Ever since its conception, America stood as a beacon, inviting people from across the world to pursue the immortal concept of the American Dream—the belief that any person can achieve their goals. However, this dream is but a myth, and those it was once meant to inspire are often the ones left out in the cold.

Ayad’s immigrant parents come to America to escape the brutality and hardships of their native Pakistan. To them, America does seem like a beautiful utopia compared to their home country, but it doesn’t take long for Fatima to see the truth: America’s promise of success is nothing but an illusion. Sikander, however, sees nothing but opportunity. He sacrifices his identity as a Pakistani Muslim to assimilate into American culture, trying desperately to become like the successful American men he sees on television. It takes the corporate takeover of his medical practice to prove to him that the “dream” is dead—that he was only “playing a role” (333) for most of his life. If the “dream” is that the common man can make a life for himself in America, then such takeovers prove that America is nothing but a ruthless economy set to make the rich richer.