How to Attain and Maintain the American Dream in Imbolo Mbue’s "Behold the Dreamers"
How to Attain and Maintain the American Dream in Imbolo Mbue’s "Behold the Dreamers"

Summary/Abstract: My article offers an analysis of Imbolo Mbue’s novel Behold the Dreamers (2016), with a special focus on the representations of the concept of the American Dream. Through the lens of the protagonist’s legal status, social class, race, and gender, I explore the factors that obstruct the attainment of the American Dream for the underprivileged. Furthermore, I argue that it is equally problematic for affluent Americans to maintain the Dream in the 21st century socio-economic environment, while its accessibility has been increasingly questioned. Finally, I demonstrate that the novel represents the waning of the American Dream of happiness, educational mobility, and economic justice for all, as it no longer depends on hard work and self-discipline but is buffeted by economic and social forces beyond the protagonists’ control.

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