The Failures of the American Dreams in the Drama August: Osage County by Tracy Letts

Abstract

The American Dream is the American concept of opportunity, freedom, and prosperity, often associated with the possibility of limitless achievement and a better life. In this research, the method used is a qualitative method. The researcher uses 2 theories, namely the American dream theory put forward by Adams (2017) and the American dream failures theory put forward by Putnam (2015). The research objectives are to: 1) explain how the American dream is depicted in the drama August: Osage County, 2) to describe the causes of the failures of the American dream. The results show 5 types of American Dreams: Opportunity for success, A free and happy life, Balance between individual rights and social obligations, Moral and ethical values, and Collective dreams. There were also 4 types of failures: Educational disparities, Health and family stability, Social change and loss of social solidarity, Decreased social mobility.