The collapse of the American Dream. A comparison between Sindiwe Magona's "Mother to Mother" (1998) and Mohsin Hamid's "The Reluctant Fundamentalist" (2007)

Term Paper , 2020 , 43 Pages

Didactics for the subject English - Literature, Works

This essay is - strictly speaking - a product of the Corona virus which so dramatically changed the world and which also showed us how vulnerable and fragile human life is, something which both novels discussed here also want to portray.
To keep the students of my Grundkurs working my aim was to connect both novels which we dealt with in class. In Ql the topic of our course had the title Ideals and Realities (America) and in Q2 it was The Encounter of Cultures (South Africa). Here both novels, The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Mother to Mother made a perfect match since they are not only linked by the topic of the American Dream but also as far as structure and elements of style are concerned.

The aims of intercultural learning which were important for this project dispose of a high number of elements important for a functioning communication. Reading and writing turned out to be central and could be spotted in the following worksteps.
My students first had to work with different types of texts to get background information on the subject. One central element consisted in reading these various texts. Some of them had different backgrounds such as a historical or religious one. Writing became another important issue since the texts handed in disposed of formal and non-formal characteristics whose different forms had to be considered. Text production as such had to be changed according to literary or non-literary sources. Working with several media and types of texts was necessary for summing up complex fictional and non-fictional texts in order to understand and structure them. To analyse, interpret and work with this material according to the tasks given to the students was a logical result from this.

In connection to the above mentioned courses dealt with in class (Ideals and Realities and The Encounter of Cultures) the aspect of the American Dream was focused upon catchphrases such as ‘Manifestation of Individualism’ and ‘The American Dream as a Manifestation of Individualism’ as well as the notion of the American way of life which both novels reflect as well.
I say 'Thank you' to the headmistress of our school, Frau Oberstudiendirektorin Ruf, who supported our project from the beginning knowing about the importance of narrowing the gap between school and university with projects like these.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• I. Introductory notes (Matthias Dickert)
• II. Intercultural Learning – a short introduction (Matthias Dickert)
• III. Fiction of memory - literary background and chosen examples (Matthias Dickert)
• IV. The concept and destruction of the American Dream - Comparison of the novels The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Mother to Mother (Amira Büttner)
• V. Outlook (Matthias Dickert)

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay explores the theme of the American Dream, comparing its depiction in Sindiwe Magona's Mother to Mother and Mohsin Hamid's The Reluctant Fundamentalist. The project aims to highlight the complex interplay of cultural encounters, personal experiences, and societal expectations in shaping the individual's understanding and pursuit of the American Dream.

• The American Dream as a cultural ideal and its manifestation in different contexts
• The impact of cultural encounters and societal expectations on individual identities and aspirations
• The role of personal experiences and narratives in shaping perceptions of the American Dream
• The complexities of belonging and assimilation in a multicultural society
• The intersection of individual narratives and broader social and historical contexts

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introductory chapter provides context for the essay, discussing its origins in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its connection to the themes of vulnerability and fragility present in both novels. It also highlights the importance of intercultural learning and the role of reading and writing in this process. The second chapter offers a concise introduction to the concept of intercultural learning, emphasizing its relevance to the analysis of the novels.

The third chapter delves into the literary background of the novels, examining the concept of "fiction of memory" and its significance in understanding the authors' perspectives. The fourth chapter, focusing on the American Dream, delves into a comparison of the two novels, highlighting their shared themes and differing perspectives.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of the text include the American Dream, intercultural learning, cultural encounters, individual narratives, societal expectations, belonging, assimilation, and fiction of memory.

• Authors: Dr. Matthias Dickert (Author), Amira Büttner (Author)
• Publication Year: 2020
• Pages: 43
• Catalog Number: V888903
• ISBN (eBook): 9783346190925
• ISBN (Book): 9783346190932
• Language: English
• Tags: America, South Africa, American Dream, Intercultural Learning, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Mother to Mother, Concept and Collapse of the American Dream