A representação do Sonho Americano em Aqui estão os sonhadores, de Imbolo Mbue, e Americanah, de Chimamanda Adichie

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to analyze the representation of the American Dream in the novels Behold the dreamers, by Imbolo Mbue (2016), and Americanah, by Chimamanda Adichie (2013), and demonstrate how the works address issues that are crucial in contemporary world, such as ethnic, cultural and class diversity, as well as racism, which contribute to the erosion of this ideal of success, showing the darkest face of American society. In order to do so, we will resort to theories about migratory flows and contemporary diasporas (COHEN, 2008; KEVIN, 2013), the processes of acculturation (BERRY, 1997, 2004) and the reconfiguration of immigrants' identities (CUCHE, 1999; HALL, 2006). We will also approach the emergence and consolidation of the American Dream (CULLEN, 2003), as well as the events that led to the global economic crisis that serves as a background to Mbue's novel. We will proceed to the analysis of these issues within the scope of the novels, investigating the factors of attraction implicit in the ideal of the American Dream from the perspective of cultural and post-colonial studies. We will also demonstrate how class, race and gender hierarchies (CRENSHAW, 2020) influence transnational mobility in both works and act in the characters' identity reconfiguration process, impacting their interpersonal relationships.