C3. Twentieth Century Literature & The American Dream: The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman, and The Bell Jar

What does it mean to pursue “the American Dream” and what are the consequences of this pursuit? In these three texts – Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, these authors confront the question of what it means to achieve success in America. In this course, we will explore the varying themes and lessons present in these three texts and consider each author’s take on the pitfalls and perils of pursuing the American Dream.

INSTRUCTOR: Christina Graziano graduated from Assumption University in 2010, magna cum laude, with a degree in political science. She received her law degree from Suffolk University in 2013 and currently works as an attorney specializing in mass torts, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, and sexual assault cases. She loves 19th and 20th century Russian literature and spends every spare minute of her life reading.

REQUIRED BOOKS: Death of a Salesman ISBN10 9780140481341. The Great Gatsby ISBN 13 979-8745274824. The Bell Jar SBN 10 0060837020