This story's title come from the passage, "They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God" (God 151). Dreams are an important part of this book, and they represent the ideas, values, goals, and topics that are essentially American. The author shows that men and women often have different dreams and different goals, and that is why many relationships do not work. She believes that women's dreams symbolize truth, and men's dreams symbolize hope and often resignation. The author is saying that the American dream may come true right away, but often the dreams amount to nothing. She writes,
             "Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men. Now, women forget all those things they don't want to remember, and remember everything they don't want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly" (God 1).
             Ultimately, her theme and goal is to show that the American dream is the "truth" of the American spirit, and that dreaming of happiness and success is what keeps many Americans going every day. This is a very American theme, because it has happened repeatedly in America. People with nothing come here, become successful, and begin new lives, just as Janie earns her freedom and happiness by the end of the novel. She has lived a hard life, and that is essential in the American dream, too. Finding a dream is never easy, and Jamie's life shows that. However, she has persevered, and outlived two men who were not the ideal man, and she has learned about herself in the process. That is also a very American goal in finding happiness and fulfillment. Learning about yourself in the process is important and can make the success even more fulfilling.
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