Jan 3, 2010

The Iceman Cometh | Themes

Hope and the American Dream
The promise of the American Dream, a goal of material prosperity and success, has long been regarded as a crucial element of American culture. For many, it is the possibility of this dream that separates America from other nations. It is the hope of the downtrodden. The faith Americans have in the dream, that, given enough ambition and determination, absolutely anyone can ‘‘make it’’ is almost religious in nature.

For the inhabitants of Harry Hope's saloon, however, faith has led to despair; the dream has soured....