Research Paper on:
Lena, the American Dream, and Willa Cather's My Antonia

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
than not, a successful life that involves sufficient money. In American society prior to the 1920s, however, the American Dream, a dream and emulated by Benjamin Franklin, was something that  involved hard work, integrity, dreams, and a sense of honor. The American Dream was not just about success and financial gains. Bearing that in mind we find that the character  of Lena Lingard in Willa Cathers novel "My Antonia" is a very good example of one who works hard and finds the American Dream. In the following paper we examine  Lena and how she represents this ideal. Lena and the American Dream When first looking at how Lena is one who struggles and achieves the American Dream we must  first define some of the traits being examined. These traits that help to identify the individual who achieves the American Dream are self-perseverance, ingenuity, imaginations, strength and success. With that  in mind we turn to the first of three illustrations of the woman who is Lena. When we first meet Lena we immediately note that she has changed from  what the characters remember: "Why, its Lena! Of course I didnt know you, so dressed up!" (Cather II iv 7 ). Apparently Antonia and Jim were not accustomed to  seeing her dressed up for she was obviously a young woman who was bare foot and bore unkempt hair. When the conversation progresses we see her current attitude and  her dreams. In answer to a question she states, she is working "For Mrs. Thomas, the dressmaker. She is going to teach me to sew. She says I have quite  a knack. Im through with the farm. There aint any end to the work on a farm, and always so much trouble happens. Im going to be a dressmaker"