After reading “The School Days of an Indian Girl” and the background on Zitkala-Sa, I think that her story represents both the American Dream coming true, but also the American Dream hindering her way of life. From the outside it seems as if Zitkala-Sa was living and fulfilling the American Dream because she gained a prominent education and became a great orator as well as a writer. She was able to make a life for herself, but whether or not it was really the life she wanted for herself is the question. “I had arrived in the wonderful land of rosy skies, but I was not happy, as I had thought I should be.” (430)
I think that the American Dream should be all about staying true to yourself and fulfilling the aspirations that you personally have, not being forced into what other people think is right. She was pretty much forced by missionaries to enter school and assimilate into American culture. It was apparent that she missed her Native American culture and was sad that it was slowly fading away altogether because the rest of the children in her tribe were also being assimilated. “Within a week I was again actively testing the chains which bound my individuality like a mummy for burial.” (434)
On the other hand, Zitkala-Sa’s story could also be perceived as the American Dream because against all odds and circumstances she was able to be successful and try to make a difference for the Native Americans that did not have as strong as a voice. In that aspect, I think she was fulfilling the American Dream because she was acting selflessly in order to change the country for the better and end oppression against Native Americans and possibly other minorities. Zitkala-Sa was happy when she was recognized for her oratory skills and was able to prove her discriminators wrong, however, it still was not enough to full satisfy her and it may not have been her ultimate dream. “The little taste of victory did not satisfy a hunger in my heart.” (438)
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