Opposing American Dream in Willa Cathers Neighbour Rosicky and Pauls Essay

Opposing American Dream in Willa Cathers Neighbour Rosicky and Pauls Case - Essay Example Willa Cather’s â€Å"Paul’s Case† was published in the year 1905 and it appeared along with other seven stories in her debut anthology bearing the title â€Å"The Troll Garden†. These two stories captivate the myriad perspectives and essences of the American Dream. The first time the concept was unveiled before its citizens was when James Truslow Adams first pronounced the words in the year 1931. It states a freedom encapsulated with a promise and possibility of success and prosperity. The concept of American Dream envisages a better life which is complete and rich and aims to provide the opportunity for each citizen according to their ability or achievement irrespective of their classes in society and birth circumstances. With this vision, Willa Cather presents the stories, â€Å"Neighbour Rosicky† and â€Å"Paul’s Case† that provide a scale of perception associated with the concept of American Dream and its derogatory cone with the g rowing time (Library of Congress, â€Å"By Topic†). Thesis Statement The essay intends to provide a comparative study of the representation of the conflicting concepts of American Dreams in the stories, â€Å"Neighbour Rosicky† and â€Å"Paul’s Case† from the same writer, Willa Cather. ... Whereas the story, â€Å"Paul’s Case† revolves round the trajectory of a high-school suspended youth in Pittsburgh who is depressed and frustrated from his middle-class life around and wants to break it free along with the people and company around him but fails to comprehend his appreciation for the beautiful things and for refuge, he runs away to the New York city. This story explores the threat encountered by art and the struggle that artists had to undergo along with the conflict of a young artist between his art and the commercial world. Conflict and Opposing American Dreams prevailing in the Short Stories, â€Å"Neighbour Rosicky† and â€Å"Paul’s Case† As the pieces from the same author, it becomes quite intrinsic and interesting to compare the protagonists of both the stories and their contrasting means to achieve their ideas of perfect life which gets manifested through opposing ideas of American Dream operating within the respective life o f the protagonists and stories as well. Anton Rosicky is a symbol of the immigration process which the writer also experienced first-hand when her family first shifted and settled in the Nebraska Valley. Anton could have lived a better life when he first immigrated to New York and started his tailoring work but he felt an earnest need to be in touch with the soil which compelled him to come and settle in a farm and live a happy life of unity, compassion and freedom other than extracting more and more profit from the creamery. He pursues his dream through love and compassion which are his poignant means of pursuing his American Dream. The tragedy with which Paul meets as a young aspirant of American Dream