In the novel Behold the Dreamers, by Imbolo Mbue, the use of third person point of view enhances Mbue’s purpose of demonstrating the meaning of the American Dream. By this perspective, readers can see the whole situation and have a better idea of what is happening, on the outside looking in. Throughout the novel, the Jonga’s can be seen as “dreamers”-- people illegally in the United States for the purpose of leading better lives-- third person point of view validates the idea of a “dreamer”; through third person, the Jonga’s seem very positive and see the United States as a place for many opportunities and a place to become successful(in a way, they are very innocent).
In the novel, Jende is very content and proud of where he came from, but if his “town is so beautiful” then “why did [he] come to America”?(39) Jende idealizes that “America is America… Everyone wants to come to America”(39) because people in countries all over the world create an idea of the perfect life in America living the American Dream. The use of a third person from the outside looking at the conversation paints Jende out as a positive person with positive dreams in hopes of success and a better life than the one he had in Cameroon.
In chapter 2, Neni describes her life upgrade and explains how happy she is, she is “never worrying about tuition because she knew Jende would always pay the three-thousand-dollars-a-semester fee”(14) and he would not even “grumble”(14) about it; this was all for hopes of her one day becoming a “pharmacist”(14). As this higher power describes her emotions, it alludes to her happiness and reasons for coming to America; she came to America in order to pursue a better life and occupation because, according to dictionary.com , the American dream is the “ideals of opportunity and personal happiness”.