Why is the narrator attracted to the kind of family depicted on TV? What, if anything, does he think is wrong with his life? Why do his desires apparently have so little impact on his family?
The 1950's was a period in time where the phrase "living the American Dream" was popular (the two TV shows mentioned Leave It To Beaver Father and Knows Best aired during this time). The "American Dream" advocated equal opportunity and success regardless of a persons background. It is generally linked to a typical white family consisting of a parents and two children (usually a boy and a girl.) The narrator is attracted to the kind of family on TV is because the family is living the "American Dream." The narrator, just like all people who immigrate to America, wants to be a part of the dream. The narrator is trying to integrate himself into the culture, thus the dream. Another aspect of the family in the TV he finds appealing is that the "family was so uncomplicated in its routine." Simply put, they had an easy lifestyle that he hoped to be living; instead of the one now where he has to find chores to do around the neighborhood.
He compares his life to the life on TV, which is supposed to represent an "average" family. He represents the poor family in America. Which is why in search for wealth he blindly sets out on a summer day to rake the non-existing. Thinking in terms of the difference in wealth between his family and the one in the TV, its only natural he should feel there is something wrong with his life. However, i don't think he feel that there is something wrong with his life. It seems as thought he feels that he is lacking a few things; which is why in the time period of a day, he was able to feel "alive" and "skip" down the block.
His family is a lot less optimistic as him. His mother has enough experience to know doing those things serves no purpose. When the narrator asks her why she laughs at him, he tells us that her had had suds and she was sweating from working hard. His sister is under the impression that "they will never like us." Or perhaps he just watches to much TV, who knows.
Work Cited
Soto, Gary. Rereading America. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2010. Print.
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