No Golden Land
Being fooled by their own imagination, immigrants expect to see not a real country with its own problems and fair share of social injustice, but the Golden Land , where everything is possible for a willing heart . As it turns out to be, they exchange “ the stench and throb of the steerage” for “ the stench and the throb of New York ”. The irony of it is a fact that back in the beginning of 20 th century, the difference between the Old and New Worlds is almost nonexistent.
The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty looks spectacular. Those, who are lucky to see it for the very first time, are always impressed. However, Albert and many other immigrants are not that much amazed, for they pay “ only the scantest attention ” to it. They start seeing just a usual statue instead of the Statue of Liberty, because they have already understood that that country had no more liberty, than any other. The bitter irony of it is that people hope d to get freedom and h appiness, but got only the Statue, which remind ed them of their hopes.
Deceptive Images
As soon as Genya steps on the shore of the United States, she sees that this country and the one that her husband used to write her about are absolutely different. She sees people, who are in constant hurry, grim faces and absence of bright colors. She doesn’t want to upset her husband, who clearly suffers here as much as he did in Europe, so she says “ and this is the Golden Land ”. The irony of her words mocks, although not intentionally, all those excited exclamations, elated speeches, and articles which depict America as the dreamland, where everything is possible and everyone can reach success.
