Paradox and dream
Americans have developed the idea of an American Dream over decades of time, we have came to believe and trust in these ideas throughout the years. From generation to generation the American Dream has been built on, changed but still carries some of the past along with it. Our beliefs help us pursue the American Dream in that they give Americans the idea of never settling for less, to fancy ourselves as stubborn realist, and that we have inherited self-sufficiency.
According to John Steinbeck, Americans are never satisfied, always searching for the next come up and wanting more. They are always going over the top and doing everything to the extreme. As a nation we eat too much, we spend over our means, and reference the
…show more content…
They boast their monetary contributions to organizations but will never admit verbally it was only for the tax break. They also see homelessness as less than and walk around them avoiding the reality of need altogether, helping them stay in this predisposed dream and not waking up to the actual issue of necessary contributing.
If asked in America what is the American dream, it represents something different to everyone but none the less is absolutely real and definite to then. Americans fight for this dream but not realizing that when they get it they are still not happy. Very proud and boastfully airing their accomplishments but deep inside or behind closed doors they want it all to end. Having all these things in life; great house,driving the newest car, and living with the best appliances does not equate to every American's dream. We all have different ideas that we develop or have been forced to believe that this is the way to having our dreams. We learn to adjust and manipulate it to fit our unique lifestyle. Only who is measuring the standards Americans live by and setting these unrealistic measurements for people's success.The thing is that no one can actually define what it is, or point to it and say this person is living in it. It is not even an actual real thing but so many americans live and breathe to this very real dream. After all if we did not have these dreams, people would not have something to guide
That is how big it is. The American Dream was pursued by European citizen Arnold Schwarzenegger, who can be mentioned as a classy example. The American Dream is all about trying to make it big, even though you may not have all the
The American dream is a term used in a lot of ways. Although research has shown that American dream can’t be attainable by most people, closer examination shows that it can be attainable by the following reasons. As Daniel J. Mitchell stated in New York Times im January 1st, 2015 “The United States is not a perfect country, but the American Dream is still a reality.” By that he meant that even with America’s Grow rate, poverty, unemployment rate in the past years and still going Americans can still chase their American dreams If we look at the history and the definition it shows that infact it is possible to attain it.
They have to sacrifice everything - their homes, their families in their home region, and their lives. And what do they get in return? The return is quite poor - hard work, a hard life, and a societal resentment; yet somehow these people still show optimism in their lives while travelling to America, and while in America. Why? Why do these people give up everything for the American Dream if it’s such a falsified one?
Only a small group of people have the skills it takes to solve the puzzle that is the American Dream. This belief can be seen
For every individual, it is instinctive to want the American dream and to want to provide a good life for his/her family. Source 2 states the foundation of the American dream: “A land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” As shown, the American dream is the pressing drive for peoples’ desire to move into gentrified areas. Reduced crime, refurbished houses, and good schools are appealing to anyone. Although, it is unfortunate that wealthier families have a negative reputation of being arrogant, greedy, and callous just because of their more ostentatious lifestyle.
Jennifer L. Hochschild describes the American dream as “the soul of the nation.” She clearly illustrates the importance of the dream to American culture. So, what is the American dream according to Hochschild? She was referring to John Locke and his fantasy, then said “But the sentence evokes the unsullied newness, infinite possibility, limitless resources that are commonly understood to be the essences of the “American dream.” She also pointed out the flaws in the American dream and how at times the pursuit of it can lead to counterproductive outcomes not just for the individual but society as a whole.
The American dream at one point was what drew people to American; the right to life, liberty, and the happiness. The American dream is the hope to acquire currency, large homes, raise a middle-class family, and pursue what brings people joy in life. But in the year 2016, the American dream becomes hard to believe in. The American dream may still exist, but it is not equally accessible to all Americans. This is true because the American dream is not affordable for everyone, it is not available to everyone from different degrees of education, and race and ethnicity creates large social barriers.
The American dream is an illusion that is deeply implanted in the minds of the people, it sets a bar for life achievement and offers hope to work hard to achieve their dreams. As for Americans, they are raised in a society to where they are expected to make lots money and to have a healthy family. After all in our society success is largely based off positions of power and financial stability. For example, in The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there were multiple interpretations of the ideal American dream in the 1920s. In the 1920s, due to the growth of materialism, people advertised and fancied the power of money to fulfilling their dreams.
Over the years, a dream that changed the way the world saw the U.S. was created and it is the American Dream. As the years passed and the U.S. was developing the American Dream as well developed or as many say changed. The American Dream is a term that was introduced in 1931 by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America (Kamp 2). The term “American Dream” started with a meaning that was reachable: “a better, richer and happier life for all citizens of every rank”(3). Throughout the years the term`s meaning changed dramatically.
The American Dream is Attainable Dreaming of success, a bright future, or even hope? An idea placed in the Declaration of Independence, The American Dream has been a beacon of hope to many; however, does The American Dream really exist? Some can and will argue that it’s dead, and that it isn’t achievable. I believe it’s alive, but it has to be realistic. By being realistic, anything could be possible, but only with the amount of effort put forth.
The real question is, is the American Dream a reality, or is it just a dream? To me the American dream is making money, a supporting loving family, and having a career you love. I think that many people come to the U.S. looking for their own idea of The American Dream, but in my opinion I’m not sure how much of the american dream still exist. There is many obstacles for the dream; endless you 're born into your wildest dream. For immigrants coming from different countries grasping their dream can be very hard.
No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And, still, today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important
American Dream American Dream has many different definitions in this day and age. For some it 's starting from little and making their way up to a successful prosperous life. For others it 's reaching happiness and a family. And for some the American dream is freedom but however the American dream is portrayed they all have something in common and that is happiness.
False Illusions "For many the American Dream has become a nightmare. " These words of Bernie Sanders are accurate to an extent. The American Dream is the idea that anyone, with enough resolve and determination, can climb the economic ladder, regardless of where they start in life. It is called the American Dream because the United States is depicted as the greatest nation in the world, that offers the most opportunity and freedom to achieve upward mobility in society. However, many people attach themselves too much to the hope of achieving this dream that they fail to realize the inequalities that take place in front of their own faces, which are the factors that are hampering them from this illusion.
What is portrayed by the media and what they believe to be the American dream I do not believe that that is attainable and or realistic at any point. If you work hard to achieve your goals and what you put your mind to you will achieve the success that you want and your own American dream will be what you wanted it to be and to succeed in the efforts that you chose. If your an immigrant from a third world country then practically anything would be an upgrade, especially the vision of free medical care, child birth and privileges, the dream is still strong. If you are everyone else, middle and lower class, the dream is dead, downward movement more plausible. So, everyone has a different outlook on the American Dream and what it means to them so is it attainable is the main question.