Return to Mind Map Gallery

The American Dream Book Summary

The American Dream
Overview
THEMES
Main Characters
American Dream? Ha!
The American Dream takes a dark and satirical look at the middle-class culture of the 1950s with its portrayal of bored family drama. Mommy and Daddy's dialogue is shallow, repetitive, and dissociated, while Grandma's words reflect slightly better values—and callousness. To them, life is absurd and meaningless; there's not much to dream about.
Cruelty
Mommy mistreats Grandma, emasculates Daddy, and behaves brutally toward their adopted son.
Emptiness
Values
Mommy and Daddy's blandness and shallowness are representative of the materialistic American dream.
Daddy
Mommy's considerate but passive husband
Grandma