Post by hopekim on Feb 8, 2016 3:56:03 GMT
Although Edgar Allan Poe lived during the early 19th century and knew of only the 19th century "American Dream", a dream of instant wealth, his poem "A Dream within a Dream" can be applied to both the 19th century "American Dream" as well as the more modern "American Dream". Poe lived through the California Gold Rush that began in 1848, and even though his poem "A Dream within a Dream" comments and questions more on the idea of not being able to distinguish reality from dreams, I think that the principle behind this poem can be spread to the idea of the American Dream and how Poe does not think that it is attainable in neither the 19th century nor subsequent centuries.
A Dream within a Dream by Edgar Allan Poe:
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow —
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand —
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep — while I weep!
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
Edgar Allan Poe's main idea is that it is hard to identify what is real and what is a dream when he says, "All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream", saying that what we perceive is simply a dream and that nothing is real. However, he also questions this idea at the end of the poem when he asks, "Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?", so he is questioning this idea of being able to actually attain something tangible and real. This idea can apply to the American Dream during his time period. Shortly before Poe died and shortly after the California Gold Rush, Poe wrote this poem. It could be coincidence that Poe is commenting on a Dream being able to be obtained, or it could be exactly what Poe wanted to comment on. In other words, Poe was saying that this California Gold Rush and American Dream that many were working so hard for was ultimately unattainable and questionable. Then, when he mentions the unattainable GOLDEN grains of sand that are seemingly impossible to hold a grasp on, he is commenting on the fleeting aspect of this American Dream: quick wealth quickly disappears and runs out.
Now, even though Poe died in 1849 and was not able to witness the more modern American Dream, the one where hard work pays off and results in wealth and success, I think this poem also would have commented on that American Dream as well. When he mentions his weeping and asks, "Can I not grasp (the golden grains of sand) with a tighter clasp?", I think it is saying that no matter how hard he is trying to attain these golden grains of sand, it is impossible for him to. Additionally, since he cannot get a grip on reality, he cannot get a grip on anything that constitutes "reality" which would be the golden grains of sand, or in relation to the American Dream, wealth and success through hard work.
Ultimately, I think that Poe, through his dark idea of the inability to distinguish reality from dreams, he is questioning older as well as more modern versions of the "American Dream" by insinuating that this American Dream might never end up being a reality.
A Dream within a Dream by Edgar Allan Poe:
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow —
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand —
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep — while I weep!
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
Edgar Allan Poe's main idea is that it is hard to identify what is real and what is a dream when he says, "All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream", saying that what we perceive is simply a dream and that nothing is real. However, he also questions this idea at the end of the poem when he asks, "Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?", so he is questioning this idea of being able to actually attain something tangible and real. This idea can apply to the American Dream during his time period. Shortly before Poe died and shortly after the California Gold Rush, Poe wrote this poem. It could be coincidence that Poe is commenting on a Dream being able to be obtained, or it could be exactly what Poe wanted to comment on. In other words, Poe was saying that this California Gold Rush and American Dream that many were working so hard for was ultimately unattainable and questionable. Then, when he mentions the unattainable GOLDEN grains of sand that are seemingly impossible to hold a grasp on, he is commenting on the fleeting aspect of this American Dream: quick wealth quickly disappears and runs out.
Now, even though Poe died in 1849 and was not able to witness the more modern American Dream, the one where hard work pays off and results in wealth and success, I think this poem also would have commented on that American Dream as well. When he mentions his weeping and asks, "Can I not grasp (the golden grains of sand) with a tighter clasp?", I think it is saying that no matter how hard he is trying to attain these golden grains of sand, it is impossible for him to. Additionally, since he cannot get a grip on reality, he cannot get a grip on anything that constitutes "reality" which would be the golden grains of sand, or in relation to the American Dream, wealth and success through hard work.
Ultimately, I think that Poe, through his dark idea of the inability to distinguish reality from dreams, he is questioning older as well as more modern versions of the "American Dream" by insinuating that this American Dream might never end up being a reality.
