Satire of the American Dream
The Omeka object is the front cover of Horatio Alger’s book, “Do and Dare, or a Brave Boy’s Fight for Fortune”. This image only serves to highlight the mockery that West makes of Alger’s books and of the driving idea behind them. The young boy on the front is off to seek his fortune in the world, much as Lemuel did, and both the stories start out in the same manner. This book helps to put the two books in context with each other, and makes A Cool Million's biting satire of the American Dream even more apparant. This novel is a critique of the whole notion. Firstly it is a satire of all the fairy tales and stock stories that are told to children, especially those of Horatio Alger. These rags-to-riches tales of optimism and opportunism are severely mocked throughout the story as everything the characters do right is punished. Secondly this is a critique of the American Dream and who can obtain this said dream. This notion is repeated throughout the story to the hero, saying if he works hard he can obtain his fortune. However all the facts point to the contrary: the ones who make money are those who lie, cheat, bribe and manipulate their way to the top. Finally, this is a political criticism toward the government in the form of an ironic satire that takes stereotypes to a breaking point.