Freedom, equality, happiness, family, mobility, opportunity, education, diversity. This is the American Dream. The American Dream represents the lifelong goal that one works towards and dreams about throughout his/her whole life. Some believe that this American Dream, appealing though it seems, is not accessible to everyone. However, this is not true. The American Dream is accessible to everyone. Many reasons support this conclusion, some of which include the facts that one can always make the right choices, there are always jobs available, and anything is possible if one is determined.
The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of race, class, gender, or nationality, can be successful in America if they just work hard enough. The American Dream presents a view of the American society in which ignores racism problems, income inequality, etc. In the 1920’s, it was a very difficult and resulting time for the American Dream. Due to increased immigration, changing women’s roles, and a extraordinary income inequality. The country was also in the midst of an economic boom, which fueled the belief that anyone could “strike it rich”.
The American Dream is a set of ideas which includes each person’s opportunity to follow their dream of achieving a future and own happiness. The meaning of success in one or other way is to be rich. Everyone wants to improve their future, America is where everyone can equally get opportunities to improve ones’ future. America gives people an opportunity to dream of bettering their lives. Many people move to America dreaming of a better future, because no matter the race, everyone is given equal opportunities. But there are many people who dream of coming to America never gets a chance. In Bradon King 2011 book, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold? he states that there are people who say American dead or alive, but this depends on every
The Declaration of Independence of 1776 asserted that all men are created equal and are endowed with certain unalienable rights among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, the exhaustion of farm land by poor agricultural planning and the introduction of the assembly line reversed the flow in the 1920s. They helped to turn the migration of the people back to the city. Many farmers returned to the cities to work for such leaders of industry as Ford and Rockefeller. The American Dream indicated not about a better life but about wealth. Historians called the 1920s, roughly the period between the end of World War I and the Great Stock Market Crash of 1929, as the Roaring Twenties or a period of remarkable changes. Over half of all Americans resided in cities and the growing affordability of the automobile forced people to be a lot active. While the decade was known as the era of jazz and flapper fashions, a lot of domains still remained quite conservative. In the novels of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Stein, the 1920s were also the time of deep disillusionment, the era of the lost generation. Drawing upon my knowledge of the 1920s, I would evaluate the validity of this stereotype by historical
“But with every word she was drawing further and further into herself, so he gave that up and only the dead dream fought on as the afternoon slipped away, trying to touch what was no longer tangible, struggling unhappily, undespairingly, toward that lost voice across the room” (Fitzgerald 142). No matter how hard he worked he never lost sight of the dream. “He was clutching at some last hope, and I couldn’t bear to shake him free” (Fitzgerald 155). To say the least, nick does not achieve the dream just yet but still strives and knows that if he continues to work hard he will. Furthermore we can see how the American Dream is in everyone's
The definition of the American Dream is as follows: the foundation idea that the individual can come from nothing and become anything. It’s the idea that the american system of Capitalism allows anyone to fulfill their dreams. However, most people believe in their own American Dream, their own “perfect life.” It can be full of happiness, money, love, food, cars, whatever anyone desires, everyone has a different opinion. In “Scratch Beginnings”, Adam Shepard gives the listing of three people who lives in the society, “1. Those that go to school and educate themselves and go on to live professional lives; 2. Workaholics, who spend their lives breaking their backs, laboring to make somebody else rich; and 3. The lazy, those
The American dream is a dream of land in which life should be better and richer for everyone. It’s a land where people succeed to accomplish their ambition of a better life.Most of the people have a different way of defining this American Dream. Unfortunately, for some, it could mean wealth,status,or power whereas for others it could mean companionship, good morals,love,and amity. According to our Declaration of Independence, it entitles every man and woman the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.Although we have the freedom to access the American Dream most people have challenges of achieving it. In the novels, Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, we see each protagonist struggling ,but at the same time a strong aspiration in obtaining their American Dream.For example, Jay Gatsby, he was the definition of the American Dream,he builds his social status from becoming a farm boy to one of the world's top millionaire but his dream wasn't complete without the love of Daisy.Unfortunately Janie Crawford in Their Eyes Were Watching God
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. My definition of the American Dream is someone who starts from nothing and makes their way through life in a happy and healthy way. Not everyone is capable of reaching the American dream. In Of Mice and Men the American dream was not reached by Lennie and George. In A Raisin in the Sun, they too did not reach the American dream. The American dream is a difficult thing to accomplish even though many live their lives trying got achieve this dream.
Overall the American dream is the pursuit of goals. However, those goals are different for everyone. In the book The Great Gatsby, Gatsby’s goal was to make something of himself and get Daisy, the girl of his dreams. Gatsby did achieve his dream of making something of himself, even if he did make his money illegally. However, another character in the book, Nick, had goals that were very different from Gatsby’s goals. Instead of being rich in the city, he wanted to move back to his original home in the west. One could say that Nick also achieved the American Dream, because he too never stopped
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.
The American Dream is the idea that wealth, love, and power can be successfully attained if one were to work wholeheartedly and diligently. The novel, The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald portrays a young man named Gatsby, who on the surface seems to have attained this American Dream. This idea is emphasized with him owning a large mansion followed by the influence he has over people from the power of his money. However, the audience finds that his motivation to achieve this path is upheld through his infatuation with Daisy. The author narrates this novel through the lense of Nick who often idealizes Gatsby, and in the end becomes his only true friend because he reveals the true past of Gatsby. Furthermore,
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.
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 achieving a goal that before was seen as impossible or unlikely, making a decision that could improve the life of future descendants, and having goals that you want to accomplish.
What is the American Dream? James Truslow Adams stated in his book The Epic of America, that 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…” (p.214-215). The American Dream has changed from our Founding Fathers writing of the Declaration of Independence protecting our opportunity to improve our life, no matter who we are to the materialistic things that the American Dream is for some today in the year 2018. The American Dream means something different to everyone. I think the American Dream is something that can be gained with sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work, not just by chance.
The American dream is to start your life with little to no money and work your way into making a liveable salary. The American dream is often thought of by immigrants, many immigrants move to the U.S. thinking they follow the American dream. In the book The Great Gatsby, James Gatsby the mysterious wealthy character who dropped out of college and started his life as a young man. Gatsby could be compared to the immigrants in the thought of the American dream. Back in the early 1900’s the American dream was known around the world and thought of as easily capable; Nowadays the “American Dream” is not as reachable, the economy has changed and there have been shortages in jobs.