The song is about the struggles of working hard in the American Dream.The insecurity of the wealth gap and how the American Dream is seen as an unattainable goal that can’t be achieved.

• How is it related to the American Dream? (add textual evidence)

The song relates to the American Dream negatively, the song explains the lengths people go to fulfill the American Dream, while loosing themselves in the process. The song states, “It seem we livin' the American Dream. But the people highest up got the lowest self-esteem” The negative portrayal of the American dreams states how it can be obtainable, but at the cost of your self worth.

• Is it a positive or negative vision of the American dream? Why? (add textual evidence)

The song is a negative vision of The American Dream, the song portrays the struggle of consumerism and being self conscious about one's appearance. The lyrics state, "Man, I promise, I'm so self-conscious. That's why you always see me with at least one of my watches"It portrays the struggles of trying to work to get out of the rat race, but falling victim to consumerism.

West side story is set in the late 1950s Manhattan. The story is about two characters named Maria and Tony, a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The story focuses on the separation between Puerto Rican and white communities.

In the scene of the musical, the song is a conversation between the boy sharks and the girl sharks (Puerto Rican group). The girl sharks talk about how they love being in America and the boy sharks talk about how Puerto is better than America.

• How is it related to the American Dream? (add textual evidence) 

The Background context to this song is Maria's best friend Antia. Talking about how she loves America in comparison to Puerto Rico. The opening lines "Always the hurricanes blowing. Always the population growing and the money owing"

Anita describes how she doesn't want to move back to Puerto Rico due to the amount of hurricanes on the island, the population boom despite the small island, and the debts she has. She accepts the American Dream for a new life in New York.

• Is it a positive or negative vision of the American dream? Why? (add textual evidence) 

This song is contrasting. It is a mixture of support and refute because the boys hate America and the girls love it there. The girl sharks think that there are more opportunities in America and the boy sharks think that their homeland is fine just the way it is.

"Here you are free and you have pride

Long as you stay on your own side

Free to do anything you choose

Free to wait tables and shine shoes

Everywhere grime in America

Organized crime in America

Terrible time in America

You forget I'm in America"