The topic of this paper is the life of Scrooge McDuck and how it co-relates to the history and beliefs of America. Scrooge's success story from shoe-shiner in Glasgow to richest man (duck) in the world is emblematic of the concept of the American Dream. As such, Scrooge can also be read and interpreted as a personified version of America herself.
The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck - American History in duck form an essay by Simon Hertel
When comic book aficionados think about Donald Duck, Scrooge McDuck or any other avian resident of Duckburg, their first thoughts invariably turn to Carl Barks, their famous creator. The stories he told and the rich world he built around his protagonists have not only brought about a cult following whose popularity has only increased in the decades since their inception, they have also inspired a myriad of graphic artists around the world to expand on that universe and add their own individual ideas. One of these artists is Don Rosa, a fan of Barks' that picked up the mantle and drew many of the Ducks' most recognizable stories to a point where he is often considered to be the new Carl Barks. His stories are all either based on original Barks stories or they reference them to a great deal in order to stay true to the source material. While there are many reasons to consider him Barks' successor, all of his comics also have a particular characteristic that make them recognizable as something truly unique.
At one point in Rosa's career as a creator of Duck comics, he was tasked with a project that has come to be known as his magnum opus - a comprehensive history of how Scrooge McDuck, the richest man of the Disney universe, managed to amass his wealth. This story is called The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck and it recounts the span of several decades in which Scrooge starts out as a young shoe-shine boy in Glasgow who moves to America and tirelessly works his way up to the top of the economic ladder (Don Rosa Library, Vol. 4, 31).
It is no accident that Scrooge's success story is emblematic of the concept of the American Dream. The world which the Ducks inhabit is in its essence a reflection of American society as a whole. Don Rosa himself attests to that when he regards Donald Duck as the stereotypical American suburbanite (DRL1, Vol. 2, 176). In Life and Times, however, Rosa goes a step further: by following one single protagonist in his journey throughout some of the most memorable events in American history, the readers can see his character being shaped virtually simultaneously with the shaping of the country. Following this idea, it stands to reason that Scrooge McDuck - at least the version Don Rosa presents to his readers - can be interpreted as a personified version of America herself.
The Scrooge of Carl Barks' comics can already be seen as an embodiment of capitalist ideology, from his unquenchable thirst to acquire a limitless and ever-increasing amount of capital up to the tyrannical exploitation of his workers. In the comics, the traditional salary Scrooge pays his workers is 30 cents per hour, a ridiculously small fare that usually only Donald is willing to accept. However, he does so not of his own accord, but only because the capitalist processes originating from Scrooge have forced him into a position of perpetual serfdom. By all accounts, Scrooge McDuck, as initially envisioned by Barks, is a one-dimensional capitalist with a single purpose in life - to increase his wealth with an all-consuming determination, easily surpassing Max Weber's wildest premonitions2. His name alone already alludes to that. However, readers saw more in this character - they saw that his frugal, entrepreneurial traits are deserving of more than just ridicule and over the years his character has been fleshed out to a point where Scrooge might very well be one of the major heroes in the Ducks' universe as well as the main propellant for their more ambitious adventures. Such is the case with Life and Times who shows the transformation of a young, hopeful adventurer into a selfish, bitter recluse tainted by greed and distrust who, thanks to his family, ultimately realizes that his purpose in life is not supposed to be the pursuit of money, but rather the American virtue it stands for - the pursuit of happiness.
1. From rags to riches
The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck is an epic told in 12 chapters that chronicle Scrooge's adventures in his continuous search for prosperity in order to provide a somewhat historically accurate backstory to his eventual ascent to the top of the financial world. That is why the majority of these chapters, namely the first 8 out of 12, deal with his many attempts of achieving the means to a life of affluence. Since these adventures play out before the very real backdrop of the United States between the years 1877 and 1947, there are naturally many overlapping facets that show the analogous nature between Scrooge as a character and the United States as a whole. In his commentary on his stories, Don Rosa states that Life and Times is essentially a history of Duckburg (DRL, Vol. 5, 173) and can thus, by extension, also be viewed as a history of America, set in the universe of the Ducks.
This is already apparent in the beginning of Scrooge's career. Portraying him as a poor shoe-shiner from a family on the cusp of bankruptcy is important since it establishes the idea of the American dream, a concept that states that any one, no matter their background, can have the opportunity to make it big. That is why he has to leave his home and search for his luck in America. His exodus to the New World as a poor, yet hopeful emigrant trying to find a better life in America is not only a reference to the so-called pilgrim fathers but also an allusion to the poem cited at the base of the statue of liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. In chapter four, this is directly mentioned when Scrooge says that “this young country is a good example.where a poor Glasgow lad can almost become owner of the richest hill on earth” (DRL, Vol. 4, 99). Naturally, this poor Glasgow lad would later live on the richest hill on earth, but these lines are said to the backdrop of the statue of liberty being built. The situation alone, with the emphasis of showing a young Scrooge talking about a young country would suffice to show the strong parallel between Scrooge and America, but the image itself shows Scrooge envisioning himself in the exact same pose as the statue, underscoring the point even further.
Furthermore, the story of Scrooge invariably needs to start with him as a young lad who works hard to lay the foundation for the unfathomable riches of his later life because Scrooge is a symbol of arguably the most American belief as far as business is concerned - the Protestant work ethic. Scrooge's catchphrase can be said to be the way he describes earning his money - by being “smarter than the smarties, tougher than the toughies, and [making it] square” (DRL, Vol. 4, 31). Don Rosa specifically made it a point to base Scrooge's fascination with the first coin he ever earned not on some superstitious belief of it being a symbol of good luck, but rather because it symbolizes the hard work he had to endure in order to earn every single, miniscule part of his fortune3. One of the characters that make Scrooge realize this is none other than Franklin D. Roosevelt who meets Scrooge at a time in the story before having become President of the United States. After once again having to conquer tiresome obstacles in order to find just the slightest sliver of a chance for success, Scrooge admits to FDR that he would much rather have been born rich instead of being forced to toil day in and day out just for the prospect of maybe one day making his dreams come true. But FDR reminds him of the “glory of hard work, with the beat of a hardy life in your veins and the joy of living! (DRL, Vol. 4, 78 + 83)” It is a lesson for Scrooge as well as the readers that wealth is only worth something when it is earned.
In a later story by Don Rosa that serves as an addendum to The Life and Times, a much older Scrooge encounters FDR once again, only this time both are wealthy, made men. And when FDR asks him why one of the richest Ducks in the world still works himself to the bone, Scrooge paraphrases FDR's 1899 speech “The Strenuous life”:
“Don't live by the doctrine of ignoble ease, but by toil and effort, labor and strife! The highest form of success comes to the man who shrinks not from danger or work, and who therefore wins the ultimate triumph!” (DRL, Vol. 9, 77)
To prove the value of hard work, Don Rosa often counterbalances Scrooge's ambition with Donald's lethargy, a perpetually penniless profligate whose laziness has resulted in a complete dependence on his uncle. On the other hand, his three nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie are shown to possess the same spirit of adventure as their uncle Scrooge and are therefore portrayed as bright, competent pioneers who are bound to have a prosperous future ahead of them. This family dynamic perfectly encapsulates Weber's approach to the Protestant Work ethic with its focus on hard work and the detrimental consequences for those who chose to reject it4.
But Scrooge's pioneering spirit becomes clear in every chapter of Life and Times. No matter where he is, due to some mishap at the end of the previous chapter he usually has to start from scratch all over again. But that does not tamper his enthusiasm one bit. He makes do with what he has and regularly comes out on top. He learns new skills and successfully applies them in later chapters. He does not complain, but rather uses each obstacle to seek out new opportunities and treads new ground. He is hopeful and perfectly personifies the United States as a young, budding country that is in the midst of discovering itself. This is shown in numerous places, from references to the Homestead Act (DRL, Vol. 4, 85) up to Scrooge becoming synonymous with John Philipp Sousa, the composer whose music is inextricably associated with the idea of America as a free and united nation (DRL, Vol. 4, 132). Scrooge even embarks on his adventures by evoking and answering Horace Greeley's call to “Go West, young man, and grow up with the country” (DRL, Vol. 4, 68).
However, the most poignant example of Scrooge coming to himself can be seen in his adventures during the Klondike Gold Rush where Scrooge laid the foundation to his fortune. The different eras of gold rushes in America already serve as a symbol for the American dream, since any one had the chance to become a rich person as long as they were willing to apply themselves and persevere. Don Rosa picks up on this and portrays Scrooge as an unwavering spirit who faces the challenge of an unforgiving wilderness as well as the temptations of a glittering mining town (DRL, Vol. 5, 22) until through hard work and sheer willpower he manages to lay the cornerstone of an eventual empire5.
Scrooge serves as a deliberate paragon of virtue and self-reliance since Rosa aimed to present him as “the quintessential self-made duck” (DRL, Vol. 4, 157) to the world, a role model. However, in the quest for capital gains even an exemplary hero can be tainted, and by utilizing the righteous image of Scrooge in such a way Don Rosa can also remind his readers that a single-minded pursuit of riches must also, inevitably, bring with it risks, avarice, and ultimately corruption.
2. The dangers of unrestrained greed
Scrooge's repeated insistence on making his money square is not just an empty phrase. Time and again, young Scrooge is shown to be an idealist, one that readily acknowledges the beauty of a life unburdened by the responsibilities and worries that excessive wealth brings with it. Furthermore, he regularly insists on earning his money in an honest manner, even if means having to having to endure hardships and strife. There is one scene in part seven where Scrooge helps an old Aborigine retrieve a giant opal stolen by a thief. Upon encountering and chasing away said thief, Scrooge remarks that he “can't stomach thieves and robbers who want to steal their fortune rather than work for it” (DRL, Vol. 4, 131). It is a noble sentiment and one that immediately gets put into practice a few pages later when Scrooge places the opal back in its original place. Holding it in his hands, he realizes he could simply steal the treasure and immediately become rich. And at that moment he contemplates giving in to temptation and asks himself “who needs self-respect when you're rich?”, followed by an evil laugh. However, the artwork shows how strong his moral compass is when the laughter transcends into the next panel in which it is abruptly superseded by Scrooge having already left, the opal in its righteous place and a simple concession that doing the right thing is always more honorable, even when done begrudgingly (DRL, Vol. 4, 141).
Scrooge knows that the journey is more rewarding than the goal itself, that is the entire point of Don Rosa's stories, even beyond Life and Times. In most stories, Scrooge's pursuit of legendary treasures fuel the stories, but usually, the value lies in the adventure itself6. The question of the real treasure is touched upon a number of times, most poignantly at the moment right before Scrooge strikes it big as a gold prospector at the Klondike river. At the end of chapter 8, Scrooge the weight of a handful of mud makes him fall to the ground and he realizes that it is clearly too heavy to be mud - it has to be gold. He hurries to confirm his suspicion, but right as he is about to wash off the mud to reveal a massive gold nugget in his hands, he has a moment of doubt and self-reflection (DRL, Vol. 5, 32). He ponders whether arriving at the end of his journey will truly bring him all the happiness he has longed for. He realizes that his care-free days will be over and hesitates, asking himself if he really wants to be rich7.
As expected from the eventual richest person in the world, he gives in to temptation and becomes the richest man in the region. However, Don Rosa's drawings do not paint this as an entirely joyous moment. Scrooge himself is overjoyed at having struck gold, but his face when he chooses fortune over freedom is not one of kindness, but one of greed. As soon as the gold comes to the surface, his eyes shine with its reflection. It's a subtle symbol of the change in Scrooge's character that will soon manifest itself, namely a life governed by money along with all the responsibilities and sorrows that come with it. The chapter therefore ends with an ominous note that says “The beginning..which can, of course, be interpreted in a number of ways, but this final page and especially the last panel hint towards a future where money will take priority above all else, even at the expense of friends and family. The last panel encapsulates this so well. We can see Scrooge, a small shadow in a vast and beautiful landscape, a scenery which he is no longer able to notice because all his thoughts are focused on being “Rich! Rich! Rich! Rich! [ad infinitum]”. Moreover, he is alone. The entire chapter revolves around his interactions with the people around him and the price for his rigid determination towards wealth is a soured relationship with everyone around him that ultimately leaves him all alone with nothing but his wealth to keep him comfort.
This chapter sets the stage for a development towards the worse in the following chapters. For example, chapter nine concerns itself with Scrooge who, having expanded and cemented his wealth, is now ready to return to his homeland. He reunites with his family and participates in the Highland Games. Unfortunately, he can already feel the effects his wealth has on his surroundings. Neighbors and fellow Scots despise him and even his father recognizes that his fortune has changed him. Even more discomforting, Scrooge's scores at the Scottish Highland Games are abysmal. In every contest, he drastically outperforms the other contestants but each time, either his technique is not up to the standards of the Games or he misunderstands the point of the contest. In the end, he fails terribly, making him aware of the fact that Scotland represents a past where he no longer belongs, whereas he has already firmly set his eyes on the future (DRL, Vol. 5, 72). Of course, this can be seen as a natural progression of things - in order to acquire something new, something old has to be left behind. However, Scotland represents Scrooge's roots and by failing to both meet the traditions of his original home and earning the acknowledgment of his former peers, this chapter shows how far Scrooge has become removed from the person he once was. It is a solemn scene, one that leaves him only a single recourse - to abandon Scotland for good and never again return to his ancestral home. Scrooge figuratively cuts all ties, leaving behind an empty home, and hurries in the only direction still available to him - the new world.
Now one could ask how this ties in with the idea of Scrooge being a symbol for America as a whole. So far, these two chapters serve only as a way to foreshadow Scrooge's deterioration into a selfish, money-hungry hoarder. They provide a sense of gloom and illustrate the dangers and pitfalls that pave the way of someone who conflates the pursuit of happiness with the pursuit of profit. To put it bluntly, these two chapters illustrate Scrooge's loss of innocence and wonder as he progresses towards a new era. Don Rosa's story “Last Sled to Dawson” makes this shows this in great detail. The story revolves around Scrooge trying to find an old sled that he lost years ago in the Yukon. While Donald believes the sled contains a map to a giant treasure, it becomes increasingly clear that “the sled represents something he couldn't get, or something he lost, or both” (DRL, Vol. 1, 146+147). In the end, when the Ducks retrieve the sled, it is revealed that the sleds contents are made up merely of his old prospector's equipment. Worthless to everyone else, but priceless to Scrooge, as these objects are inhabited by memories of a long bygone era, an age of countless possibilities and ever new horizons.
The image of a lost sled is well-known. It is a direct reference to the movie Citizen Kane, where the sled represents the desperate and impossible longing for a return to a time of simple joys and new beginnings, a time before career and cash had become the main forces of life8. Since Citizen Kane can be called the most American film ever made9, Don Rosa manages to weave a tight net around both his protagonist and American society as a whole, a net that has gained an unforeseen actuality in modern times, with the uprising of the MAGA movement. The presidential campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” as well as the massive support it has garnered since the 2016 election point to a communal desire of the American population to return to a simpler time. It is debatable whether such a time has ever really existed, but the clearly present nostalgia is a sign that the current reality has deviated from an ideal that both the American people and Scrooge still hold dear to their hearts.
Unfortunately, the pursuit of progress leads Scrooge - and to some extent America10 - further away from the romantic values of the old pioneer era. Chapters 10 and 11 show Scrooge further establish his empire. First, he buys the land on which his money bin will later be built, then he expands on his ever-increasing operations which turn Scrooge in the span of these two chapters from a millionaire into a billionaire. However, his greed and pride have corrupted him to a point where he does not shy away even from burning down an indigenous tribe's home and later buys their destroyed land, presumably at a fraction of the price it is worth (DRL, Vol. 5, 115+116). On the one hand, it could be interpreted as a reference to America's long history of forcibly displacing the indigenous peoples native to American soil. On the other hand, it could be a not-so-subtle nod to the harsh business practices that billionaires employ in order to enrich themselves, often at the expense of those who work beneath them or stand in their way.
The most obvious symbol of the detrimental power that money wields over the people who interact with it is Scrooge's money bin. It is a gray concrete cube with barely a window in it, surrounded by nothing but barren land. The giant posters telling people to keep their hands off only add to the unhospitable and downright belligerent atmosphere it creates, to the point where passersby refer to it as a “monstrosity” (DRL, Vol. 5, 103). To understand its connection to America, one needs to look at both its history and one of the fundamental tropes of American self-perception. Ever since John Winthrop coined the term in 1630, the image of America as a “city upon a hill” that serves as a guiding model to every other country has long been a staple of how America perceives itself11. Duckburg, the city where Scrooge and the rest of the Ducks live, has its origin in exactly that - it used to be a pioneer fort situated atop a hill (DRL, Vol. 5, 92 as well as DRL, Vol. 2, 95). It is described as a welcoming place, teeming with that old pioneer spirit. The fort's line of proprietors shows how it used to be a symbol of new beginnings, both for Sir Francis Drake and Cornelius Coot, up until the point when Scrooge gets his hands on the land. In the end of part 10, he quickly discards the fort's remains and erects his money bin on the very spot, surrounded by barbed wire on barren soil (DRL, Vol. 5, 102). Turning a city upon a hill into a testament to greed is a sign that Scrooge's priorities have completely shifted from the spirit of adventure to the amassment of wealth.
Apart from the symbolic resemblance to the United States, one can also see a political parallel. In his 2016 election campaign, President Trump promised to run America like his business12. In the wake of his election, the United States saw a clear upward trend towards more business-oriented policies13. Many critics have opined on this move, and one needs to look only at the final chapter of Life and Times to see where an unchecked focus on finances can lead. Here, Don Rosa employs a lovely artistic device to make the changes in Scrooge life clear. Every previous part of the saga begins with a page from a scrapbook containing letters and pictures, preserving the memories of that particular chapter in Scrooge's life. It is a gentle way to prepare the reader for the theme of the chapter while simultaneously lending a certain nostalgic atmosphere to the story (DRL, Vol. 4, 69).
Then, in the penultimate chapter of the epic, the story's opening panel shows a hand (DRL, Vol. 5, 107)14 laying a closed scrapbook on a pile of other books, surrounded by money and a globe, signifying an end to Scrooge's heart-warming tales and a shift towards the strictly business-oriented lifestyle of a tycoon (DRL, Vol. 5, 107).
Over the course of the chapter, Scrooge's unmatched greed and unscrupulous business practices show that Scrooge has changed for the worse. At one point, a crying Matilda directly spells out that conclusion (DRL, Vol. 5, 114), shortly after Scrooge tells them in an unmistakable way that there is no room for family when it comes to business. Shortly afterwards, Scrooge burns down the indigenous people's village, prompting his sisters to leave him to his ways, hoping that one day he might have a change of heart (DRL, Vol. 5, 115).
And Scrooge actually shows some remorse. He tries to chase after his sisters, but time and again a string of business opportunities delay his chance of ever meeting up with them again. The story demonstrates to the reader in an unmistakable way how making money your only priority can lead to loneliness and solitude15. Finally, after 27 years he returns home, rancorous and morose. His cantankerous disposition is best described by the narration when he first arrives in Duckburg and snarls at people asking for help:
“Home is the hunter, home from the hill”. But this hunter's heart was hardened to the forest creatures after fifty years on the hunt...! Once, the lad who shined shoes for five pence a pair on the streets of Glasgow would have been moved by pleas for help, but this was altogether a different Scrooge McDuck!” (DRL, Vol. 5, 127)
This quote assures the reader that Scrooge has left his humanity behind. His years of chasing wealth have left him hollow and unsympathetic, which is why the next scene is even more disheartening: Scrooge enters his office and is welcomed by his friends and family who have arranged a surprise gathering for him, but before they can even get to the point, Scrooge throws them out. However, as soon as he is alone again, his conscience flares up and forces him once again to run after his family, hoping to make amends. And once again, business gets in the way. He finds a plaque in the hallway informing him that he is now the richest man in the world. Now once again, all his worries are forgotten since money is ultimately the only thing that counts.
The story ends on a tragic note. The family is leaving the money bin and his sister overhears a picketer saying that “it must be great to be Scrooge McDuck. He has everything!”, to which she replies with tears in her eyes: “No, Scrooge McDuck once had everything! Now all he has is money and all that money can buy!”16 The final panel encapsulates that loneliness perfectly. In the foreground we can see a close-up of Scrooge's two sisters while the rest of the image shows the silhouettes of his family departing a giant, menacing money bin surrounded by signs telling everyone to keep out. It is such a desolate scenery with only one speech bubble escaping the tiny window at the top: “I'm the richest man in the world! ME!” (DRL, Vol. 5, 130).
The final word of the chapter reveals how egotistical Scrooge has become. The only two factors of importance in his life are himself and money. Don Rosa paints a solemn picture that can only serve as a warning against unrestrained self-interest, one that has found similar parallels in today's political landscape. During Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016, he vowed to run America like a business17, meaning an increased focus on financial dealmaking and establishing business relations above anything else. Furthermore, his candidacy - and to some extent his presidency as well - have been marked by a so-called “America First policy”, a foreign policy that prioritizes the requirements of the American economy and ideology. As a result, the global political climate had become less sympathetic to the United States, with many sources having observed American global relations as having become increasingly alienated18.
In the same way, we see Scrooge at the beginning of chapter 12: 17 years later, alone and regretful wallowing in his memories of a more optimistic time19. He seems to live in the shadows, languorous, his face obscured by the scarce lighting in the room. The reader catches a first glimpse of him through the eyes of Donald and his nephews who have come to visit him for the first time. And Don Rosa shows them a new Scrooge, a decrepit old man who needs a cane to stand steady, embittered by life, humbled by old age (DRL, Vol. 5, 135).
3. An optimistic conclusion
Seeing Scrooge McDuck in such a deplorable state at the beginning of the final chapter makes one wonder: is there really no hope for Scrooge? And consequently - is there no hope for America? His frail body and weak demeanor suggest no other option. But Don Rosa opts for a more promising conclusion: as soon as Scrooge encounters Donald Duck and his nephews, an entirely new generation, he takes the first step towards rehabilitation. He wakes up from his slumber, both physically and symbolically, and moves towards them. After this contact, he shows them his bin and as such, is forced to come face to face with his own history. Still, there is no more vigor in his weak sentimentality and after the Beagle Boys steal his money, he is too dejected to even oppose them anymore. He considers himself “too old and too sick and too tired of it all” (DRL, Vol. 5, 140).
But when Donald casts doubt on the fact that he could have ever been a great pioneer, Scrooge regains his vitality and in the subsequent chase, he employs many of his old prospector artifacts and skills to bring down the Beagle Boys. Over the course of this experience, Scrooge grows visibly more energetic, his wrinkles disappear panel by panel and it becomes clear that the adventures themselves, not the monetary gains they bring, invigorate Scrooge and make him who he is (DRL, Vol. 5, 144).
Unfortunately, at the end of the chase Scrooge feels worn out and he looks even more depleted than before. He describes himself as a “fossil of a bygone age”, one whose full life is now long behind him (DRL, Vol. 5, 146). And just when he seems to completely revert back to his hopeless self, his three nephews use reverse psychology to rile him up and get him to admit to himself that it is not one's past that defines them, but one's visions. He tells them (and consequently the readers) that one's “lives depend on what you make of them! The only limits to adventure are the limits of your imagination!” (DRL, Vol. 5. 147) and finally this makes him realize that his “greatest adventures are yet to come!!!” (DRL, Vol. 5, 148).
It is a wonderful conclusion, one that perfectly encapsulates the sentiments Don Rosa tries to convey in all of his works and also one that neatly ties in the medium of comic books with the overarching themes of the saga. The notion that the next generation is a constant source of inspiration and confidence does not simply apply to the Ducks, or even to America, but to the human population as a whole. Scrooge is a role model in the same way that America could be a role model for the world - a symbol of opportunity and progress.
In the previous pages of this essay I have undertaken to call attention to the multitude of distinct correlations between Scrooge and the United States of America. Starting with the fundamental ideology of the American Dream that finds its complement in Scrooge's humble beginnings, over to the Puritan Work Ethic that is manifested in Scrooge's pioneer spirit, up to the focus on a capitalist mentality that led to America becoming a global superpower and to Scrooge becoming the world's richest Duck, the parallels are palpably noticeable. Scrooge is an unmistakable symbol representing the United States of America. That's why Don Rosa makes it a point to remind his readers that there is always work to be done. The journey of an adventurer as well as the journey of a nation are never finished. With a focus on the visions of tomorrow, staying true to one's ideals and aided by those who are young enough to shape this tomorrow, there is always hope for a brighter future. And that's why in the final panel, when Scrooge sits in his money bin, surrounded by his three cubic meters of cash, he does not think of the money he has earned. He does not even look at the coins in which he bathes. He looks dreamily upward and thinks of every person, every adventure and every scenery that have guided him on his path to the present, on his path to true happiness.
4. References
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Bort, Ryan. "America Last: How Trump Torpedoed the U.S. International Standing". Rolling Stone, November 3, 2020. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics- features/trump-foreign-policy-destroyed-international-standing-1084802, accessed on November 20, 2022.
Bose, Swapnil Dhruv. “Steven Spielberg once named the ‘most purely American movie we have'”. Far Out Magazine, March 12th, 2022. https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/steven- spielberg-most-purely-american-movie/, accessed on November 20, 2022.
Bump, Philip. "Trump's idea to run the government like a business is an old one in American politics". The Washington Post, March 27, 2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com /news/politics/wp/2017/03/27/trumps-idea-to-run- the-government-like-a-business-is- an-old-one-in-american-politics, accessed on November 20, 2022.
DeSilver, Drew. "Trump's Cabinet will be one of most business-heavy in U.S. history". Pew Research Center, January 19, 2017. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact- tank/2017/01/19/trumps-cabinet-will-be-one-of-most-business-heavy-in-u-s-history/, accessed on November 20, 2022.
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Gross, Fabian. Onkel Dagobert: Sein Leben, seine Milliarden. Von Don Rosa. Egmont Comic Collection, 2017.
Mecca, Dan. “Why Citizen Kane Is The Most Important American Film Ever Made”. The Film Stage, February 10, 2009. https://thefilmstage.com/why-citizen-kane-is-the-most- important-american-film-ever-made/, accessed on November 20, 2022.
Shetty, Salil. "Donald Trump Is Alienating His Most Valuable Allies". Time.com, February 10, 2017. https://time.com/4667664/amnesty-international-donald-trump-ban/, accessed on November 20, 2022.
Tett, Gillian. “How the US lost its pioneering spirit”. Financial Times, March 10, 2017. https://www.ft.com/content/c8b727d4-0383-11e7-ace0-1ce02ef0def9, accessed on November 20, 2022.
Van Engen, Abram. “How America Became ,A City Upon A Hill'. The rise and fall of Perry Miller”. The National Endowment for the Humanities, Winter 2020, Volume 41, Number 1, https://www.neh.gov/article/how-america-became-city-upon-hill
Weber, Max. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Translated by Talcott Parsons. With an Introduction by Anthony Giddens. Routledge Classics, 2001.
Wike, Richard et al. "U.S. Image Plummets Internationally as Most Say Country Has Handled Coronavirus Badly", Pew Research Center, September 15, 2020,
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/09/15/us-image-plummets-internationally- as-most-say-country-has-handled-coronavirus-badly/, accessed on November 20, 2022.
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1 From this point on “Don Rosa Library” will be abbreviated as “DRL”.
2 cf. Weber, 18 “Man is dominated by the making of money, by acquisition as the ultimate purpose of his life. Economic acquisition is no longer subordinated to man as the means for the satisfaction of his material needs”.
3 DRL, Vol. 5, 182, “Scrooge McDuck owes not one penny of his wealth to mere luck. Every cent has been earned by hard work and savvy!”
4 cf. Weber, xiii “The accumulation of wealth was morally sanctioned in so far as it was combined with a sober, industrious career; wealth was condemned only if employed to support a life of idle luxury or self-indulgence”.
5 To underscore the parallels between Scrooge fulfilling his destiny and the United States becoming a refined, serious superpower, Don Rosa packs this story with accurate references to historical places and events like Dawson City, the Klondike River or the ascent at Chilkoot Pass and even people, most notably the character of Glittering Goldie who can be seen as the in-universe analogue to the dancer Klondike Kate.
6 For example, in Don Rosa's story “The Ten Avatars” (DRL Vol. 7, 33), Scrooge loses the entire fortune he sought after to the locals. However, the story portraits this as a good outcome since now the locals can rebuild their community and Scrooge can invest in it.
7 In another Don Rosa story, “Escape from Forbidden Valley” (DRL Vol.8, 111), this theme is picked up. Scrooge's nephews point out that Scrooge might be envious of Donald's poverty, because it allows him a life unburdened by the constraints that wealth brings with it. Scrooge shrugs it off, but it is clear that there is some truth to it, since Donald embodies the youthful nonchalance that Scrooge had to leave behind in his quest to becoming the richest duck in the world.
8 In DRL, Vol. 5, 181, Don Rosa attests to this, saying the contents of the sled bear a “certain Kane-like significance”. This is only further substantiated by the opening page of the final chapter in Life and Times, when an old Scrooge, just like the old Kane at the end of the film, looks into a snow globe and remembers his youth (DRL, Vol.5, 131).
9 cf. Mecca as well as Bose.
10 cf. Tett.
11 cf. Van Engen
12 cf. Bump.
13 cf. DeSilver.
14 It is probably the hand of Scrooge's sister, Matilda, as it is insinuated that she kept maintained a neat collection of her brother's exploits. The image of her putting the book away already hints at the deteriorating relationship between Scrooge and his family.
15 In the third chapter, President Roosevelt already warns him of this when he says that “great men lead lonely lives” (DRL, Vol. 4, 83)
16 The German translation makes the distinction between monetary gains and the real value in life even more concrete. Matilda says about Scrooge: “Heute ist er nur ein armer reicher Mann“, meaning „today he is only a poor rich man” (Gross, 238).
17 cf. Bump.
18 cf. Baker and Shear, Bort, Shetty, Wike.
Frequently asked questions
What is "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck - American History in duck form an essay by Simon Hertel" about?
This essay analyzes Don Rosa's comic book series, "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck," interpreting it as an allegory for American history and the American Dream. It explores how Scrooge McDuck's journey from a poor shoe-shine boy to a wealthy entrepreneur mirrors the development of the United States, highlighting themes of ambition, hard work, the dangers of greed, and the importance of family and community.
How does the essay portray Scrooge McDuck as a symbol of the American Dream?
The essay argues that Scrooge's rags-to-riches story embodies the core principles of the American Dream. His emigration to America, relentless work ethic ("smarter than the smarties, tougher than the toughies, and [making it] square"), and pioneering spirit reflect the opportunities available in America for individuals to achieve success regardless of their background. His encounters with figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt further reinforce the idea that hard work and perseverance are key to achieving wealth and happiness.
What does the essay say about the negative consequences of greed in "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck"?
The essay points out that while Scrooge's ambition is initially portrayed positively, his relentless pursuit of wealth leads to moral compromises, isolation, and a loss of his initial idealism. The essay also highlights his family's departure as he places business above family. The money bin is shown as a symbol of corruption.
How is the Klondike Gold Rush depicted as significant in Scrooge's story and American History?
The Klondike Gold Rush is presented as a pivotal point in Scrooge's journey and a symbol of the American Dream's potential and pitfalls. It demonstrates his unwavering spirit and hard work but also marks the beginning of his moral decline as he prioritizes wealth over ethical considerations.
How does the essay connect Scrooge's character arc to contemporary American issues?
The essay draws parallels between Scrooge's transformation and contemporary American political trends, such as the focus on financial deal-making, business-oriented policies, and "America First" ideologies. It suggests that Scrooge's ultimate realization of the importance of family and community serves as a warning against unrestrained self-interest and a call for a more balanced approach to wealth and progress. The essay references the 2016 election of Donald Trump and the slogan "Make America Great Again" as examples of a nostalgic desire to return to a perceived simpler time.
What is the significance of the final chapter of "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck"?
The final chapter presents a more optimistic outlook, as Scrooge rediscovers his sense of adventure and reconnects with his family. This represents a possibility for America's return to the ideals of opportunity and progress. The essay concludes that through the inspiration of the younger generation, Scrooge can have a better outlook.
What sources are cited in the essay?
The essay cites a variety of sources, including the "Don Rosa Library" comic series, academic works on the Protestant work ethic (Max Weber), articles on American foreign policy, and analyses of films like "Citizen Kane" to support its interpretations of "The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck."
- Quote paper
- Dr. Simon Hertel (Author), 2023, American History in Duck Form. Scrooge McDuck as personified America, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1340530
