Ask the dust, by John Fante, and the American dream of immigrants

Abstract

Many of the characters in the novel Ask the dust, by John Fante, are migrants and immigrants in search of the American dream. This article examines how the writer Arturo Bandini, first-person narrator of the novel, at first, identifies himself with the values of American culture, but, at last, builds his literary voice based on his relationship with those who live in the margins of the national identity. This article makes use mainly of sources from American history and from Antonio Candido’s statements on the place of writer in society.

Keywords:
American Literature; Immigration; American Dream; Identity