Fragmentation of American Dream in Nathanael West’s The Day of The Locust

Abstract

This paper studies Nathanael West’s The day of the Locust to explore how life of the characters in the novel is fragmented in contemporary American society.The study answers the questions: What has made the life of the protagonist and the other major characters life driven by capitalistic thoughts? Why are the characters frustrated and scattered?The study discovers that the characters are driven by is the capitalistic society that has been molded by mass deception and consumer culture.The society is under the influence of IS A(Ideological State Apparatus)and hence hegemonized. The major characters like Tod Hackette, Faye Greener are struggling to fulfill their shattered dream which is guided by American dream of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.They look for the materialistic pleasure and always want more and more. Miss Greener is one of the perfect examples who is derived such capitalistic thought. Hence the major characters’ life is fragmented and unsuccessful. They lack the technology self and are strongly influenced by the materialistic thought of American dream. The study focuses on how Faye Greener, Tod Hackette and Mr. Greener are overpowered by the thought of money, luxury,and need. The characters are indirectly guided by the thought that they have to earn more by any means; may it be unethical, mean or unsocial ways to be happy. This influence of ISAleads the characters towards destruction and ruin.