The Humans

At the center of The Humans is the Blake family’s struggles to maintain their position in the middle class and achieve the “American dream.” The American dream is the idea that anybody who works hard enough can achieve financial and social success in the United States, regardless of whatever socioeconomic circumstances they were born into or whatever other barriers they may face. 

Criticisms of the American dream largely center on the way that the mythos ignores various disadvantages that can seriously hinder an individual’s chances of success regardless of their individual merit, such as discrimination due to race, gender, disability, etc., and how structural issues like intergenerational poverty make access to better opportunities much more difficult—or even impossible—compared to the resources and opportunities that those born into privilege and wealth automatically have. Several famous works of literature have questioned or criticized the American Dream, such as Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (1949) and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925). 

In The Humans, Karam offers his own critical view of the American dream by depicting a family struggling economically despite their years of effort. Erik constantly prides himself on his work ethic and encourages Brigid and Aimee to work harder to achieve their goals. Nevertheless, Erik’s own arc shows how easily an ordinary person can lose their financial stability: After he lost his job and pension because of an affair, he began working at Walmart, where he struggles to make enough to support Deirdre and Momo. Deirdre, despite hard work and decades of experience, is frequently undervalued at work and underpaid, even though others with little experience receive large paychecks because of their degrees. Aimee faces losing her job because of her health issues, while Brigid cannot break into her preferred career and works long hours in the service industry. 

Each of the Blakes represent the many struggles of the middle class and their declining place in the American class system: “Over the last several decades, their share of aggregate income has fallen. Additionally, middle-class salaries have failed to rise alongside the upper class, signifying lower stability for those hoping their middle-class status will provide them with an economic safety net” (Sumitran, Adithi. “A Decaying Dream: The Death of the American Middle Class.” Davis Political Review, 8 July 2024). The American middle class is shrinking, outpaced by the upper class. Salaries are not increasing with the cost of living, making it harder to pass on generational wealth or create a safety net. Erik’s care for Momo captures this struggle, as the rising cost of her care, contrasted with the inability of him and Deirdre to make enough money, drains their savings.