The American Dream and Its Discontents

Sam's success as a self-made industrialist brings wealth but not lasting happiness, and the novel critiques the emptiness of relentless ambition and the assumption that financial achievement guarantees fulfillment.

Sam's ambition to succeed in the automobile industry and his vision of a grand life with Fran reflect the pursuit of the American Dream, while Fran's desire for European splendor hints at its limitations.

Sam's disillusionment with business success and his desire to break free from the relentless pursuit of profit highlight the emptiness of the American Dream.

Fran critiques the limitations of American middle-class life, contrasting it with the possibilities of European society, and expresses discontent with the material success that has left her feeling unfulfilled.

Sam's disillusionment with New York's speed, dirt, and commercialism contrasts with his earlier idealization of home.