In the poem “America” by Tony Hoagland, the author discussed the American lifestyle, and the culture presently in his own perspective and opinion. I agree with his opinion about the people in America, and the atrocious reality that we are living in today. This present reality that Hoagland addressed reflects my view and my perspective not just about the people who lives in America, but innumerable people that lives on Earth. Hoagland, not just criticized the lifestyle and the way Americans are living, but also the materialism that exists in most of the people.
The American Dream is a lifestyle: the thought that if you put in hard work, you will gain wealth. Through this wealth, you will have happiness. In the novel The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is quintessential of The American Dream: he started off dirt poor and with dedication, he made himself into something; a rags to riches story. As The Declaration Of Independence states: 'All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.' In other words, every person in America has the right to really make themselves into someone, even if you start with nothing. A nobody from nowhere can turn themselves into somebody from somewhere. Nick Carraway, our narrator, appeared to be simultaneously entranced and repulsed by Jay Gatsby's dedication and belief in The American Dream. So, F. Scott Fitzgerald's opinion on the American Dream can be hard to decipher. The American Dreamer will work very hard to achieve inflated dreams that never turn out the way they intended them.
What is the American Dream? Different people have different interpretations of the American Dream. Take a look at Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” and “Promised Land” by Bruce Springsteen, both songs about the American dream. Although both of these musicians had similar themes, they had different attitudes towards the American dream. While Guthrie’s attitude toward the American dream is that it should be shared by all people in America, Springsteen believed that every individual has to work in order to achieve the American dream.
To me, the american dream is to be freedom and have freedom of speech. Freedom and freedom of speech are what many americans want. Having freedom means that you have the right to say what you want as long as it’s not illegal, and it gives americans the right to say what they want even if it offends another person. The following text show evidence of the american dream: “Home” by Dierks Bentley, “Coming to America” by Neil Diamonds.
They have their own house, food to eat, and animals to attend to as they live blissfully within the world. The narrative emphasizes that the black man thinks and feels that he has achieved the American Dream, “He’s got an interstate running’ through his front yard. You know, he thinks, he’s got it so good.” Although, some Americans might think this type of lifestyle is not ideal for living the American Dream. Mellencamp indicates that there are different levels of how people perceive of achieving the American Dream. While some feel as if they made it and achieved their own set of goals, others might have bigger goals in the way before they can achieve their own American Dream within the United
In the poem "Family Tree" by Tupac Shukar, explains about how it doesn't matter where you come from because that doesn't determine your future. For example in Lines 1-4, tupac says that everyone is born equal despite where they come from, even though where they are born are not equal one another. Lines 5-8 shows that beauty is everyone despite their the differences we where all created for a reason. There are going to be people who bully you, who bring your gaurd down, and who want to see you suffer, but you've got to be strong. In lines 9-12, Tupac says that great are those who become someone out of nothing. Those who change theire lifestyle circumstances despite not being a wealthy/richest families. There are going to be obstacles to bring
In the video, we can appreciate different realities that these people have to face every day, it might not be very different from our own reality but it is indeed a more challenging one. There are many families in the U.S. struggling each day, working to have a better life, to achieve “The American Dream”, but these particular families that life in Detroit and Oakland have more difficulties than most people. Their health is deteriorating by extreme pollution causing them asthma since an early age. Obesity is a major problem that is cause by the consumption of cheap food that they can only afford. Crime and Vandalism is part of their daily lives. All these issues are being addressed by the community but even if most of the problems are solve,
“They were careless people…” says Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby. In a story depicting the 1920s during a time of prosperity, growth, and the emergence of the America as a major global power, this statement may seem to be contrary. But in reality, Nick Carraway’s description of his friends and the people he knew, was not only true, but is an indication of those who were striving for the American dream. F. Scott Fitzgerald suggests that the American Dream is foolish, the people who pursue it are immoral and reckless, and this pursuit is futile.
Blasphemy! How can parents possibly choose to make their children watch Disney movies? Disney movies have been a part of millions of people’s childhood. All the adventurous stories, “innocent roles”, and happy endings may seem harmless, but they are affecting the audience’s mind by sending the wrong message. Disney movies are negative for the viewers, and aren’t beneficial to children because they represent historical inaccuracies, send subliminal messages, and promote sexual activities.
James Truslow Adams, in his book which was written in 1931 and called “ The Epic of America” wrote about American dream, that American dream is about being richer and living in better life. Also that American dream is more materialistic, that people work a lot of hours to gain things which they want to have. Such as luxury cars, big houses. They want to be wealthy, rich and have all expensive things and live in a world of money and wealth.
In the novel the Catcher in the Rye, by J. D. Salinger, Holden's perspective of society and what life is about relates to the song “Chasing Cars,” by Snow Patrol. Both show how everyone is constantly taking their lives for granted so worried about the excessive and unnecessary things in life, which is obstructing them from appreciating the true beauty of life. In the beginning of the novel, Holden goes to visit his history teacher, since he will no longer be attending the school. Mr. Spencer begins to lecture Holden and talks about what life is, he says, “If you get on the side where all the hot-shots are, then it’s a game... but if you get on the other side, where there aren't any hot-shots, then what's a game about it? Nothing. no game” (Salinger 11).
I’m going to be writing my paper on a song called “Crooked Smile” by J.Cole, J.cole or Jermaine Cole, was originally born in Germany. When he was 8 months old he and his mother moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina. He attended St. Johns University and graduated with great distinction, he got introduced to music when he was 12 by a family member and ever since then he has been infatuated with rap music and the art of storytelling through music.
Dagoberto Gilb’s short story, Uncle Rock, follows, Erick, a reserved 11 year old boy and his attractive single mother trying to understand and look for the American dream they hopped for since they left mexico. Throughout their lives in America, different men with different types of social and economic backgrounds have been approaching Erick’s mother trying to strike a quick date with her. As a first generation Mexican American, Erick is still looking for his “voice” in his new adopted country, and he believes whatever he says would not change the fact that the men in his, and his mother’s life would shape the way they would live in America. Erick does show discomfort and unapproval with all the men that has been introduced into his life but does not acknowledge his thoughts with his mother that he wants a fatherly figure. Later on in the story, Gilbs introduce another man, Rogue, who Erick has mixed feelings about, but eventually comes to the conclusion that he is the right man for his mother when Erick finally has a
It has been contended that the socioeconomics status of an individual does not impact the difficulty of hardships faced while striving towards the American Dream. In “The (futile) Pursuit of the American Dream”, Barbara Ehrenreich suggests “...while blue-collar poverty has become numbingly route, white-collar unemployment and the poverty that often results- remains a rude finger in the face of the American Dream.” To put succinctly Ehrenreich claims all who pursue the American Dream encounter the same difficult hardships. However, the socioeconomic status of an individual impacts the jobs the individual obtains, the education obtained, and ultimately the income of the individual; thus, impacting the difficulty of the hardships faced.
The picture perfect life that the American Dream promotes is unrealistic and superficial because money is unable to fill the void of happiness or love. Contrary to earlier days, we now life in a time when even a strong work-ethic does not guarantee money, success or opportunities. While many are so ensorcelled by the illusions of the American Dream, we often fail to realize its falsity and constraints. Whether financially or socially, the society coaxes in the unsuspecting American dreamer, only to then spit them out in a wave of despair, failure and hopelessness. As demonstrated by numerous non-conformist individuals, the Dream lies not in the realm of materialism but rather in that of the intangible; often requiring an extreme leap of faith