Lessons from the Disillusion of “American Dream” to the
Realization of “China Dream”: Characterization Analysis of
the Three Characters in A Clean, Well-lighted Place
Zhoulin, Wang
College of Foreign Language
Fujian Normal University
E-mail: 1587701996@qq.com
Abstract
The “China Dream” is the heat of 2021, whose core goal can be generalized as the “Two centenary”
goals, that is: by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China in 2021 and the
People’s Republic of China in 2049, gradually and finally smoothly achieving the Chinese nation Great
Rejuvenation. But there are still some problems we have which are similar to those in the disillusion of
“American Dream” after the WWI. To realize the “China Dream”, we should learn something from the
disillusion of “American Dream”. Thus, this thesis is to analyze the causes of the disillusion of
“American Dream”, under the view of literature, by exploring the characterization of the three characters
in Hemingway’s A Clean, Well-lighted Place and conclude some lessons and advice helping to the
realization of “China Dream”.
Key words: China Dream, American Dream, Antiwar, spirit crisis, Lost generation
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
In 2021, China is entering into a new era of realizing the “China Dream”. During this monumental period,
China are confronting with opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, China’s economy grows
stably and relatively rapidly at home. China’s position abroad is getting more prominent and positive.
On the other hand, domestically, also with the development of economy the prosperity of information
industry, it inconspicuously reflects some spirit crisis of modern people. Under the pursuit of high-speed
life, rooting in the growing soil of money worship, people are more blundering, they are becoming focus
on the creature comforts. They think they grasp everything they need from the Internet which will enrich
their spiritual world. However, there are thousands of people in this generation fall into deep depression
and inner emptiness nearly every night after shutting off their phones. President Xi has mentioned:” the
realization of ‘China Dream’ depends on the current generation, especially the younger generation.” On
the other hand, the world is getting more close related, thoughts get more diverse. In the meantime, it
means value get easier changed and swung. These are not favorable for realizing “China Dream”.
1.2 Relation
When talking about “China Dream”, people will associate the “American Dream”, and whether there is
a similar situation that “American Dream” has experienced before that we can learn something from it.
Actually, it does have. From the novel of Hemingway, A Clean, Well-lighted Place, setting after WWI,
we can see three topic characterizations which not only represent the people of that times but also reflect
the nihilism that exist in modern people’s night. By analyzing this thee kinds of people, find out how
their characteristics reflect the disillusion of “American Dream”, digging out the forming causes of their
attitudes to life then conclude the lessons and suggestions for the current generation accordingly.
2. Literature review
2.1 The “China Dream”
To begin, this paper looks into the conotation of “China Dream” and “American dream, which are clearly
defined. The “China Dream” can be understood from three different levels, “national dream”, “social
dream” and “the individual dream”. The” national dream” means the prosperity of the country and the
rejuvenation of China. The “social dream” means civilization and harmony of the society. The
“individual dream” means the individual development and happiness of life. (Qian Wu,2021) And the
essence of “China Dream” is to realize the rejuvenation China. From the angle of the dream’s subject, it
is the dream of the whole nation but also every single Chinese. (Jinping Xi,2014). It rooted in Chinese
people’s heart. (Jinping Xi,2015). It is the common dream of Chinese from home and abroad. (Jinping
Xi,2014), and the dreams of the world are close related. (Jinping Xi,2017). From the connotation
classification, the American dream they understand has the following aspects: First, the American dream
means more material wealth, including more money, bigger houses, cars, etc. Second, the American
dream means hard work, getting a satisfactory job, and having more opportunities to succeed and realize
your ideals. Third, the American dream means a happy family, a happy and wishful life. Fourth, the
American dream means the realization of freedom, democracy and equality on the spiritual level. (Qian
Wu,2021) Through the definition of the two kinds of dreams. The paper base on these two cnnotations
to find out the relation. On the one hand, in terms of essential connotations, the connotation of the
Chinese Dream is the prosperity of the country at the national level, the revitalization of the nation, and
the happiness of the people at the individual level. It emphasizes the unity of the national dream and the
individual dream; the narrowly defined American dream refers to regardless of class and origin. You can
achieve your dreams and get the pleasure and experience of success through your own hard work. The
broad American dream refers to the goals that the United States itself will achieve. From the historical
evolution of the American dream, the American dream emphasizes more on the individual. Struggle and
success. On the other hand, from an individual perspective, in the process of pursuing dreams, to fully
affirm the role of the individual requires the help of the domestic public. The Chinese dream is not only
a national dream to achieve national prosperity and national rejuvenation, but also a personal dream to
