The question will be explored, whether America is still a land of liberty, independency and equal opportunities for all like the Statue of Liberty, one of America’s best known symbols, stands for. Two scenes out of the film “The Visitor”, directed by Thomas McCarthy, where this problem is debated, will be analyzed. The movie shows how immigrants are exposed to the idea of liberty and how quickly this dream actually might end.
Table of Contents
1. America as a land of promises
2. Restrictions to the American Dream
3. A land of illusions and paradoxicality
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines whether the United States still fulfills its historical promise as a land of liberty, independence, and equal opportunity, or if these ideals have shifted toward a reality of false promises for immigrants. By analyzing key scenes from Thomas McCarthy’s film "The Visitor," the work explores the disconnect between the symbolic meaning of American values and the lived experiences of illegal immigrants.
- The symbolism of the Statue of Liberty vs. the reality of illegal immigration.
- The paradoxical nature of the American Dream in contemporary society.
- Barriers to legal status and the psychological impact of detention.
- The film "The Visitor" as a critique of current US immigration policies.
Excerpt from the Book
Restrictions to the American Dream
In McCarthy’s Movie “The Visitor” a Syrian musician named Tarek and his Senegalese girlfriend Zainab are illegal immigrants in New York and live in Professor Walter Vale’s apartment. Walter usually lives near Connecticut and when he comes back to New York for procedural reasons, he discovers that his earlier home has been surreptitiously rented. Considering the foreign couple has no other place to stay, he invites them to share his apartment with them. Tarek and Walter become friends and start playing the djembes together, also along with others in the New York Central Park. This “urban, multicultural idyll is shattered” (Scott, “Professor as Student”) when Tarek is detained by the police because of a misunderstanding in the subway. Now, Mouna, the mother of the Syrian man, arrives from Michigan and wants Zainab to show her where she spent some time with Tarek.
In the first scene Zainab takes Walter and Mouna on a ferry to Staten Island where she and Tarek often went because it is free of charge and they felt to go far away. Standing at the railing of the ferry, she shows Mouna where the Twin Towers used to be, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty. She explains: “Sometimes Tarek would point at the statue and jump up and down like we were arriving to New York for the first time. It was very funny” (The Visitor). While Zainab is talking about it, the Statue of Liberty is shown in the background, the contrast between the symbol of liberty and an illegal woman is therefore immediately made obvious.
Chapter Summary
1. America as a land of promises: Introduces the concept of the American Dream and establishes the core research question regarding whether America still serves as a land of liberty for all immigrants.
2. Restrictions to the American Dream: Analyzes specific scenes from the film "The Visitor" to highlight the contrast between American ideals and the experiences of illegal immigrants trapped in the justice system.
3. A land of illusions and paradoxicality: Concludes that the American Dream has become increasingly inaccessible, suggesting that current immigration policies are at odds with historical American values.
Keywords
American Dream, The Visitor, Illegal Immigration, Statue of Liberty, Liberty, Equality, Thomas McCarthy, Detention Centers, US Immigration Policy, Symbolism, Social Paradox, Human Rights, Green Card, Cultural Identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores whether the United States still upholds its historical ideals of liberty and equal opportunity, specifically examining how these ideals apply—or fail to apply—to illegal immigrants in the contemporary era.
Which film serves as the basis for this analysis?
The analysis is based on Thomas McCarthy’s 2008 film "The Visitor," which depicts the lives of illegal immigrants in New York and their encounters with the US justice system.
What is the central research question?
The author questions whether America remains a land of "liberty, independency and equal opportunities," or if it has transformed into a land of false promises for those seeking a better life.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author utilizes a qualitative film analysis, focusing on specific scenes and symbols—particularly the Statue of Liberty—to contrast the American narrative with the harsh realities of immigrant life.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section discusses the legal difficulties of obtaining residency, the psychological effects of detention, and the symbolic dissonance created when marginalized people live in a country that claims to offer freedom for all.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include American Dream, Illegal Immigration, Statue of Liberty, Social Paradox, and Human Rights.
Why is the Statue of Liberty such a central symbol in the analysis?
The author uses the Statue of Liberty as an antithesis; while it represents "hope and opportunity," its presence in scenes featuring detention centers highlights the contradiction between national ideals and the treatment of undocumented individuals.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the American Dream?
The author concludes that for many, the American Dream has turned into an illusion, though there is a faint hope that future regulatory changes might restore some of the nation's original authenticity.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lena Groß (Autor:in), 2012, Broken Promises of Liberty. Illegal immigration in „The Visitor“, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/269071
