Why Americans Are Often So Restless Int. Q's

Q: Why does a society devoted to equal opportunity weaken each individual?

A: According to Tocqueville, Americans strive for equality every day. "This constant strife between the desires inspired by equality and the means it supplies to satisfy them harasses and wearies the mind," said Tocqueville (167). Everyone works for something they want, but one can't be the only one that wants that prize. There are others around that want that same prize or pleasure, so competition takes place. Competition takes place everyday, everywhere, and to every person. Constantly having to compete and be aggressive towards the pleasure one wants and reaching one's goal, is utterly exhausting. "But men will never establish an equality which will content them," said Tocqueville (167). There is no room for men to be happy once they've reached that prize/goal/pleasure, because they're just going to have to right back and compete for something else. He said (166), "Men are often less afraid of death than of enduring effort toward one goal." Being more afraid of going through effort to reach a goal than death, puts stress on one's self. Temper, violence, and exhaustion can be results. "The same equality which allows a man to entertain vast hopes makes each man by himself weak. His power is limited on every side, though his longings may wander where they will," Tocqueville displayed (166). America will never be complete equality. "...they will never get the sort of equality they long for," said Tocqueville (167).

Q: Does Tocqueville think Americans are restless because they don't know what they want or because what they want is not attainable?

A: Tocqueville thinks Americans are restless because what they want is not attainable. "...the latter never stop thinking of the good things they have not got," displayed Tocqueville (164). Americans are so educated to know they could have more and there is more out there, that they never stop to relish what good things they have in the present day. "...the freest and best educated of men in circumstances the happiest to be found in the world..., and they seemed serious and almost sad even in their pleasures," said Tocqueville (164). Americans are always in a rush, and they feel they don't have a long enough life span to sit and absorb all the good things they obtain. "Apart from the goods he has, he thinks of a thousand others which death will prevent him from tasting if he does not hurry," Tocqueville wrote (166). When can one have time to rejoice over his possessions, if right after one has to work for the next prized possession before death? Tocqueville said (165), "They clutch everything but hold nothing fast, and so lose grip as they hurry after some new delight." Americans want more and better. "An American will build a house in which to pass his old age and sell it before the roof is on; he will plant a garden and rent i just as the trees are coming into bearing; he will clear a field and leave other to reap the harvest...," Tocqueville said (165). The average American can't even fulfill happiness over the hard work he/she performs because he/she is focused on the next object they have to hurdle over in order to get something unattainable.

Comparison: Empowered Peasants vs. Previous Ruling Class

I feel that the empowered peasants don't behave too much differently than the pervious ruling class. They are a lot less strict and cruel though. The peasants don't randomly beat citizens on the road or put the death penalty on people who don't bow to the higher class. They instead, arrest any emigrants and trial them much time later. But most, don't come out of the trial or prison alive.

But, the empowered peasants listen to the appeals that the "criminals" or anyone has to say.For instance, when Darnay was in court and the jury was determining weather to free him or send him back to jail. (Page 292-293) Darnay was honest with the court room and appealed to having himself put back in prison, the judge listened and the jury decided. The empowered peasants are opened to listening unlike the Marquis was. They care about their people and what they have to say, even if they are a little strict. Before, when the peasants would appeal, they would be beat, tortured, or just plain killed because of how the previous ruling class system worked.

I think that empowered peasants have good intentions, but are just trying to be strict so the country doesn't get a monarchy or cruel ruling like before.