Rena Childers Assignment 1

In Susan Ludvigson’s “Inventing My Parents,” a story is generated surrounding her parents and their lives. By coincidence, this painting was creating the year she was born, so she takes on the characters as her own parents. In the first quarter of the piece, she makes an allusion to the “American Dream.” Since the 1970’s, this concept has been viewed as more of a joke than a reality. Although some people still believe America provides the opportunity for all to move up in society, this is very obviously not always the case. Immigrants and those who grow up in impoverished areas have statistically less success than those given resources from day one. At first glance, this poem seems to be an optimistic view of the painting, but as you delve further into the meaning, it can be inferred that it is an ironic interpretation. The way Ludvigson refers to the “American Dream” illustrates a cynical view of America’s ideals. She writes that “its shadow sweep[s] every town” in an attempt to illustrate the disillusioned success of the concept.