Real Americans

Real Americans begins with a description of Lily and Matthew’s burgeoning romance, and because their class differences impact their relationship so profoundly, Class and Belonging emerges early on as a key theme. The author is interested in interrogating the way that class position shapes identity and relationship choices, and her discussion of class differences is nuanced. Lily’s family is highly educated but lacks resources. She herself pursues an art history degree and values education, but the limited opportunities available for graduates in her field become a source of stress for Lily. In her unpaid internship, she fixates on money, constantly calculating the cost of the job’s “perks” (like the company Christmas party) and comparing them to what it would cost the firm to pay its interns. Lily does not necessarily see herself as working class, but it is obvious to her that she lacks privilege. When she meets Matthew, she is both uneasy with his affluence and drawn to it. This is evident in many scenes but particularly in the moment when Matthew gifts her a designer dress. She observes, “It was perfect, it was the sort of dress that I wished I knew how to buy for myself, let alone had money for.