The American Nightmare The X-Files Season 2 Episode 4: “Home,” written and directed by Kim Manners and James Wong, highlights that the American dream is a stereotype that is not for everyone. According to Merriam-Webster, the “American Dream” is a happy lifestyle that many Americans think of as something that can be achieved primarily by working hard and being successful. This definition was accompanied by an example sentence that stated, “With a good job, a nice house, two children, and lots of money, they believed they were living the American dream.” A stereotype. The American dream is a very influential stereotype that the Peacocks have broken in almost every way possible. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The stereotypical family living the American dream is a mother and father with two children and a dog; everyone is happy and happy. Both parents have a college degree. Despite her education, her mother is a housewife who takes care of the family by doing all the household chores. His favorite mode of transportation is a minivan. The father is responsible for hard labor and, keeping the family financially stable, drives his fairly modern car to get to work from nine to five. both children attend school, are on the honor roll, and have extracurricular activities like dance and soccer practice to go to after school. They live happily in a quaint, two-story brick house, it has a beautiful wrap-around porch, with rocking chairs, the lawn is impeccably manicured and enclosed by a white picket fence. Dinner is on the dining room table every evening around 6pm, where everyone enjoys the meal together and reflects on what a great day it was. The lights go out at 8:30. The Peacock family, however, demonstrates the exact opposite of the American Dream stereotype. It consisted of 3 men, George Raymond Peacock about 23 years old, Sherman Nathaniel Peacock about 26 years old, and Edmond Crampon Peacock about 42 years old. They were left alone when their parents supposedly died in a car accident. However, later in the show it is revealed that the mother is still alive. She was rescued and cared for by her three children. The father, however, did not survive the car accident. They remained confined to their farm where they largely depended on their own resources such as water, heat and electricity. The house said to have been built during the Civil War was dilapidated, rickety and full of dusty rubbish. There wasn't a lawn, it was mostly dirt where they raised pigs and kept old beat-up cars. For transportation they drove an old Cadillac convertible. Instead of the mother taking care of the family, it was the other way around. The children were responsible for caring for their mother. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay While the stereotype of the American Dream is ideal, I believe the Peacocks have managed to relate to the vision in their own way. For me the American dream is striving for success. Their vision of success was to continue Peacock's legacy. Their concept of the American Dream was to do anything, literally ANYTHING for their family. They would kill, care and run for their family. From the most gruesome acts of inbreeding to doing the most honorable things to dying for each other. This family proves that everyone's American dream isn't perfect with a white picket fence,