As Immigrants travel to and settle in the United States, there are challenges to be faced that make the process a lengthy and perhaps dangerous ordeal. The process of immigration to a new place in and of itself isn’t just the travel, but it expands far beyond into years of experience.
Shannon and Joseph, our main characters in “Far and Away”, are coming from a country in which there is a class system in place of “rich protestants” and “rebels” whose desire to leave their country brings them together with a common desire to experience their dreams in America, a place where freedom means leaving the constraints of their own cultures in Ireland.
Their relationship with money and what it means in America becomes their challenge in the beginning. For Shannon, coming from money, now having none she must adjust to the realization that she is not entitled to the same rights or respect she once came to expect in Ireland. For Joseph, hard work is nothing new; however he must find a new way of survival. Coming from a survival state of mind he quickly adapts with fighting, and winning, for money. The outcome for Shannon in her relationship to money is how hard she must work, experiencing deplorable conditions in order to earn little money. This changes their opinion of what money is and how it can relate to their self-worth. For Joseph, money provides him with niceties never experienced that he places value on such as hats. Shannon seems to grow into a bit of complacency, slowly accepting the options in front of her as a dancer. What Joseph learns, and the hard way, is that he is simply a commodity, or “stock and trade”. Money wins when they are forced away by the most powerful, and blackballed from making any money for survival. Their class state back in Ireland means nothing in this new land of opportunity. It’s evident, however, that when Shannon’s family comes to American looking for a dream, money provides them with the same status as they experienced in Ireland, and only because of money. No mention is made of their heritage. They are not denied access to the things they need or want. Shannon and Joseph experience a different fate, and different attitudes when they are forced to seek out help along the streets. It’s here that their heritage is mentioned when Joseph tries to obtain work for food or money and is told “I don’t hire Irish”.
Why is it so different for people with money to immigrate to America? I believe immigrants such as Shannon and Joseph experienced that attitude of feeling inconvenienced by those that are already established, not wanting to be bothered by others in need. However, money isn’t the whole story of course. Immigrants also bring with them attitudes, beliefs, and traditions that can experience conflict bringing yet more challenges. It can also bring success in dreams as experienced by Frank McCourt, author of the book “Tis”. From a culture of extreme poverty, he and our Joseph find that dreams will carry you. Final score, Dreams 1, Money 0.
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The idea of making it in America is followed by the need to have money. The American society has grown accustomed to the fact that in order to get what you want, you must work hard and make money to get it. This is same for the land that Shannon and Joseph desired to have throughout the movie. When immigrants come into America with money, they are already set, at least temporarily.
ReplyDelete>>Why is it so different for people with money to immigrate to America?
ReplyDeleteIt is because people who succeeded in their country already in a situation that they can have what they want, and then go to another country as a immigrant,they might feel inconvenience because they cannot act like before. On the other hand, people who like Joseph can be adaptable when they are in a new place because they did not have anything and nothing to lose.
I believe that they dont think that it will be as hard as it is to get settled down in a new place and get accostomed to the area. Shannon had brought money in form of silver spoons and would have been able to get her items she needed to start on the trail to get the land but as we already know what happened there. I think that they had a thought in their of how their new country was suppose to be and when they found out that it wasnt what they expected it put they off their path to getting where they needed.
ReplyDeleteWhy is it so different for people with money to immigrate to America?
ReplyDeleteIn many other nations, classes are based on birth (on your family's name or history). In Ireland, class is also based on family heritage, and the landowners inherit their land and power from their parents. However, in America, class is based on wealth and money, not on family names. Therefore, immigrants who came with money were automatically first class citizens. These people are able to live in comfort and security. They do not need to struggle to find work and perhaps face less prejudice than poorer immigrants.
Often, though not necessarily true, the American dream equates to prosperity, which means money. Money opens doors that won’t be opened any other way, which is the way our capitalistic country works, so it makes sense that money would make a great difference in one’s ability immigrate to the U.S. with or without hindrance or difficulty. Sad but true, even though I still believe (per some of my other posts on this subject), that money is not the only reason people immigrate to the U.S.
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