In Letter III, De Crèvecœr discusses what it means to be an American. He discusses how the people who came before shape and determine the idea of the American. For De Crèvecœr the American identity is earned not solely through birth or heritage but by accepting the land and the way of life it offers, '...from the new mode of life he has embraced.' This idea of American identity being adopted by leaving your old life and moving to a new and better one is still evident today. A modern representation of this is Sam Mendes' 2009 film Away We Go. The film follows a young couple who are expecting a baby, as they travel across the states to find a new place to start their life. The film's narrative mirrors De Crèvecœr's ideal that where you come from doesn't define you, in America the land is yours. De Crèvecœr's idea of following the footsteps of others is evident in Away We Go, as the young couple seek out old friends to learn from them and discover if they too can settle in these places. By studying Away We Go as a modern understanding of Crèvecœr's ideals, it is evident that a sense of conquer and own still permeates American culture. In order to prosper and thrive one needs only choose a place on the map to make your home.
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