The term, “American dream,” was first used by historian James Truslow Adams. James stated that the American dream was, “That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement.” Although the quote states a perfect definition of the American dream, this term can be interpreted in several ways. The American dream is reaching an objective believed to be unlikely to obtain, making a decision that could improve the lifestyle of future descendants, and setting goals that you want to accomplish. One of the various definitions of the American dream is achieving a dream that before was seen as impossible or unlikely. People feel that some careers or dreams are impossible or unlikely to be completed.
He says: ”The American Dream is 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” Even though the American Dream is defined, does it mean that it can’t change through the years? Or does it mean that the American Dream isn’t different from one another? When we talk about the American Dream, the first thing that pops into most peoples minds, is economic wealth. We think about movies like Forrest Gump, and the Great Gatsby, as a symbol on the American Dream. To cut a long story short; people who is born with social or economic obstructions, but who manage to work their way to the top, achieves wealth and live happily ever after.
While its ambitions prod it toward achievement, this also condemns it to failure. A miniscule statistic of Americans are born with the tools and advantages to provide an increased likelihood of success and achievement. However, the vast majority of successful people had to attain not only the ambition, but also the desire to manage a life full of success and prosperity. To an ordinary citizen, the fear that occurs with failure is petrifying. The intimidation of failure is what drives and influences one to strive toward a greater success.
Somehow, the American dream has become the pursuit of material prosperity. America, “the land of opportunities” is no longer the same as it was for some years back. Then, we can ask ourselves, is the dream still a reality or an illusion? This essay will discuss the thesis, “The American Dream can still be reality in certain cases, but changes in the structure of society have made it more difficult to attain.” The dream has derailed today. Whereas it in earlier times was possible to start with two empty hands and become a success, not all immigrants managed to achieve their goals.
Just by typing in this phrase to the internet the response simply states that it is, “the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.” The American Dream is not to say that the dream of money and success is unattainable for certain people. Just more difficult for minorities than whites. This widely believed statement can be very easily be defined as false. For minorities are still being targeted by police, and in this, losing their right to vote. However, not only are the minorities being targeted by the police, but by workplaces and colleges as well.
The term “American Dream” is a widespread term to describe the American way of life, but has yet to be coined as a term with an inflexible understanding, this means, “The American Dream” has a different meaning to every individual, although the basis remains the same for all. A simple explanation into “The American Dream” would be – to emigrate to America, settle down and become wealthy by working, and definitely not by being born into a rich family/nobility, this is achieved through equality of opportunity for it creates equal access to education and the job market, thus every individual has the same chance of success. To this underlying understanding of the dream, individuals add their own means to success, weather to gain wealth year-by-year or to become rich
The American Dream is the idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. In other words, the American Dream is the ideology that anyone can come to America and have the social mobility to move however you would like. But is this true? Men and women like Della Mae Justice, Andy Blevins, Ewa Gora and other U.S citizens challenge the idea of social mobility and the American Dream. Therefore, The American Dream cannot truly be assessed by all in the United States.
Daisy’s voice calls out to characters in the book. Gatsby so desperately craves a “better” and “happier” life with Daisy but this statement could suggest that the materialistic nature of Daisy’s own American dream calls out to Gatsby; that even to a man with Gatsby’s wealth greater material prosperity is an important part of the dream or perhaps this could be an indication that all manifestations of the American dream even ones where the dream is as simple as reclaiming a lost love are fuelled by greed; does Fitzgerald suggest that even Gatsby’s “incorruptible dream” is in fact corrupt? Alternatively this statement could be highlighting the fact that despite matching wealth Daisy and Gatsby are marooned in different sectors of society. The colour gold is often used in the novel as a metonym for prosperity and wealth: Gold meaning old money rather than the more modern green printed dollars. A better life with Daisy would mean joining the upper classes from which previously despite, his painstakingly
in Kamp 4). Unfortunately, what Adams described is not always the case even as much as most Americans would want it to be. Thus, Americans turn a blind eye to the social hierarchy, which makes attaining the national American Dream harder for some races, individuals with disabilities and even women. Every individual has their opinion of what the American Dream means to them, which tends to include upward mobility and the opportunity to prosper. Over the last few decades there has been significant advancements in media and technology.
Freedom, opportunity and a better life. Regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. The American Dream, an ideal defined by James Truslow Adamas in 1931. Something Americans want to live by. A large contrast to what the situation was like for many people in the country.