Super Sad True Love Story, America, next to of course god america i, and I, Too, Sing America, are all story/poems that in some form or another address the theme of American exceptionalism and patriotism. In each of the titles, it is established that America is not as revered as it once was or possibly could be and that change needs to take place. Through dystopian tales, satirical speeches and exaggerated ideals the authors of these works of literature try to identify the issues faced in American society.
Super Sad True Love story is a novel set in a futuristic world that portrays America as a dystopia. The conditions of the country are horrible; the dollar is extremely unstable, literacy has gone down the drain, privacy is virtually nonexistent and social networking has reached unthinkable extremes. Through these mediums Shteyngart reveals that patriotism is no longer about being proud but rather about surviving. Throughout the novel the state of the United States keeps deteriorating and none of the characters realize how bad it is. Lenny in the novel still holds love for America and hopes against all odds that it once again becomes a country to be admired as is seen in the lines below.
“I took out my U.S. passport and held it in my hand, fingering its embossed golden eagle, still hoping it meant something. I remember how my parents would talk about the luck of their having left the Soviet Union for America. Oh God, I thought, let there still be such luck in this new world” (42).
Lenny recognizes the need for positive change but he seems to be the only one to do so. He realizes that the ideals the American society holds high are faulty and are the reason the Country is in turmoil. Lenny, being forty, knows from firsthand experience and stories from his parents as to how America used to be in its glory days. The change in Super Sad True Love Story occurs when the United States distinctive status in the world is irreparably affected ultimately leading to its nonexistence. Lenny understands that America is not and will not be the admirable and sought after country it once was and thus says, “I hated the false spire of the “Freedom” Tower, hated it for every single reason I could think of, but mostly for its promise of sovereignty and brute strength, and I wanted to cut my ties with my country” (248).
America by Allen Ginsberg is a powerful poem that lists a vast variety of issues present in the nation mainly focusing on the culture of materialism and conformity present in the United States. Ginsberg strongly opposes the idea of conventionality and is a vigorous supporter of individualism and being unique. Even though the author goes on an epic rant about America, he still hopes and wants America to change its ways and become something better. Ginsberg recognizes the potential America has and writes, “America when will you be angelic? When will you take off your clothes?” Alongside this the speaker of the poem also realizes that the problem with the America is not of the country alone, but includes him also, to find a solution he must solve his own problems as well. Ginsberg explains, “It occurs to me that I am America. I am talking to myself again” which signifies the correlation between himself, the American people and the country itself. In addition to the issue of conformity the author also brings up the points of politics and class discrimination. He staunchly attacks the anticommunist policies of the United States, admitting that he was once a communist himself and that his experience was an admirable one. In regards to class and social structure Ginsberg relays the influence Karl Marx has on him and his ideologies. Similar to Marx, Ginsberg is against the idea of a small fraction of the people having significant control and power. Even though the poem is harsh on America, the goal of the author is not to shun or shame the country but try to better it. He is an extremely critical patriot trying to correct America’s flaws.
e. e. Cummings’ next to of course god america i deals with the irrationality of blind patriotism and the manipulation of people for certain goals. The poem is largely one long sentence, an individual giving a speech in regards to patriotism halfheartedly. The author asserts how patriotism is being used as an excuse to justify and carry out potentially heinous deeds without any repercussions. In the beginning of the poem Cummings portrays patriotism as it is usually seen by using typical songs and phrases. Later on however, his tone changes and he becomes satirical and dark. He mocks individuals who “[do] not stop to think [but] die instead.” The speaker shows how the negative aspects of war are being disregarded due to patriotism being used to manipulate people into accepting detrimental ideas and actions. In regards to patriotism, Cummings asks the question “then shall the voice of liberty be mute?” This inquiry ridicules the narrow-minded idea that who so ever contests the traditional idea of patriotism is un-American. Unlike America by Ginsberg which addresses its problems directly at the United States, next to of course god america i directs its problem not only to the country but also to the people who reside in and govern it. Although he does criticize the people who embrace war simply in the name of patriotism calling them “[the] heroic happy dead,” his main dispute lies with the politicians and people in control who instigate and control the wars.. The poem is structured with no punctuation which implies that the speaker is scampering in his speech and feels uncomfortable. Cummings writes, “He spoke. And drank rapidly a glass of water” showing that the ideas the speaker represented about patriotism do not reflect his own. Through the lack of punctuation and the last line it can be seen that the need for change is realized in the poem
I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes concerns the issue of racial discrimination in the early-mid nineteenth century. Hughes in the poem is optimistic that change will occur and, in time, the injustice that is currently taking place against him and his race will end. The speaker of the poem is shown to be very patriotic - which can be seen in the last line “I, too, am America” - which is surprising considering he is the direct victim of injustice and inequality. The main issue in the poem primarily opposes the ideology of the majority race that makes up the population of America. Unlike the America and next to of course god america i, in this poem there is no doubt by the speaker that change will occur.
All of the of works of literature mentioned discuss and criticize, in their own distinctive ways, different problems faced in America - in their time or fictional setting - but one major similarity between all of them is that they do not offer any possible solutions. Super Sad True Love Story exaggerates the use of social media and glorifies youth to such an extreme that it leads to the end of America as the world knows it. Although the satire very successfully communicates how these issues relate to our present day society, the novel lacks a concrete fix on how to reverse the effects. In America Ginsberg emphatically attacks the issues of conformity, materialism, America’s foreign policy and class discrimination and asks America to change but offers no thoughts on how to. Next to of course god america i confronts the issue of war and blind patriotism. The poem very effectively uses language’s resources to convey the problem but fails to offer a way for America to fix the issue. Lastly, in I, Too, Sing America the author is very confident and optimistic that racial discrimination will end but, similar to the other three pieces, does not give potential ideas to accelerate the process or ways to promote equality. The broader significance in each of these literary works portrays that perfection is unattainable, at any point in time there will always be some issues at hand. Whether it be in a futuristic America or the post-war era, whether it deals with manipulation and war or race and inequality, there will always be problems that need to be addressed and dealt with.