Two

     The “dream” is said to be available to those willingly to work for it, but it is a competition. It is understood that first place belongs to the wealthy and the hard working people stay in last place. The Holbrook family will always remain in poverty; however, there are instances where they realize they can overturn their situation. Jim discusses how he is unable to get medicine for Anna and Bess. He sees how impossible for someone like him to get medicine and the essential needs for his family. He knows “till the day that hands… find a way to speak” about these conditions and situations that it will be the day he will find a prosperous life. 

     The “American dream” installs the idea of individualism, but Jim sees it takes more than one to fight and rebel. He realizes it is the only way for people to get though their miserable lives and give their families “white tablecloths.” Jim thinks Jim Tracy should bide his time and wait “till there were enough of you to fight it all together on the job.”Jim starts to realize that workers do not have to be animals with “their tongues hanging out for a job,” but that “a human could be a human for the first time on earth.”
(Listen to entire song)

     In Melanie Safka’s “Beautiful People”, she realized how there are “beautiful people” just like her and how she never noticed them. Jim always thought for himself and how to find a job. Safka’s lyrics “if I weren’t afraid you’d laugh at me…I’d gather everyone together for a day,” resembles how Jim and the other workers would revolt and unite if they were not afraid. They fear of losing their jobs because they would not be able to care for their families.
(2:49-3:36)
Safka says:

Beautiful people
Never have to be alone
'Cause there'll always be someone
With the same button on as you
Include him in everything you do
He may be sitting right next to you
He maybe be a beautiful people too
And if you take care of him
Maybe he'll take care of you
And if you take care of him
Maybe he'll take care of you

This stanza enforces the idea of all for one, one for all. It correlates to Jim’s idea of working together as one because “if you take care of him, maybe he’ll take care of you.” If they work together and take care of each other, revolution could happen and “for the first time on earth” a human can be a human.

Three

     With the opportunity of revolution, it shined a light of hope for the family; however, this rare opportunity is forever gone and missed. Jim and the other workers did not revolt and unite because they believe only the wealthy will have the better things in life. Once that thought process is set, the cycle continues with the future generations. The Holbrook family forever remains in their endless cycle of poverty. The chase of the “American dream” leads them to their destruction and failure.

     When the wagon got stuck in a ditch, Jim held “the weight of the wagon on him, not knowing what to do next.”The family travels from city to city in hopes to find a better job, but they always return to being stuck and “not knowing what to do next.”

(Listen to entire song)

     At the slaughterhouse neighborhood, Mazie and Will slowly turn into their parents. The parents’ problems and thinking process are installed into their kids. Lou Reed’s “Endless” tells the story of how the kids turn into their parents. The cycle continues through the children. The lyrics “the bias of the father runs on though the son” and “the sickness of the mother runs on through the girl” show how the children inherited their parents’ attributes. Will, “even outwardly,” begins to have Jim’s attributes with his eyes narrowed and “his mouth drawn up at the corner.” Mazie does not pay close attention to her younger siblings and starts to act rigid like Anna. 
(0:21-1:55)  

The bias of the father runs on through the son
and leaves him bothered and bewildered
The drugs in his veins only cause him to spit
at the face staring back in the mirror
How can he tell a good act from the bad
he can't even remember his name
How can he do what needs to be done
when he's a follower not a leader
The sickness of the mother runs on through the girl
leaving her small and helpless
Liquor flies through her brain with the force of a gun
leaving her running in circles
How she can tell a good act from the bad
when she's flat on her back in her room
How can she do what needs to be done
when she's a coward and a bleeder

     The process never ends because children marry resemblances of their parents. Jim knows Mazie’s future will be the same as Anna and his because education is worthless and she will not marry a doctor.  

(2:41-3:20)

The man if he marries his child
and have endless excuses
The woman sadly will do much the same
thinking that it's right and it's proper
Better than their mommy or their daddy did
Better than the childhood they suffered
The truth is they're happier when they're in pain
In fact, that's why they got married

Four

     The idea of the “American dream” has a hold on the Holbrook family. The dream blinds and holds the family in their place. Jim becomes “drunk with the job” and he foolishly figures life will get better. Olsen depicts money as the key component that blinds the family from true and disastrous idea of the ideal dream. Jim’s new job pays him “forty-five cents an hour” and it is a “few pennies more pay an hour,” which the reader can “see how little it takes to make a man happy.” Jim does not surpass his limits because of the quick fixes.

     Jim hangs a “grass-on-the-end-of-a-stick” for the horse to move. The horse, Nellie, did not go into a trot, but ran for the “tantalizingly” piece of grass in front of her. The government hangs money in front of Jim to make him believe he can get “the dream.” Both, Jim and Nellie, keep going and running after what is at the end of the stick.

     In the musical, Nine, “Take it All” relates to Jim because he will do anything to get money. In the beginning of the song, imagine the “you” as money and the Jim singing to it.

(Listen to all the song, but pay attention to the indicated lyrics/times list)



(0:14-1:23)

You want my love,

take it all.

You want to watch it all come off,

take it all.

Come on now,

show me how

you can take it all.

You want my glove,

are you enthralled?

You want to see it slip away

and watch it fall?

Oh, we know it´s your show

so take it all.

You want the movement

to see what the hips can do.

Come watch the slinky girl,

see how the pasties twirl

to make your bells all ring

fulfulling everything you ever wanted.

So go ahead,

take it all.

You want my soul,

take it all.

Jim put himself at risk for just a “few pennies more pay an hour.” The song’s “strip tease” melody helps connect Jim to a stripper. Both, Jim and a stripper, will expose and leave themselves defenseless to the after effects for money.

Towards the end of the song, picture the money talking back to Jim: 
(2:12-3:05)

Now it´s your turn to finally learn,

you had the world,

you had your fling,

you wanted more than everything,

you got your wish,

you got your prize.

Now take it right between your thighs,

you grabbed for everything, my friend,

but don´t you see that in the end

there will be nothing left of me?

If Jim keeps searching for money and Jim gets it, it will blind him of his problems and leave him with nothing.

Five

     During the twenties, industrialization was the answer to solve issues with money and gave people a chance at the “dream”; but, industrialization caused problems. It was more important for companies to make money than its workers. It was fast and chaotic at the industrialized areas for the Holbrook family. At the mining district, the family had a horrible life because the fear of losing Jim to the mines. Jim's and his coworkers’ factory had a major accident that sent one man to the hospital and scorched a pregnant woman’s belly.

     The family living in any city did not help them; although, the cities were for families to go and find a prosperous life.  Industrialization began disturbing the farming industry because families were moving to industrialized cities. Neil Sedaka’s “Bad Blood” connects to the idea of how people were told lies about the move towards industrialization. People thought it would help their lives, but the companies only helped themselves. One of Jim’s coworkers, Marsalek, had a heart attack and was “charged for the company ambulance.”  Industrialization is like a seductive woman trying to lure men into her trap. Once she has caught her man, he starts to grasp how she is “bad blood” and “an evil child.”  

(Listen to indicated lyrics/times)


(0:40-1:05)

Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
The woman was born to lie
Makes promises she can't keep
With the wink on an eye

Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
Brother, you've been deceived
It's bound to change you mind
About all you believe

(1:34-1:59)Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
The bitch is in her smile
The lie is on her lips
Such an evil child

Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
Is takin' you for a ride
Bad (ba-a-ad) blood (blo-o-od)
The bitch is in her smile
The lie is on her lips
Such an evil child

Six

The family believes things will get better at the slaughterhouse neighborhood, but in turn does not. The slaughterhouse smell represents the Holbrook family. Jim tries to sell the house and the neighborhood to this family, but the “stink smothers down over it all.” The family travels from city to city getting better homes and lives, but the truth is things are getting worse.  

     Although the mining city brought in money for the families, it did not it pay well, working conditions were awful, and men died from mine collapses. Mazie got up from the “morning sounds” that weaved “over the memory of the whistle like flowers growing lovely over a hideous corpse.” Olsen shows how family, government, and society cover the truth from impressionable people. Mazie begins to forget that morning bell ring because of the noises and sounds of her house in the morning.
(First, listen to the entire song, then go back and listen to the indicated lyrics/times)

     The melody of the Beatles’ “Help” covers up the real issue with the song. The melody is catchy, makes you want to dance, and smile, but when you start to listen to the lyrics the listeners can understand the true meaning of the song.

(0:12-1:13)I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.

Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me?

And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My independence seems to vanish in the haze.
But every now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I just need you like I've never done before.

The listeners get caught up with the beat that they forget that the song is about a person losing their independence and the need to help getting back to their former self. It goes with the idea how sometimes bad situations are covered up with good things, but underneath it all it is still bad.  

Seven

     Anna believed to get away from their bad life was to get an “edjication.” She believed it meant “your hands stay white,” you read books, and work in an office; however, Anna was wrong. During this time period, Olsen shows education could not keep “your hands white.” Education is depicted by old man Caldwell. Caldwell did not keep his hands white even though he received a college education he became a farmer. He said that his “education began after” he “got out of college.” Mazie’s education was fragile and died too soon like Caldwell. She did not have the chance to comprehend and use his wise words to her advantage.

     Education was shown as a hopeless and unnecessary dream of changing to a better life. In the farm school, Mazie was “shamed” for not being able to read. At the Nebraska school, the teachers wrote Mazie and Will off because they came from a farm.  

     Elton John’s song, “This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore”, allows reads to understand how education was once thought of as a savior for Mazie during that time period.
(Listen to the indicated lyrics/time)


Education: 

(0:56-1:13)I used to be the main express
All steam and whistles heading west
Picking up my pain from door to door
Riding on the storyline
Furnace burning overtime

Yet, education became a hopeless and worthless dream Anna had for Mazie because education could do nothing for Mazie.

(1:15-1:30)

But this train don't stop,
This train don't stop,
This train don't stop there anymore

Eight

     Mazie’s hopes and willingness deteriorates along her family’s trails and her future of becoming her mother is undeniable to happen. During their stay in Wyoming and western Nebraska, Mazie was not easily angered as she is in the slaughterhouses’ neighborhoods. As time passes and the ongoing struggle of living in poverty, Mazie begins to transform into an angry, bounded, and realistic adult. Olsen shows the transformation during Mazie’s escalating temper with herself. Mazie thinks about telling Erina her dream of how she used the Big Dipper to drink the ice stars, but “scornfully” realizes the “stars are fire, not ice-stars are suns.” 

     When she starts realizing she is going to end up like her, Rufus Wainright’s “The Dream”  depicts how Mazie begins to feel about her situation. Listeners can connect this song to Mazie’s lost innocence and questioning. She loses her hope and purpose making her into one of the women of her time.
(Listen to the indicate lyrics/time)



(0:10-2:02)

The dream has come and gone
The earth lumbers on
The dream is back in space
Back where it came from

The dream has gone away
The earth could not play
The earth just spins in place
Throwing things away

And I am left behind
Corrupted crushed and blind
All for a dream
That in truth was never really mine

     Mazie has few moments of hope when she wishes that she could return to the farm, and imagines the “old old people lying” naming the stars. Mazie was once imaginative, optimistic and kind to her family, but this once young spirited child turned into an unenthusiastic and bitter adult. Mazie sees the reality of the world she lives in. She once thought of the stars as “flowers growin in the night” and her “great hurt and wanting” to be “aknown.” This can be perfectly displayed and connected to Wainright songwriting:

(2:44-3:42)

Don't get me wrong
I wanted to go
I wanted to see
I wanted to know

Mazie had dreams, but she did not realize how restricted it would be for her. When she knew she would never have a “white tub” or travel, her dream had “come and gone.”

Nine

      For the race of the “American dream,” those allowed to compete were men and only few of those would win. Mazie begins to question why girls have no place for their belongings. Her things are usually messed with by her brothers and continues to ask “why dont I have no place,” which is Olsen’s way of stating women had no access or help with the “American dream.”

     Mazie was treated differently from the boys by her family and society. She realizes boys have greater opportunities to get their families “white tablecloths.” Her brothers have the opportunity to travel on ships like her Uncle Ralphie. With being told fireworks and more play time are for boys, Mazie’s comprehension of her place was acknowledged and understood.  

     She understands that her family and society places the female norms on her because she is a girl. During a visit to the library, the librarian automatically gives Will an adventure book and Mazie a fairytale. The librarian is setting and signifying the set rules for females and males. The conditions and rules set on women are hard which makes them resentful and angry towards their counterparts. Mazie gets angry at her father because he makes “vows that life will never let him keep” because society will never allow him to help Mazie have the same rights as her brothers. 

(Listen to the whole song, but pay close attention to indicated lyrics/time)

      Martha Wainright’s “BMFA”  shows the connection between gender and how each gender was treated differently among society. Wainright talks about “poetry is no place for a heart that’s a whore” which connects to the similar idea of how women have no place among the men.  She continues with she feels “overfired” because she has been “poked and stoked.” During Mazie’s time, women gave in to their life styles making them “overfired” and resentful because only men could achieve the “American dream.”

(0:08-0:28)Poetry is no place for a heart that's a whore
And I'm young & I'm strong
But I feel old & tired
Overfired

And I've been poked & stoked
It's all smoke, there's no more fire
Only desire
For you, whoever you are
For you, whoever you are

     The next stanza shows and connects how Mazie had wished she was born a boy because she knows as a boy she would have places for her things and opportunities to achieve the “American dream.” The men in her life all march to a different beat; they are treated differently from Mazie and the women of this era.

(1:40-2:04)Oh I wish I wish I wish I was born a man
So I could learn how to stand up for myself
Like those guys with guitars
I've been watching in bars
Who've been stamping their feet to a different beat
To a different beat
To a different beat

Ten

     These norms blind the family from the truly seeing the potential each family member has to offer. The Holbrook family begins to indentify and separate which members are better than the others. The males in the family are seen as important and prime candidates because they will be the ones able to give the family the “American dream.” Olsen shows how the “dream” can break a family. Once the family separates, their problems and issues continue to make it hard for them rise beyond their class status. Jim rapes Anna because he believes she needs to perform her “wifely duties.” This happens because of the separation between men and women in the family.

     Although, Bess’s new abilities interrupt the process of the family overcoming their circumstances, it does bring the family together. When they come together, better days are going to happen to them. After the family gathers around Bess, Anna says “the air’s changing” and things will “get tolerable” for the family. Olsen shows the importance of families working together as one.

(Listen to entire song)

     The Black Eyed Peas’ song, “Where is Love,” shows how the government, issues, society, and the world cause people do forget about  harmony and love. The “American dream” does the samething to families-they forgot about each other. The “dream” is suppose to help give families hope and happiness, but it causes more problems amongst families. The song lyric “most of us only care about money makin” truly demonstrates how people of the twenties era cared more for money than their families. At the end of the song, “where is the love” is continuously played over and it signifies how it is important for us to come together.

Conclusion

     The Holbrook family never had the chance or opportunity to have a better life. Olsen depicts how families could never get the American dream unless they were wealthy. Many obstacles and conflicts interfere with Holbrook’s abilities to reach their goal. It was destined for the family to fail and never achieve the “American dream.”All the materialist components of the ideal dream blind the people from seeing the ugly truth.  Olsen’s dirge was that everyone may have the capability to reach “the dream,” but it is impossible for all to achieve it.

*I would like to thank/reference:

·         Literature:

o    Olsen, Tillie. Yonnondio: From the Thirties. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2004.

• Whitman, Walt. “Yonnondio.” DayPoems. Timothy K. Bovee, 2005. Web. 9 Oct 2010. https://my.usf.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tabGroup=courses&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fcontent%2FcontentWrapper.jsp%3Fcontent_id%3D_4990917_1%26displayName%3DLinked%2BFile%26course_id%3D_259302_1%26navItem%3Dcontent%26attachment%3Dtrue%26href%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.daypoems.net%252Fpoems%252F2197.html
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