The Immigrant American Dream

The Immigrant American Dream

Introduction

For centuries, citizens of the world have arrived on American shores with little more than a suitcase and a dream of a better life. The promise of freedom and opportunity continues to lure foreigners to the United States, even though stories of hardship and isolation comprise the bulk of American immigrant literature. Having reached the promised land, immigrants find themselves faced with unimaginable obstacles. Even Americans who have had a chance to adapt and become "successful"—according to the traditional definition of material success as defined by the American dream—experience feelings of cultural isolation and otherness. Refugees, those who come to America seeking protection from war or political or religious persecution, face entirely different problems. Many of these people long for home and do not necessarily crave the rewards promised by the American dream. Despite the myriad reasons that brought them, American immigrants share a sense of isolation that, in some ways, defines their life experiences.

The Jewish American Experience

The Jewish identity is a complex mélange of religious belief, ethnicity, and culture. This fact is reflected in the rich variety of subjects and styles found in Jewish American literature. The common denominator that ties this body of work together is a sense of otherness expressed by Jewish writers living in a predominately Christian society.

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