Essay On American Dream

The American Dream has been misinterpreted for many years. Many people believe it is dead and it can’t be achieved by anyone. But is the American Dream really unobtainable? Many people associate the American Dream with making a ton of money, a stable and enjoyable job, having a nice house, car, family, etc. But many people believe the American Dream is no longer obtainable.

The mindset of people have a lot to do with the American dream and as for hard work, it’s something that has to be done because without it, nothing much is achievable. In an article “How to achieve the American Dream” by Suzanne Lucas she explains how “Some people pat themselves on the back when they do as little work as possible. While this provides temporary fun, it won 't help towards real success.” Working hard is something that can be done by anyone who really wants to say they succeeded, yet many do not want to work and still want to say the dream is dead when they simply, are not trying to make it alive for themselves. However, some people that work hard and have a strong mindset did move up, proving that the dream is alive if you

Throughout The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, many characters have differing views on the topic of the American Dream, some including Nick Carraway, James Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Tom Buchanan. They range in views of a dream revolved around money and pride, and a life full of love and success. Yet, it is not possible for every single person to achieve what they want in life. The American Dream is achievable if determination and passion is loaded into the efforts, but not everybody can reach it if it lies too far away and the person doesn’t feel like pursuing it. As this novel was set in the 1920s, it was not as normal to run after what you wanted, and to break the social norms.

Some people are more individualistic today because they have been oppressed for too long and they have started to realize that no one can take away their rights. If society was to be how it was in the 1950s then America would still be free and vibrant but not all Americans would be free and vibrant. If America today was the way it was back then, than people of color wouldn’t even get to be a part of a prestigious society with such great morals therefore, there wouldn’t be many societies to “demoralize.” In fact, the morals of society back in the day were worse than they are today. Society today is more independent, accepting, diverse, and understanding than ever before and that’s more important than the usage frequency of

Freedom and all it entails seems to change when circumstances change. Its journey through history has been one that still perplexes many to this day. During the New Deal, American’s view of freedom was radically redefined as the government became heavily involved in the lives of the people. The government was not seen as a big and menacing monster anymore, but as a fatherly figure that wanted the best for everyone.

However, many people do not agree; often Americans and others that value free-will choices and human power to make and change their own lives and believe their futures are in their own hands. Obviously, these are two unique ways to look at life. This is not a new battle, though. People have been fighting with the idea of fate versus free will for centuries, even back to the works of Sophocles around 400 BC. More recent thinkers have contributed their thoughts, such as Pierre Laplace and his “demon” in the 18th century.

Consequently, the dream had been lost and the meaning had been diminished. “In the Great Gatsby, the American Dream lost its meaning. It promised deepest and richest self-fulfillment for those who would make the most of their natural abilities” (Gross, Gross 9). There were such high expectations for the people who thought their dream was going to come true. Some people worked so much harder than others to finally pursue that dream, of becoming the best person or best image of themselves.

In regards to the American Dream in America, US citizens hold their dreams near and dear to their hearts, but neglect to advocate for the dreams of their fellow Americans. In an excerpt from writer James Truslow Adams, he articulates his thoughts on the American dream, he states: That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper class to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it.

Everyone has the ability to be determined to achieve success, therefore anybody has access to the American Dream. Determination is possibly the most important part of achieving the American Dream, for two main reasons. First of all, without determination, people try half-heartedly, and second of all, the more determined someone is, the more likely they are to get a job and make the right choices, helping to possibly lead them to the American Dream (Boyanova). Rick Newman once voiced, “it's premature, if not silly, to claim that Americans have lost the ability to improve their fortunes, move up in the world, or purchase a comfortable home, [throughout the means of] subsidiary rights such as fairness, opportunity, and self-determination”(Newman). This evidence shows that determination is an important part in having access to the American Dream, because one needs determination to complete a task or a challenge in life to reach comfort.

We don’t want share; we want to get rich. Therefore, in America, people are often expected to work for themselves to provide for themselves and benefit themselves. Universal healthcare goes against many of these standards and, as a result, America doesn’t have universal healthcare. In fact, in a recent poll, 54% of Americans were against the idea of government implemented universal

There are an abundance of different nuances and differences to what can be collectively called the American identity, but what about the American spirit? The American spirit values the hard working and industrial attitude that constitutes the foundation of the American Dream; so long as you are willing and able to put all your energy and focus into tackling the day’s challenges, then you will be able to claw your way to the top: being able to live a better life than your parents. Teresa embodies these aspects to the letter. Her family consisted poor immigrants who had escaped from the violence of the Balkans (make clear only majority of life was spent here). Even though she lacked a material advantage, she constantly studied to achieve top

The author recites that the idea of The American Dream has been broken and is not longer what it used to be or perhaps it was never that great to begin with. Hughes also shows that this dream has failed for many people with different nationalities, who come here in hopes of a better life and even failed to those Americans that had been

Despite many Americans believing that the American Dream is no longer available as there are government restrictions that limit their potential for success in any fashion, others insist that the American government provides rights for the people of America to be able to constantly achieve what they believe to be the American Dream. The American Dream is not just a dream of success but more a measurement of achievement and the ability to better one’s

James Truslow Adams defines the American Dream as the “dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” (The American Dream). An idea sought after by millions of people is the American Dream; they believe there is a reward for hard work and that that reward is happiness and prosperity. The Great Gatsby, Of Mice and Men, and The Crucible are all works, which portray the pursuit and destruction of the American Dream. Jay Gatsby’s American dream was to marry the woman he loved. This is evident throughout the novel; Gatsby is determined to transform his life from dirt to diamonds all to be a suitable man for Daisy.

Many people have and are still coming to America, seeking this thing we once knew as the American dream. The American dream has been around since 1776 but was later coined in 1931. (Novak, 2015). Is the American dream still alive today? Is the American dream still worth pursing?