For Every One

The narrative serves as a conduit for Reynolds’s thoughts and feelings. Reynolds emphasizes his lack of “expertise,” avoiding any semblance of having “made it.” In this way, he aims to establish a sense of equality with readers. This reflects Reynolds’s broader approach: He positions himself as a companion or an older sibling to the reader, rather than as an authoritative figure.

In Chapter 1, Reynolds aims to establish an intimate and honest connection with the reader by candidly expressing his personal journey and struggle with realizing his dreams. His letter disclaims mastery. He humbly admits that he hasn’t “GONE THROUGH IT ALL” (10), humanizing himself.

Reynolds addresses the reader directly, calling them a “dreamer,” a term he uses throughout the novel. His writing style emphasizes intimacy; he invites the reader into his thought process instead of merely presenting his ideas. Reynolds expresses his motives for writing, citing “love” and “honesty” as the driving forces behind his letter’s creation. The narrative suggests that these are two qualities that Reynolds values, and which he emphasizes over material wealth.

The letter reflects Reynolds’s interiority. Phrases like “FROM THE INSIDE” signify a personal and vulnerable viewpoint (12). Reynolds presents himself as a man entrenched in the battles of life, standing on “the front line / and the fault line” of uncertainty (13). He delineates his emotional turmoil, the struggle of managing mistakes while nurturing hope for a brighter future. He likens his efforts to “tilling” soil, planting seeds of hope and anticipating “a harvest” of success. This is a common technique that Reynolds uses. He often compares his own experience with other things via simile or metaphor.

Reynolds openly denies having the know-how for what lies ahead. He reflects on his life at the ages of 16, 18, and 25. This suggests that his target audience likely consists of teenagers and young adults who are grappling with personal growth and ambitions. While Reynolds seems to cater to a specific age group, his concept of “dreamers” encompasses a broader spectrum. In Chapter 1, he suggests that many individuals share the same aspirations. This idea resurfaces in Chapter 3; he describes his mother’s pursuit of her dreams later in life, reinforcing the idea that his vision of dreamers includes a wide spectrum of ages.

Reynolds marks a transition from youthful optimism to a more pragmatic acknowledgment of his reality. He juxtaposes his expectations of success by certain ages with the harsh reality of having to move back in with his mother, creating a stark contrast between aspiration and actuality. Reynolds’s tone is self-reflective and conveys the sentiment of being stuck in a state of uncertainty with “no answers” or achievements.

Reynolds delves deeper into The Pursuit of Dreams and the uncertainties surrounding their achievement. He underscores the inherent unpredictability in realizing one’s aspirations; dreams may be as “far away as forever” or “as close as lunchtime” (18). He emphasizes that their attainment is elusive and not easily defined by fixed parameters or timelines. He highlights the multitude of factors at play, such as skill, will, luck, money, race, and appearance, underscoring the complexity of the journey toward success. He suggests that some elements may be in a person’s control, while others are external. In a conversational style, he examines the universal struggle of pursuing dreams amid life’s uncertainties.

In Chapter 1, Reynolds offers a scathing critique of self-help books that promise easy formulas for achieving dreams. He describes these books as a “fantastic formula / for dummies” (21), ridiculing their simplistic and unrealistic approach to navigating life’s complexities. He feels these books have inadequate approaches when it comes to addressing real-life challenges, and draws attention to their inability to alleviate the hardships he encountered when pursuing his dreams. He uses imagery to convey this: These books were unable to “bandage” his “fattened flat feet” (23). This illustrates their failure to provide comfort or relief.

Reynolds unpacks the fallacy surrounding the myth of the road “less traveled” (27), which references Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken.” Reynolds argues that the less-trodden road has been traversed by more individuals than commonly believed, and dismantles the romanticized notion of a solitary journey toward fulfilling dreams. Instead, he portrays a collective experience among dreamers, emphasizing a shared sense of frustration: “WE ALL GOT ROAD RAGE” (28). The phrase “road rage” symbolizes the internal conflict experienced while chasing dreams. Reynolds depicts weariness and hidden struggles among dreamers, illustrating their attempts to hide frustrations behind fake smiles.

The chapter concludes with Reynolds reflecting on the ambiguous notion of “making it” (34). He highlights his evolving understanding of success. He declares that the letter is not about achieving success because he doesn’t possess such knowledge, conveying humility. He acknowledges the multifaceted and uncertain nature of achieving dreams, and refrains from offering a prescriptive or definitive guide to success. Instead, he emphasizes the journey’s intricacies and the absence of a clear-cut path. This reinforces the idea that success is a subjective and evolving concept. Reynolds invites readers to grapple with their own uncertainties and complexities.