The American Ideal: Immigrants’ Pursuit and Subversion of the American Dream in the Book of Unknown Americans

The American Ideal: Immigrants’ Pursuit and Subversion of the American Dream in the Book of Unknown Americans

The driving force behind immigration, the American Dream, represents opportunity, freedom, and prosperity. As Cristina Henríquez depicts in her novel The Book of Unknown Americans, immigrants like the Riveras and Toros idealize America as a land of rebirth and second chances, where their disabled daughter Maribel can receive quality healthcare and where they can provide her a better life. However, through probing first-person narratives, Henríquez subverts this myth of American exceptionalism by revealing the harsh realities that immigrants face. While the American Dream cultivates optimism about Alberto Rivera’s increasing independence and Maribel Rivera’s recovery, Henríquez emphasizes economic instability, social ostracization, and human connection sacrifices to demonstrate this ideal’s elusiveness.

The optimistic immigrants who flock to America seeking its promises rely chiefly on two symbols of the American Dream: homes and education. Homeownership and academic opportunities represent financial stability and upward mobility, incentivizing families like the Riveras to immigrate. The hopes tied to these institutions also give Alberto the courage to learn English in night classes, as Maribel notes he does it “for the American Dream. To get a better job…And buy a house for us one day” (Henríquez 171). His vision of providing this middle-class milestone implies belief in the Dream’s assurances about class flexibility. However, the reality surrounding the Riveras subverts this expectation of swift success, revealing home ownership’s unrealistic nature. Upon the family’s arrival, Mayor Toro immediately quells these lofty aspirations, warning that “In this country, there is always more to pay for” regarding houses (Henríquez 51). His wisdom, derived from lifelong financial struggles, contradicts the mythic guarantees of swift prosperity. Additionally, the Riveras’ rental reflects their distance from the Dream, as its dingy, “sad little apartment” conditions clash with their visions of white-picket stability (Henríquez 79). Through these characters who have invested in the Dream, Henríquez warns that its promises supersede realistic achievement for many hardworking immigrants.