Analysis

In Arthur Brooks' article "How Loneliness is Tearing America Apart" published in The New York Times on November 23r, he addresses two kinds of problems of one origin of the American society. He refers to the increasing number of lonely individuals and difficulties in finding stable relationships caused by unstable living environments and an unsteady way of life.

• as a consequence of the rise of loneliness ...
• leads to self-disruption of the society on the one hand
• the growing importance of fake communities that gain power through spreading polarized contempt (about supposedly hostile groups) on the other hand
• the fake groups provide individuals with a sense of belonging
• the difficulties in finding real and solid communities where a sense of belonging is provided, can be attributed to unstable work as well as hostile living environments

• the article's concluding sentence, “Each of us can be happier, [...] neighbors and generous friends we wish we had.” (l. 65 - 67), Brooks offers advice on how to break out of the vicious cycle of loneliness
• author represents the point of view that it's everyone's own responsibility to defeat and overcome their loneliness
• genuine togetherness can only be achieved by treating others the way one would like to be treated
• with the phrase "...America will start to heal,..." (l. 66) Brooks implies effects that will not be limited to the individual level but will also initiate a change in society
• American society suffers from political, ethnic, and social divisions that can only be overcome if everyone assumes a social responsibility toward the people around them.

• Gran Torino, a film by Clint Eastwood, portrays an American society dominated by distrust and suspicion, which Brooks also analyzes in his article
• a neighborhood in a Detroit suburb inhabited primarily by Hmong immigrants serves as the setting for the division that aggrieves America's society
• Hmong society is characterized by gang violence as well as intergenerational conflicts

• Walt lives in this neighborhood of Hmong immigrants, for whom he feels nothing but contempt
• he chooses a life of loneliness after his wife's death and alienates himself from society
• his choice is due to his hatred for his family as well as memories and repressed guilt from wartime hides behind a protective shield of violence and aggression

• Thao suffers from a lack of self-confidence and insecurity as well as struggles in finding a sense of belonging
• the desperate need to find his place in this world almost urges him into a gang
• thus, he embodies a perfect example of the negative influences of a disrupted society

• Walt's transformation from an aggressive man to a helpful and hospitable neighbor illustrates Brook's idea of how to overcome societal disruption
• initially, Walt's development starts when Thao works for him as an atonement for attempted car theft
• due to the acceptance of Thao working for him, Walt starts opening up to his neighbors as well as learns to value their hospitality
• on Walt's behalf, Thao repairs not only items on his property but, in addition, things in the neighborhood
• moreover, Walt defends Sue, Thao's sister, against three African-American teenagers and protects his family according to the attempts of a teenage gang trying to recrudesce Thao
• according to Walt's change, both the people around him and he personally benefits from finding peace and letting the past settle

• Walt becoming a father figure for Thao is of great relevance for his development
• he mentors and teaches Thao not only craftsmanship but also how to behave, which leads to him finding a job in construction
• Thao grows in self-confidence, according to Walt's belief in him
• Thao inherited Walt's Gran Torino, which symbolizes the American way of life with promises of wealth as well as manliness
• thus, Thao, after all, finds fulfillment in the American dream

• even though Walt's support in his neighborhood leads to an escalation of violence at first (e.g. Sue's rape and Thao's threat of being killed by the spiders' gang)
• finally, Walt is able to protect the teenagers from further violence by sacrificing himself
• According to Walt, the members of the gang get arrested, a more peaceful neighborhood is established and the harmed families are allowed to heal
• the unusual friendship makes a great impact on the change for the better in the whole neighborhood on a societal level (e.g. several houses were being renovated)
• more importantly, however, is the fact that the dominance of gang violence is defeated

• ultimately, Walt's taking on social responsibility by overcoming his contempt towards his neighbors and thus turning them into friends leads to an improvement on both an individual and a social level ("...when we become the kind neighbors and generous friends we wish we had") (l. 67)
• he persuades personal fulfilment as well as defeats his loneliness ("Each of us can be happier...") (l. 65)
• Walt's change of behavior made America a better and happier place ("... and America will start to heal...") (l. 66)
• taking on social responsibility the way Walt does, by changing his behavior, is what Brooks implies with his quote "Each of us can be happier, and America will start to heal, when we become the kind neighbors and generous friends we wish we had." (l. 65 - 67)
• not only personal happiness can thus be persuaded, but more importantly, a change on a societal level can be initiated