How do you fuel your ambitions when the world about you crumbles and the typical opportunities of life are lost to you? The Adventures of Augie March is set shortly before and during the Great Depression—a time when financial hardship hit everyone and even the very rich fell into ruin. Dreams were lost in a flash. This is the backdrop to much of Augie's story and the stories of those around him. We watch as they struggle to reclaim what was lost, build with what they can, and give up what stands in their way. At the end of the story, we wonder what the American Dream is really worth and whether it's really possible.
Questions About Ambition
- What is Augie unwilling to sacrifice in order to make it big?
- In the story, which ambitions are good and which are bad?
- How does Augie's desire for the easy life affect his ambition?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Simon is more ambitious than Augie.
Simon and Augie are equally ambitious, but Simon is more focused.