Abstract：Literature is not only the production of social culture, but also deeply reflecting the true side of our society. The images in those American literary works

represent different “dreams”. This paper focuses on the imperfect sides of “American dream” in some masterpieces which have been adapted into films. As we all know that in different period of time, the “American dream” was interpreted in different topics. “American dream” is not so perfect, which is thought to be such a wonderful dream. In this essay I will present some films which have made by six famous literary works,  Uncle Tom's Cabin，The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn， Sister Carrie，The Great Gatsby， Death of a Salesman and The Grapes of Wrath. These films show the “American dream” in different period of times, and they also express the imperfect sides of “American dream”. Using these imperfect sides, I want to present the “American dream” generally as well as to have better understanding on the true side of American society.

Key words:American Dream, literature, film, imperfect sides

Contents

Abstract

摘要

I. About the American Dream1

  1.1 Introduction .1

  1.2 Definition of the American Dream.1

  1.3 Origin and Development of the American Dream. 1

  1.4 The Interpretation of American Dreams in Movies. 2

II. Movies about Racial Discrimination.3

   2.1     Understanding of Racism.3

   2.1.1   Historic Root of Racism4

   2.2     Uncle Tom's Cabin & The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn4

   2.2.1   The Brief Introduction of the Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe & Mark Twain.4

   2.2.2   The Outline of these two Movies.4

   2.2.3   The Analysis of the Main Character in each Movie: Uncle Tom & Jim6

   2.2.4   The Imperfect Side of the American Dream: Racial discrimination7

III. Movie about Human's Desire. 8

    3.1     Sister Carrie8

    3.1.1   The Brief Introduction of the Author: Theodore Dreiser8

    3.1.2   The Outline of The Movie9

    3.1.3   The Analysis of the Main Character: Carrie.9

    3.1.4   The Imperfect Side of the American Dream: Human's Desire10

IV. Movies about Dream and Reality.10

    4.1    The Great Gatsby.10

    4.1.1   The Brief Introduction of the Author: F.Scott Fitzgerald.10

    4.1.2   The Outline of The Movie11

    4.1.3   The Analysis of the Character: Gatsby and Nick.13

    4.1.4   The Imperfect Side of the American Dream: The Broken of the American Dream14

    4.2     Death of a Salesman15

    4.2.1   The Brief Introduction of the Author: Arthur Miller15

    4.2.2   The Outline of The Movie15

    4.2.3   The Analysis of the Main Character: Willy16

    4.2.4   The Imperfect Side of the American Dream: the Failure of Chasing the Freedom and Ideal Human Nature.16 

V. Movies about the Frontier Spirit.17 

    5.1     The Grapes of Wrath.17

    5.1.1    The Brief Introduction of the Author: John Steinbeck.17

    5.1.2    The Outline of The Movie17

    5.1.3    The Analysis of the Main Character: Tom Joad.18

    5.1.4    The Imperfect Side of the American Dream: The Disillusionment of the American Dream on the Material Aspect.18

VI. Conclusion19

Bibliography