Family in American Literature essays

Family in American Literature essays The family is an interesting subject in American literature. It serves as a base in our society which can be shaped and molded into many different forms. Mario Puzos The Godfather shows the family as a successful business in the 1940s. In The Awakening, the family is shown in a strict traditional form which is broken by a mother who feels oppressed by the role society placed on her as a woman. Tom Clancy defines family as the foundation which our society is based on. He demonstrates his point excellently in Patriot Games. The Corleone family is basically intact for crime and corruption only. It is this crime and corruption that keeps the family going (Dessner 430). The Corleone family exists only to turn a profit, and Vito Corleone sees to that. He is the executive of the family, and the executive of his olive oil business (Dessner 430). What makes Vito Corleones character more interesting is that in addition to his shady business practices, he is a robbing hood for his fellow Sicilians. All who have proven their loyalties to him are entitled to help from their Godfather. Vito is willing to help anyone (Schaap 352). The traditional role of women has been to stay at home, clean, cook and raise the kids. Kate Chopin focused her book on the issues that she felt were wrong with the role of upper-class women in the average Louisiana family during the timeframe. The main character, Edna Rich, realizes how much she hates her role in life. She wants to be much more intellectual (The Awakening, Portraying Views of the Family Online). Edna goes beyond the bounds of immoral upper-class women during the time. She goes against the will of her husband and sneaks behind his back while he is on a trip. She rents an apartment and moves out of her house while her husband is away (The Awakening, Portraying Views of the Family Online). While she is on her own, she is free to ...