The American Dream. Acculturation and Transnationalism

Abstract

This paper aims to bring to the reader’s attention three perspectives on the American dream, as seen through the eyes of the main characters in three novels: In America by Susan Sontag, Amerika. The Missing Person by Franz Kafka and the more recent Immigrant, Montana by Amitava Kumar. The perspectives are different – from Maryna’s story of failure and success as an actress in America in 1876, to Karl Rossmann’s escape from Europe and incomplete adventure in America, to AK’s sexual experiences that mark the steps of his adaptation to the new country –, but they share similar acculturation and transnational strategies. Common themes such as the ethnic identity, the idea of a “portable homeland” will be investigated, in an attempt to outline the fluid contours of the elusive American dream.

Keywords

• American dream
• ethnic identity
• acculturation
• transnationalism