In this article, Patrick Deneen introduces the concept of the natural American Dream. Jefferson and de Toqueville expressed that the American pursuit of happiness was a desire to infinitely improve oneself and to find something new. George Bailey obviously has this longing within him, as his adventurous self wants nothing more than to leave Bedford Falls. Deneen contends that this desire reflects George’s actual dark side, the side that wishes to destroy Bedford Falls’ communal atmosphere. While this is not his intended action, it is a byproduct of his actions. Bedford Falls is the portrayal of the idyllic small town where everyone knows your name. George’s dream is to escape this small town for the exotic where he is a complete stranger. When he cannot leave Bedford Falls to build big skyscrapers or bridges, he instead builds Bailey Park, a lower income residence community. Inadvertently, Deneen articulates, this is not a community at all. Unlike Bedford Falls, these homes do not have front porches; instead they have back patios. Deneen stresses that the front porch is the true embodiment of community living, where one can be in one’s home while still interacting with the community around. Life in Bailey Park is led in private, absent of human interaction. When George visits his unborn life and returns to see Bailey Park, he finds it is an old cemetery. Ironically, in building these isolated suburban residences, he built over a cemetery linking the community with Bedford Falls’ founders. While his actions were charitable and community-driven, he had unintentionally helped to destroy the communal basis of Bedford Falls.
    Deneen’s article is noteworthy because while it commends George’s charitable actions, it notes their negative consequences as well. In creating the affordable homes for all, he has inadvertently led to the destruction of community within Bedford Falls. Deneen ends his article with a thoughtful question. He wonders if the people who live in Bailey Park be willing to help future neighbors and friends in the way they were willing to help George. Since he has created a new isolated community of Bailey Park, one must wonder if his charitable message will be able to go beyond his own personal life. While the community is there for George at the end of the film, the key question is whether the Bailey Park residents will still treat each other like neighbors in the way George treated them. This article emphasizes that George’s relationships made his life wonderful, but is skeptical that the future generations will be able to form such strong relationships.

Deneen,PJ . "Awakening from the American Dream: The End of Escape in American Cinema?" Perspectives on political science [1045-7097] 31.2 (2002). 96-.

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