Man In Hole

After discussing how the "Redemptive Arc" model applies to the typical American Story in class the other day one example immediately stuck out to me as significant. Like the model suggests, the typical American Story consists of a life starting with good fortune, followed by conflict resulting in ill fortune, and then the conflict is resolved causing even better fortune then initially started with. I feel that the story of Chris Gardner as told through the movie The Pursuit of Happiness fits this typical American Story perfectly. A man who just made an investment in selling bone density scanners turns out to be a bust culminating to a loss off his wife and all his money. Chris Gardner, with a bit of luck and natural intelligence, manages to get a job as a stockbroker and create more opportunities for him and his son than ever before. This particular story is a classic example of the Redemptive Arc, as titled by Kurt Vonnegut as, "Man in Hole". 

I think one of the reasons I felt so attached to this story is because most Americans truly admire someone who lost it all, and managed to find a way to get it all back, and more. That in my opinion is one version of the American Dream that sticks out as especially inspiring. After watching the movie you get a strong sense of connectedness between Chris and his son making his journey all the more important and emotional. Obviously the most significant detail of this story is that it has a happy ending, because without success the Redemptive Arc is incomplete and his story, although touching, is not considered the American Dream.