1.What is the genre?
2.Who is speaking in the text?
3.What is his view on the American Dream?
4.React to his view on Capital punishment? How is this view related to the American Dream?
5.Discuss his view upon love and marriage
6.Is his view upon the American Dream exceptional?
7.What seems to be the topic?
8.To whom is the text directed?
9.How does our generation seek the American Dream? Has the concept changed?
10.Put into perspective of the other texts we have read on this theme.
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In the short story "Adam", the main character is Adam, and his views on life are told by a first-person narrator, who probably is a friend of Adam’s. The American Dream to Adam is to become incredibly rich. He is very influenced by the concept that everybody should have the freedom to fulfill their (American) dream. This is why he thinks that the personal responsibility to ones actions is so important. He thinks that people should have a second chance if they do something illegal, or if they in some other way mess up. However, he also believes that three strikes means that you are out of game, meaning that society ought to get rid of a person, who cannot handle his personal responsibility. Adam sees the people around him as members of a team, and if you do not play by the rules then you are of the team. He also looks upon marriage as a team commitment. This is why he would be fine by doing housework, as long as his wife is out there earning a lot of money. He just wants “to be on a winning team”.
ReplyDeleteMartin
1.What is the genre?
ReplyDeleteThis is a short story about Adam who believes that money can buy happiness.
2.Who is speaking in the text?
Adam speaks while the I-person is telling the story.
3.What is his view on the American Dream?
Adam believes that for most Americans, the American dream consist of: A nice house, a VCR, low fixed mortgage rates, three square meals a day, and a new car every now and then. But Adams American dream is to be fabulously wealthy in dollar terms. Money makes him very happy, and he believes that you can buy happiness.
4.React to his view on Capital punishment? How is this view related to the American Dream?
Adam advocates the baseball theory of criminal justice – three strikes and you’re out. He does not want the system to spend money and resources on endless appeals. I think he is right. Because like he says you have giving them the opportunity to both mess up and get a new chance, and after that it is just too bad. The American dream?
5.Discuss his view upon love and marriage
Adams view of married is that it is a merger rather than the binding of two souls until death do us part. He says: We can both do better in life through being together. Adam believes that love is a given and I think that is totally wrong. The most important thing for a relationship is love. Love is what keeps us together.
6.Is his view upon the American Dream exceptional?
No. I believe that all most everyone has the same thoughts as Adam, but is just afraid to be as forward as he is.
7.What seems to be the topic?
Money money money.
8.To whom is the text directed?
This text is directed to Adam and the people and the system. To Adam because he needs to see that there is more to life than money, and to the people and the system because they need to learn about the reality about criminals, drug users and other people who the system spends endless resources on every day.
9.How does our generation seek the American Dream? Has the concept changed?
It is still the same. Money is everything and nothing. To some people money is all that matters (like Adam) but to others money is just a small part of the concept of being happy. I think that our generation needs money to survive, but we are getting better to see all the other great things in life.
10.Put into perspective of the other texts we have read on this theme.
The other text has been about freedom and that we are all created equally. This text is also about freedom just in another way. To Adam money is freedom. Money gives him the freedom to do anything this world has to offer. He believes like the other text that we are created equally and it really doesn’t matter what your background is, because you created your own happiness if you are fundamentally smart.
Adam is a very driven man and it is money that drives him. It is a lust that needs to be fulfilled. He sees it as a key to his happiness. He is in fact very materialistic. He associates wealth with intelligence but actually contradicts himself as he was going to be a scientist and admires them. I think that he is incredbly naiive and has a very narrowminded view of the world. He doesn't mention love in what is important to him in a relationship but implies that the union should improve his materialistic status. Love is an afterthought. He mentions things in a way which refers to teams alot-"winning team, baseball theory". He is very one dimensional and the only thing that matters to him is money. He is very severe in his views on crime and doesn't really understand why some people turn to crime. Maybe for some it is the only way to survive as they don't have the opportunities that Adam had. One aspect about America which really sucks is their education and health systems. You have to pay a crazy amount to get through college and have to pay high premiums for your health insurance. In this way there are not the same opportunities for everyone. If you don't have health insurance you will not be treated, unless you can guarantee the money needed for yur operation/care. The poor cannot afford to put their kids through college and those opportunities open to Adam are not open to them. This is where the American dream does not apply.
ReplyDeleteGuess Adam got you out of your chairs... ;)
ReplyDelete- Can you be happy without money? - In America/in Denmark?
- Can you live the American Dream and be poor?
- Is the American Dream just about money?
Remember this is NOT a short story, but an interview with Adam.
ReplyDelete