# American Dream and Ambition in Manhattan Transfer

> Theme guide for Manhattan Transfer by John Dos Passos.

Characters pursue success, money, and status—like Bud seeking 'the center of things' or Thatcher dreaming of wealth—but the narrative reveals the emptiness, corruption, and disillusionment that often accompany these pursuits.

## Where it surfaces

- [Section I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/section-i): Bud's arrival embodies the pursuit of opportunity, while the city's relentless pace reflects the ambition and struggle for success.
- [I: Ferryslip](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/i-ferryslip): Bud Korpenning arrives seeking work and the 'center of things'; Ed Thatcher and Mr. Zucher discuss saving, ambition, and providing for children; the shaving vignette reflects a desire for self-improvement.
- [II: Metropolis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/ii-metropolis): Ed Thatcher dreams of saving money for Ellen; Emile believes in getting ahead in America; contrasted with Marco's revolutionary critique.
- [III: Dollars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/iii-dollars): The chapter contrasts the promise of opportunity (the 'land of opportoonity') with the struggles of characters like the destitute sailor, Bud Korpenning, and the ambitious lawyer George Baldwin seeking his first big case.
- [Tracks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/iv-tracks): Ed Thatcher's internal conflict between safe work and risky investment embodies the lure of quick wealth and the American Dream's darker side.
- [V: Steamroller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/v-steamroller): Uncle Jeff embodies the ethos of self-made success, pressuring Jimmy to embrace business; Bud's fantasy of becoming an alderman contrasts with his tragic reality.
- [Section II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/section-ii): Characters pursue success and status in the competitive urban landscape, often confronting the gap between aspiration and reality.
- [II: Longlegged Jack of the Isthmus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/ii-longlegged-jack-of-the-isthmus): Cassie's pursuit of a show business career and Joe Harland's tale of financial rise and fall reflect the allure and fragility of success.
- [VI: Five Statutory Questions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/vi-five-statutory-questions): Joe Harland warns Jimmy Herf to be ambitious for his mother's sake, contrasting Jimmy's disillusionment with the pursuit of success.
- [Section III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/section-iii): Characters like Jimmy Herf and George Baldwin embody the pursuit of success and the disillusionment that often accompanies it.
- [II: Nickelodeon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/ii-nickelodeon): Ruth's failed acting career and Jimmy's discontent with his job reflect the elusive nature of success and the compromises required to survive in the city.
- [V: The Burden of Nineveh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/chapters/v-the-burden-of-nineveh): James Merivale's speech celebrates banking success while the collapse of Blackhead & Densch and Jimmy's downward mobility expose the fragility of the dream.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/themes/american_dream_and_ambition
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/manhattan_transfer_se/themes