bernardo. When Tony explains the situation to Maria, she forgives Tony for killing her brother as she is deeply in love with him. But Tony is killed by Chino, a member of Sharks gang when Tony comes out in the streets, upon hearing the wrong message of Maria’s death. Maria is shattered by the death of Tony as fate snatches away her love from her. This made for stage musical play with its story of romantic love, excellent music and vibrant dance caught the attention of all sections of people in 1957 and continues to hold the imagination of the people even now. It is a play which depicts the lives of young populace in an urban setting. The tender love which blooms amidst the hatred and rivalry of the gangs touches the heart. The passion depicted in the movie is mainly associated with the youth What is the American dream? Our world since its origination has been a ‘hotbed’ of activity. The mental and physical activities of humans have transformed our globe from a primitive one to an advanced one. These activities have been carried out in an organized form under different structures. That is, humans have organized or segregated into different structures like countries, communities etc, and carried on with their activities. Among these different structures, the activities of people living in a particular country will show some uniqueness, giving them a separate national identity. Many movements and issues that happened in the course of the country’s history have initiated or boosted this formation of separate national identity and at the same time doubted or damaged the identity. The term ‘American Dream’ is interpreted in different ways giving different meanings, but mainly focused on the aspect of development or advancement. That is, throughout the American history, people went after things that could bring them prosperity. They achieved that prosperity due to their abilities and hard work. For immigrants, American dream only enticed them to leave their country’s shores and enter United States of America. Apart from the financial ambitions, American Dream represented other materialistic things like a house, finding a secured job, getting good education etc. However importantly, it represented a society where every one will show development in all aspects of their life. The term was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book titled, The Epic of America. Written in 1931, Adams states that "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”… It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable." (p.214-215) Throughout American History, this American Dream got derailed by one event or other. This Dream was first obstructed by the unfortunate event of Great Depression. The Great Depression, which had their beginnings in late1920’s, is the term given to the economic downturn that was witnessed all over the world, affecting all the sections of people in many countries. In United States, effects of Great Depression are mainly seen in the industries of construction, agriculture, mining, logging etc, which are the major industries that fueled the American Dream. Apart from these main industries, other companies which provided livelihood for many showed poor results, with many fully closing down. Majority of the American people were stranded without job, food, shelter etc. So, with every aspect of their lives under threat, the American’s mindset also went into a depressive mode, with the American Dream in tatters. Thus, immediately after the term was coined, the Great Depression, made feel to view the concept of American Dream skeptically. This skepticism about the American Dream is continuing even now. That is, the view among certain sections of the population is, American Dream of today is derailed from its path by various factors. Their hard work and skills are coming to naught, due to various factors that is not directly under their control. Factors which are ruining the American Dream like the Great Depression is the threat and problems like Terrorism, financial downturn, etc. That is, all their hard work and skills are not allowed to produce positive results including prosperity and achievement of American Dream, as they are cut short by the current the financial downturn. Also, Terrorism and the resultant wars on terrorism are draining the country’s or people’s finances, and in a way are preventing economic development, as major portion of the finances needed for people’s development, are used against wars and ironically for people’s protection. Although, American Dream was viewed skeptically in American Dream in 60’s and 70’s and how the opposite of it was portrayed in West Side Story With the end of both the World Wars, USA’s position underwent a major change. That is, America’s role in the end of the World War II, the establishment of United Nations and its rivalry with Soviet Union, placed it in a different pedestal, possibly on the pedestal of the World leader. Then in short course of time, particularly in 1960’s and 1970’s USA showed improvement in all the aspects from Science and Technology to media, medicine, electronics etc, and also in its imperialist policies and military interventions, earning the tag of world leader. In the 1950s, Americans were under the spell of the "liberal consensus," which put forward the view that America was a just, democratic, middle-class, abundant, and free society without any problems going on the path of American Dream. (Lewis 2002). However, by early 1960s and continuing into1970’s, many Americans including young and the old started to critically look at the contradictions within American society. On the one hand, they believed that America was becoming a successful and better society, but on the other they were forced to become aware of the problems of growing poverty amidst middle-class affluence, racism including against immigrants, etc. On the positive side, refusing to accept these above problems and contradictions and holding tightly to the idealized America of the 1950's liberal consensus, Americans became committed in the early 1960s to overcoming and solving these problems, thereby trying to actualize the American Dream. (Lewis 2002). With a strong President like John F Kennedy to inspire and support them in the endeavor to achieve the American Dream, Americans put their best efforts. “For many Americans to this day, the young, vibrant President John Kennedy represented the hope, idealism, and optimism of a generation.” (Lewis 2002). With America showing good success, it became the ‘magnet’ which attracted people from all over the world, who all came to America with the wish to achieve their own American Dream. The relaxation of the immigrant laws also aided many people to come to America, find prospective careers, attain sizeable wealth, enjoy high standard living and thereby actualize the American Dream. Prior to the 1960s, immigration to U.S. was controlled by provisions of the National Origins system, which limited immigration under a quota system. However that changed with the passing of Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 due to the initiatives of Ted Kennedy. “The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 eliminated these extremely restrictive quotas. By removing these harsh restrictions, Sen Kennedy opened America’s doors to a new generation of immigrants from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa, allowing them to pursue the American dream which before the passage of this act, had been out of reach” (Zhang & Associates 2009). So, during 1960s, America experienced waves of immigration, with the immigrants mainly coming from Asia and particularly Latin American countries. After they arrived in New York or in other places, they did not merely remain as passive players, they actively engaged in the process of change and adaptation. (Hai-ping 2008). That is, all of them entered with a lot of optimism with a great motivation to achieve success and live their own American Dream. “Most immigrants who made their way voluntarily to the land now known as the United States could inspire themselves with some variation on the American Dream” (Hume 2002, p. 9). However, this theme of America being a land of opportunity was portrayed in an opposite way by the play, West Side Story. Actually, West Side Story was considered as the first Broadway musical to seriously question the universality of the American Dream,(Jones 2003, p. 93). The gang members in the both the groups, Jets and Sharks, does not enjoy the benefits of American Dream. That is, although certain members of both the gang had wishes to live a peaceful, happy and successful life, they were not able to achieve that. The much talked about American Dream did not any positive impact on these young men and women. All the negative things which are opposite to the American Dream like poverty, killings, further deterioration, etc were showcased in the play, thus proving the statement that play portrays the opposite of American Dream. They were forced into the street and throughout the story they continue to thrive in the streets without any drastic improvements in their lives. As shown in the play, the streets are the only thing they can claim to be their own, and for that reason only they struggle to hold on to their territories. “For the Jets, Sharks, and their girls, the streets are paved with —well, pavement. For gang members from dysfunctional homes, broken homes, poverty-level homes, or perhaps no homes at all, to "own" the street is to have it all, or as the Jets' leader Riff says, "We fought hard for this territory and it's ours.... I say this turf is small, but it's all we got"” (Jones 2003, p. 93-94). Although both the gangs did not get the benefits of American Dream, the Sharks were the major victims of the lack of American Dream. As the two teenage gangs, one composed of Americans and another composed of sons of Puerto Rican immigrants, fight on the streets to control the neighborhood, it is clear that Sharks were at a disadvantage. Their racial lineage and their skin color were not considered American enough and they were not considered as White Americans. Thus, the portrayed picture of America being a land of opportunity for the immigrants seems to be contrasted in the play. While most of the Puerto Rican gang members prefer living in America, they also know that they have to pay a heavy price for it. That is, the Puerto Rican immigrant characters understand that their lives can only flourish and succeed in America as part of the American Dream, but it will not be smooth sailing. This can be seen in the thought process of Anita, who sees no future for her in Puerto Rica. “Anita enunciates Puerto Rican reality as an underdeveloped country with all kinds of natural disasters, socio-economic and demographic problems, and crime.” (Sanchez 1994). However, in line with the statement that the play portrays the opposite of American Dream, Bernardo discredits and demythifies Anita's exaltation of the "American Dream," (Sanchez 1994). This being the case, it is clear that the immigrants did not enjoy the fruits of American Dream like many of the Americans. As the character of Anita echoes, she will always be an immigrant who cannot enjoy a good life unlike the Americans like Tony. "Ai! Here comes the whole commercial. The mother of Tony was born in Poland; the father still goes to night school. Tony was born in America, so that makes him an American. But us? Foreigners! (Laurents 1957, p.165)". These words show that all the immigrants who entered America in 1960’s did not get benefits from the supposed American Dream as portrayed. Instead they were subjected to violence, racial abuses and discrimination. All the immigrants were not provided opportunities and were forced away and this is also shown in the play in many instances. This aspect of the play clearly proves that the play portrayed the opposite of the American Dream. One of the important participants of the American Dream, were the immigrants who came to United States of America with high hopes, and are still coming with expected hopes. That is, with the knowledge, educational qualifications and skill, many immigrants from different countries of the world, came in search of better pastures. By coming to USA, they wanted to seek better opportunities or wanted to tap their skill in a better way or even wanted to escape from the dangerous and pitiable condition in their home country. On a whole, they mainly wanted to achieve the American Dream. But, while in the process to achieving that dream, they are subjected to attacks and tortures, both physical as well as mental, bordering on racism. Those were unfortunate events and it is the main criticism against the American Dream even today. Although, the immigrants tried to achieve the America Dream through good means and importantly by contributing to the American economy, their roles were belittled. So, the byproduct of the American Dream, the immigrants and their dream, were put in grave dangers due to the actions of some other people like the characters particularly in the Jets in the play, West Side Story. Apart from this main element of how immigrants did not benefit from the American Dream, the play has also focused on certain more elements, which clearly validates that the play, West Side Story portrayed the opposite of American Dream. That is, as part of the American Dream, it was instilled in the young minds that only education and job will ensure a great life with a lot of happiness. It was taught by the American culture that an education and job is part of the American Dream and will lead to the All American Family. This was further validated by the author Warshauer who states, Traditionally, Americans have sought to realize the American dream of success, fame and wealth through thrift, hard work, education and job. (americansc.org.uk). However, in the play, West Side Story no main character thinks about education or job as the way for their happiness and success. Their main focus was on holding to their street territories and fighting to gain one-up over their rival gangs. American Dream’s attributes of education and job have no meaning for them and this again clearly validates the statement that the play portrays many of the opposites of American Dream. So, when one looks from the perspective of the play, West Side Story and its author Arthur Laurents, it is clear that the American Dream did not fully actualize for many sections of the populations. When American Dream was put into action, it showed positive results, pushing USA into the bracket of top countries. However, as it got interrupted by many events and due to certain negative impacts of racism, it did not benefit all the sections of the population, as claimed by many. Thus, the play, West Side Story took a different stance on American Dream by portraying the opposite of the American Dream. References Adams, JT 2001, Epic of America, Simon Publications, New York. americansc.org.uk, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Changing Conceptions of the American Dream, viewed on December 4, 2009 http://www.americansc.org.uk/online/American_Dream.htm Hai-ping, Q 2008, Immigrants’ assimilation in New York after 1960s, Sino-US English Teaching, 5, 5, 53. Hume, K 2002, American dream, American nightmare: fiction since 1960, University of Illinois Press, Chicago. Jones, JB 2003, Our musicals, ourselves: a social history of the American musical theater, UPNE, Lebanon, NH. Laurents, A 1957, West Side Story, Lewis, CH 2002, The Student Protest Movement of the 1960s, viewed on December 4, 2009 http://www.colorado.edu/AmStudies/lewis/2010/students.htm pbs.org, Arthur Laurents, viewed on December 4, 2009 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/laurents_a.html Sanchez, SS 1994, West Side Story: A Puerto Rican reading of "America", viewed on December 4, 2009 http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC39folder/westSideStory.html Zhang & Associates 2009, Rest In Peace Sen. Ted Kennedy, Friend of Immigrants viewed on December 4, 2009 http://www.hooyou.com/news/news090209kennedy.html Read More