The American Dream In Robinson's Poem 'Miniver Cheevy'

In Robinson’s poem “Miniver Cheevy”, the main character, Miniver Cheevy, is someone with the hope of achieving the American Dream. Possibly living in a different time period, Miniver Cheevy did not achieve this dream and has given up trying to reach for it. The American Dream represents the goal that Miniver Cheevy should aspire for‒a family, fame, and fortune. As Robinson writes, “Miniver sighed for what was not, and dreamed, and rested from his labors….Miniver scorned the gold he sought, But sore annoyed was he without it.” The character is distraught about what his life would have been, and now he drinks his life and troubling thoughts away, complaining about the things he does not have. The American Dream may not always appeal to everyone.
This poem starts off in a mellow way: “...his parents boarded him at school in town, slaving to free him from the stony fields”. The main character, Warren Pryor, is graduating and on his way to a flourishing life as a result of his parents many sacrifices. By the last stanza, the innocent tone turns into a belligerent voice: “...his axe-hewn hands upon the paper bills aching with empty strength and throttled rage.” This ultimately expresses Pryor’s point of view. Though he achieves the first steps of the American Dream and completes his parent’s wishes, he is ungratified, ironically. Instead, Pryor prefers to be at the farm he grew up in and working alongside his parents. This shows how the American Dream does not suit everyone, especially Pryor, but he continues on the path of working for the American Dream in fear of disheartening his