The California Dream in its utmost simplicity can be thought of as the amplified American dream in which the culture, lifestyle, environment changes at a rapid pace compared to normal American culture. In Nathanial West’s passage “The Day of the Locust” he helps illuminate the realities of the California dream by showing the harsh and not so harsh actualities of California and its lifestyle as well as the California dream in its most stereotypical and materialistic view, as well as the realities of the dream at hand.
In Nathanial West’s passage, “The Day of the Locust” he vividly elaborates on how Tod, the main character, moves to California for almost superficial reasons in order to fulfill his dreams and goals as an artist. Tod was given an opportunity to start a life in California after a talent scout had seen some of his work at an exhibit (West CDR 333). West’s ideology strongly corresponds with that of James J. Rawls. Rawls states, “Opportunity and success- these promises are at the heart of the California Dream” (CDR 23). But how can one define what the California Dream really is? What are the expectations of individuals of what California has to offer? California has been called the quintessential Promised Land, as James J. Rawls states in his except from “California: A Place, A People, A Dream” (Rawls CDR 22). Individuals who have dreams and desires to fulfill their lives in California have images in their mind of Americans, sunshine, beaches, and Hollywood (Spooner CDR 40). This has been the primary motivation for the migration of many immigrants and fellow Americans to California. “California was founded on the expectation and hope, of the California Dream which promises to fulfill our deepest longings for opportunity and success, warmth, sunshine and beauty, health and long life, freedom, and even a foretaste of the future” (Rawls, CDR 23). With all these opportunities and successes were apparent as California began to strive as a community, society, and business. In West’s passage he states that “[Tod] had been in Hollywood less than three months and still found it a very exciting place” (West CDR 332). All of the stereotypical and materialistic ideas that Tod had about California were coming true on many different levels.
However, many individuals can present the California Dream as a paradox. West goes on by describing the mold of California that Tod did not necessarily fit into due to his appearance.It was not quite up to “California standard”, but his talent was undeniable (CDR 333). Many artists of all different types and nature come to California in order to achieve their goals. Although the promises of the dream are still present currently, but have gone a bit haywire. The image of California as the land of opportunity has now become the cause of its multiple adversities (Rawls CDR 26). Individuals have attempted to explain what went wrong with California; some have even blamed California’s climate for attracting “emotionally unwrapped” people. Wide publicity had been given to the states promiscuous behavior, alcoholism, and drug abuse. By the 60’s and 70’s California was no longer seen as a land of health and prosperity but as the land of immorality, failed dreams and broken promises (Rawls CDR 27). People’s expectations for California steadily began to decline since the beginning of the California Dream. For example during the Gold Rush, people migrated to California for a new start, in which they had a perception of wealth and riches. Money was in a way a fixed goal for many Californians. California has done its part in ranking third among the states in personal income, and ranking twelfth in the world as an economic power (Rawls CDR 29). However, at what cost were these achievements made. If one looks at the California budget and the state of the economy currently, most individuals would agree that we have a long way to go. California’s decline is not only due to economical circumstances, but also due to the culture and expectations that individuals have put upon California. West describes that “when the Hollywood job had come along, he had grabbed it despite the arguments of his friends who were certain that he was selling out and would never paint again” (CDR 333). This quote strongly shows the fact of how individuals believe that California is a very stereotypical area. West also states that “while the others moved rapidly, darting into stores and cocktail bars, they loitered on the corners or stood with their backs to the shop windows and started at everyone who passed” (CDR 333). With this quote, one can conclude that the California dream does not fulfill everyone’s desires. Individuals that come to California do not always succeed in the tasks that they originally come here for, regardless of talent. With that one can conclude that California is not all what it seems, and gives off a perception to individuals that is not entirely true.
Nathanial West describes very vividly throughout his excerpt that California is not entirely what it seems to be. "It is hard to laugh at the need for beauty and romance, no matter how tasteless, even horrible, the results of that are…” says West (CDR 334). In order to evaluate how superficial California truly is, one must go through the actions of moving here. Although California does have its upsides with its natural beauty, and ideology of hopes and dreams, one must be careful in their expectations of what California has to offer. If ones hopes are too high, they are easily let down. For Tod, this is exactly what happened.
In conclusion, in Nathanial West’s passage “The Day of the Locust” he helps illuminate the realities of the California dream by showing the harsh and not so harsh actualities of California and its lifestyle. West elaborates both by using an example out of Tod and his experience in California to establish that the successful period only lasts so long. Individuals must have certain characteristics in order to survive in California and ultimately succeed in their endeavors. Although many may argue that the California Dream is valid and does exist, it is only apparent in a small majority of the individuals that attempt the dream.
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