Author(s): Binod Sapkota

Abstract: The paper offers a critical examination of the film The Pursuit of Happyness vis-à-vis the American Dream set against the backdrop of 1980s San Francisco during a period of economic instability. Focusing on the life of Chris Gardner, an African American man striving for upward mobility, the film juxtaposes the ideals of rugged individualism and success with the harsh realities of systemic economic and racial barriers. Through theoretical frameworks provided by Louis Althusser, Terry Eagleton, and Walter Benjamin, this study explores how ideology interpellates individuals into specific social positions, reinforcing class hierarchies and perpetuating economic inequality. Althusser’s concept of interpellation is key in analyzing how Gardner's identity and aspirations are shaped by the cultural and ideological structures around him. By critically engaging with the film’s portrayal of financial struggles, systemic oppression, and the illusion of the American Dream, this analysis highlights the ways in which capitalist ideology constrains personal fulfillment and reinforces societal inequities. The paper shows the film serves a broader commentary on the enduring structural inequalities in capitalist societies than just a as a narrative of individual perseverance.

Keywords: American Dream, capitalism, economic inequality, ideology, interpellation

Article Info: Received: 05 Aug 2024; Received in revised form: 04 Sep 2024; Accepted: 09 Sep 2024; Available online: 15 Sep 2024

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.95.6