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Exploring American Capitalism
American capitalism refers to the economic model in which factors of production are
held by indiiduals to encourage growth! "he model adocates for indiidual growth to spur
national growth! "he social effects of adopting American capitalism are not as pleasant as the
economic effects! "he indiidualism and competition adocated by the model encourages
Americans to pursue enlightenment# complete satisfaction and fulfillment of their needs! "he
belief that money can help achiee all the aboe has led the American society to yearn for the
American dream! "he essay intends to explore American capitalism by reiewing arious wor$s
of art!
%n the play Death of a Salesman# the oer emphasis that Americans place on material
happiness is eident! Commonly referred to the American Dream# eery American stries to
achiee the dream with those falling short being regarded as failures &Charles# '(! %n the play#
Arthur )iller uses *illy +oman to illustrate the determination that aerage American hae in
achieing success! "he American society places extreme pressure on *illy to achiee the
destructie dream! "he play illustrates the competitie nature that society encourages Americans
to adopt thereby leading to unethical and inhumane practices to achiee success!
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"he society fails to recogni-e the negatie effects of the pressure owing to the perceied
good life that Americans who achieed the dream lie! )a.ority of Americas# .ust li$e *illy#
spend most of their lifetimes trying to achiee fame# wealth# and success! %nitially# *illy had
other ambitions but society forces him to abandon his own dream to pursue what society dictates!
"his is eident in today/s American culture where pressure to achiee the aboe goals has forced
ma.ority of Americans to embrace practices they do not li$e! %n the play# social class is highly
regarded0 Americans alue class highly! Currently# there are neighborhoods# social institutions
and facilities that aerage earners cannot attend owing to their low class!
*illy/s iew is that success is defined by how popular and li$ed an indiidual! 1e
desperately tries to instill the notion to his two sons 1appy and 2iff! "he mother to the $ids#
+inda supports *illy/s course thereby reinforcing the message on American Dream! %t is
instilling the dream that *illy fails to teach the $ids the importance of morality thereby leading
to the wrong path! *illy defends his $id# 2iff who stole by claiming that the boy will gie bac$
what he too$! Clearly# *illy had lost touch of reality0 being a salesman he always wanted to
climb the social ladder by all means! %t is the relentless pursuit of the dream that he loses his
mind on reality!
Capitalism is also explored in the moie# Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck0 he offers the
iew of capitalism by exploring the oppression and inhumane exploitation in the noel! "he
moie depicts capitalism in American society as a model that cannot recogni-e cultural alues
and pride! "he rich see$ to exploit the poor to improe their richness! "he moie depicts
Americans who were the first settlers as selfish and materialistic! "hey are firmly attached to
their land and are of the iew that it is fundamental to charge a premium on land occupation! "he
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moie illustrates the extent of selfishness and money oriented mentality that Americans hae
adopted when it comes to loo$ing for money &4and# 2randen and 5reenspan 163(!
"he theme of indiidualism is also clear in the industriali-ed American society! Eery
American is concerned by their interest and eery other person represents competition! Social
cohesieness suffers due to the money minded behaior and selfishness across the American
society! Americans iew communal existence as insignificant as indiidual interest supersede
communal interests! "om 7oad offers a detailed explanation of the fragmentation of his
community whereby members suffer indiidual displacement! "he displacement is attributed to
the excessie materialism by super rich in "om/s community! "here also exist bad blood
between the rich and the poor farmers0 the rich landowners disli$e the poor farmers!
Capitalism stresses on the importance of control being in the hands of those who inest
capital! Economic goods produced in the society should be controlled by indiiduals who inest
capital in their production! %nestors hae the right to own and use wealth in whateer manner
they perceie worthwhile! Clearly# the moie identifies that the irrational nature of capitalism
whereby indiiduals see$ material wealth irrespectie of the means of attaining it!
Social disintegration which includes brea$age of family lin$s illustrates the negatiity of
American capitalism! %n the noel by "ennessee *illiams# wealth is identified to be the biggest
issue for 5ooper# )argaret and )ae! *ealth brings them together for 2ig Daddy/s birthday
celebration! )ae and 5ooper act all nice to 2ig )ama and 2ig Daddy with hope of inheriting the
plantation! )argret on the other hand tries to help 2ric$ by castigating the family not .udge him
&4and et al 89(! )argaret is childless but is still determined to get a share of the inheritance
through the alcohol addict# 2ric$! :ne notices the -eal and pretense with which family members
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in trying to ma$e a case for an inheritance! Capitalism adocates for indiidual interests and
selfishness0 this is demonstrated by )ae and 5ooper/s behaior! 2oth attended a birthday party
in honor of 2ig Daddy# and were supposed to appreciate the life of their father and not focus on
inheritance!
2ig Daddy is depicted as a greedy and wealthy indiidual who inested heaily on
European cloc$s# diamonds and sex! 1oweer# he ultimately succumbs to poor health! "he
height of unethical and immoral acts that are caused by greed is shown when )argaret
contemplates sleeping with 2ric$ to ;ualify for 2ig Daddy/s inheritance! Capitalism encourages
achieement of material wealth without necessary considering the ethical nature of ac;uisition
&Comaroff# 7ohn and *eller <=(! %t is no secret that capitalism has had more disadantages than
adantages to Americans! "he inhumane attitude that capitalism adocates may end up
threatening the existence of the American society! As illustrated by the authors in the boo$s
explored# selfish interests only sere to destroy social bonds!
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*or$s Cited
Charles# )urray! >*hy Capitalism 1as an %mage Problem!> Wall Street Journal 36 7uly ,61,:
n!a!
Comaroff# 7ean# + Comaroff 7ohn and P 4obert *eller! Millennial Capitalism and the Culture of
Neoliberalism! Durham: Du$e ?niersity Press# ,661!
4and# Ayn# et al! Capitalism: The Unknon !deal" New @or$: 4obert# 1A=9!