Optimism, Growth, and Fulfillment Theme Analysis

Becoming follows the life of United States First Lady Michelle Obama. The memoir recounts Michelle’s childhood on the South Side of Chicago, her time at Princeton and Harvard Law School, her career as a lawyer, and her marriage to Barack Obama, who eventually becomes the forty-fourth President of the United States. As she examines each phase of her life, Michelle highlights the importance of fulfillment, as well as the optimism required to achieve that fulfillment. Several times over the course of the book, Michelle moves beyond a safe path in order to find one that is more rewarding and will allow her to grow. This hope and faith in a better future is characteristic not only of Michelle’s journey, but also of her and Barack’s vision for the country. Over the course of the book, Michelle’s primary argument is that it is imperative to maintain optimism in order to strive for personal growth and, eventually, fulfillment.

Michelle describes how even at an early age, she found value in wanting to grow and get better in all aspects of her life. The first memory that Michelle recounts is of taking piano lessons from her great-aunt Robbie, who lived in the apartment downstairs from her family. Michelle would often hear other piano students practicing and writes that she spent much of her childhood listening to “the sound of striving.” The word “striving” itself suggests both hard work and a hope that one will get better in the future—that is, an optimism that effort will lead to growth. Michelle demonstrates this same optimism as she practices, and she carries the persistent belief that she can improve to kindergarten. One day, her kindergarten teacher instructs each student to stand and read cards with colors on them. She trips up on the word “white” and is asked to sit back down. She realizes instantly what the word was, and the next day demands to try again, optimistic that she can get it right this time. Michelle maintains this optimism through the rest of her time in school, rising to the top of her class so that she can continue to find fulfillment beyond high school. Michelle decides to follow in her older brother Craig’s footsteps and apply to Princeton. But when a guidance counselor tells her that she doesn’t think that she’s “Princeton material,” Michelle refuses to let this shake her confidence. She continues to work hard and seeks support from a trusted individual to write her a recommendation letter. Michelle is able to prove the guidance counselor wrong and eventually attend Princeton, emphasizing that optimism is essential for growth.

Michelle continues to succeed, going on to Harvard Law School after Princeton. But later on, she realizes that she isn’t happy at her law firm job. When Michelle realizes that she is uncertain about her professional path at the law firm, she decides to leave, telling her mother explicitly, “I’m just not fulfilled.” Even though she takes a major pay cut, she does so in order to find something she really feels passionate about and will allow her to grow as a person. Michelle then finds fulfillment in a job at City Hall, where she works on “elaborate and unending” government issues. She notes that the job is “broad and people oriented enough to be energizing and almost always interesting.” Thus, by maintaining optimism that another job will be a better fit for her, Michelle is able to find something more fulfilling than her previous position at the law firm. Michelle then gets another job at a non-profit called Public Allies, which aims to “build a new generation of community leaders.” Essentially, the work involves investing in young people today in the hopes that they will work to better the future society—a job steeped in the idea of optimism and growth. With these two jobs, Michelle begins to realize that in order to find fulfillment, she needs to focus on growth even when doing so might be daunting.

Michelle’s message of striving is echoed in Barack’s message for the country. His political career demonstrates that optimism can help a nation grow in the same way that a person like Michelle can grow as an individual. Michelle constantly references Barack’s optimism, showing how negativity doesn’t faze him because he truly believes in his ability to better the world. Early in their relationship, she watches as he leads a training session as a community organizer. “Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?” he asks. This constant belief in “the world as it should be” becomes a pillar of his entire political career. When Barack works his way up the political ladder to delivering a speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, he calls for “hope over cynicism.” His words are so inspiring that pundits and citizens alike immediately start believing that he will be the first black president of the United States, despite the fact that he has not been in the national spotlight prior to this moment. When Barack does run for president, his campaign tagline is literally “Hope,” proving his firm optimism and his belief in a better world. The American people elect him overwhelmingly, inspired by this optimism and the idea that the country might actually become better. Michelle thus demonstrates how optimism is a powerful force, one that can lead both individuals and entire societies to grow toward greater fulfillment.

Even the title of Michelle’s book, “Becoming,” implies the importance of optimism and growth. Becoming suggests that Michelle believes that people never stop growing; that she is always searching for greater fulfillment; and that she is optimistic in embracing each new phase of life and to finding her purpose within it. Through her own example, she suggests that the country, and the reader, should do the same.