His independence lies in his ability to simultaneously express that alienation and identify with the collective American spirit. There are a variety of reasons Dylan and his music have had such a profound effect on Americans and America. However, this theme seems particularly meaningful in explaining his staying power. It is deeply engrained in the American mind, and well-established in American culture, but it is difficult to articulate and the average person struggles with some form throughout their lives. What we love about Bob Dylan is that he articulates this struggle for us and, at the same time, he participates in it with us.
American culture is built on the fundamental belief that everyone has worth as an individual.
Any sense of collective consciousness that America has is largely based on this belief. The idea of celebrating self-reliance that pervades American culture and defines the American Dream, actually becomes an American collective consciousness. This collective consciousness is the saving grace of people caught in the paradox of lonesome success. Like Bob Dylan in the epigraph, the independent American can find some collective identity within American culture. Nevertheless, this cultural consolation is hardly enough to relieve people's inherent need for community and companionship.