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The American Dream In Langston Hughes Let America Be America Again

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Every American strives for greatness because of the opportunity this country provides. Individuals chase love, wealth, and happiness, known as the American Dream, but find themselves running on an endless track to nowhere. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby, sheds light on the impracticality of the dream. A dream that looks more like a nightmare. Nevertheless, many individuals pursue the dream realizing too late the fabricated reality that one cannot achieve love, wealth, and happiness. In all the fairy tales ever written, the main chapters, be it a prince or princess, fall in love and the story ends happily ever after. Just as a fairy tale, the American Dream is just a concept bound by imagination. Love comprises an essential …show more content…

America was built on an economic system known as capitalism where the free market is in control and promotes individual to go out and strike it rich. The poor desire to be rich and the rich desire to be richer and with capitalism, it is possible but not likely. Langston Hughes published a poem in the Esquire Magazine about the pursuit of wealth. In his poem “Let America be America Again,” he refers to Americans as farmers, workers, and servants who are hungry for wealth (Source C). At the time this poem was written, in 1935, America was going through a depression and many were in severe poverty. However, despite this obstacle, many still had hope for a better future. Hope is perfectly okay to have but when aspirations get too high individuals are bound for disappointment. When Gatsby was little, he dreaded the fact that his parents were poor farmers. He dreamed of a better life and wealth was the only way to achieve it. On page 173 of The Great Gatsby, Nick and Gatsby’s father open a journal written by Gatsby and finds his schedule and a list of ways to better himself. (Source A) From the writings, Gatsby’s father concluded that his son was destined for greatness. Gatsby did achieve wealth but was still unsatisfied for did not have love or happiness. This introduces an interesting paradox where wealth is never enough for an individual to be satisfied. Even if someone has money, love, and happiness, they will still desire more. As individuals achieve some aspects of the American dream they still don 't feel satisfied with the results. Wealth and love are smaller parts of the American Dream but happiness is the most important

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