Commentaire d'anglais sur "The Big Money" de John Dos Passos

Text Commentary

In the third chapter of The Big Money (1937) called « Adagio dancer » written by John Dos Passos, we are introduced to the biography of Rudolph Guglielmi more commonly known as Rudolph Valentino. Besides, The Big Money is the third book in the USA trilogy , it illustrated the materialism success which it runs rampant in the the United States during 1930’s through the story of famous personality. Furthermore, John Dos Passos presents the social rise of a young italian immigrant who moved to the United States in search of the American dream, and then describes the glittering life of the Hollywood star until his death in New York. Otherwise, the novel is part of a narrative dimension of the story of Rudolph Valentino, emphasising many details of his life, thus shaping the design process of the "camera eye" made by John Dos Passos for allow an innovate narrative point of view in the description of the facts for the reader through the inner monologue.

But to what extent does the author highlight the American dream by using the portrait of Rudolph Valentino ? Is he being objective or is he using this character to denounce American society.What does on the chapter « Adagio Dancer » tell us about this America of the 1930’s and it’s frenzy? How the myth culture dedicated Rudolph Valentino is denounced through the unfolding of his funeral ?

In attempt to respond to these questions, my analysis will fall into three main parts.I will start by dealing with how Rudolph Valentino embodies American prophecy, and then we may wonder whether if does American society look decaying or seem wonderful. Thirdly, I will argue the embodiment of the Rudolph Valentino myth and its consequences.

American prophecy

Culture of American dream

The beginning of the chapter highlights the portrait of a poor immigrant with determined ambitions. R. Valentino, whose real name was Rudolfo Guglielmi, left Italy for the United States in fulfilment of his American dream, as is illustrated by « he wanted to make good in the brightlights" (8). This American dream project appears as a way out in the world of the 1930's where one can become what one wishes.

In addition ,there are many references to the development of the character through himself, and that the United States is a providential land but that the development of a career appears complicated  as described « to sink or swim » (4) , and there is a desire through this story to exaggerate the representation of the American dream, notably with the aspects of loneliness " the family was through with him" (5). Thus, these aspects are detailed by the narrator to reveal the other side of the American dream.

Moreover, the celebrity that accompanies him also embodies the fulfilment of his American dream of a new life, as can be seen in his change of name "took the name of Rudolph Valentino »(15). There is a parallel for the author to show us that he is an immigrant from the "old continent", who travelled in search of renewal to discover the « new continent ».

A social climb

Firstly , Rudolph Valentino’s desire to be known is described in the texts by the passages "he wanted to make good »(6,46,) which shows the obessesion of the character to be known. In addition, the main proposals follow one another, and logical links are absent.There is the emergence of a ternary rhythm (10-13) that symbolizes the rapidity of the launch of his career.

Secondly, as regards Rudolph Valentino's phase of celebrity, it appears that there is an exaggeration of his fortune to illustrate my point « Valentino spend his life… in stucco villas » (24). We observe that the narrator wishes to present to us the contrast of the character between a arriving in America with no money "money burned his pockets" (9), and his current state of financial well-being (22-26).

Beginning of the fame

To begin with Rudolph Valentino’s personification from the beginning of his career is illustrated by his ability to charm crowds, especially women. This ability is exaggerated by the author to accentuate the myth of the character for example as it is described “they stuck out their autographbooks, yanked his buttons off”(32).

In addition, The emergence of his fame also highlights the immersion in the life of this character of the press and American society. From its beginnings, it appears that Rudolph Valentino is a public figure whose story belongs to all as seen with his stories of trial, and marriage (42-45), where still the nickname attributed to him by the Chicago Tribune « pink powderpuff »46.

At first we discussed how Rudolph Valentino conquered America through his personality, then we will see the consequences of this craze around his person

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