The American dream is interwoven and deeply embedded in every fabric of American life. It has also been the focal point of many novels under the genre of American literature. This dream as I understand it, is associated with rugged individualism, generous enthusiasm and idealism in the pursuit of success, fame, power and glory in their supremely possible ways. It trends from old puritanical American culture, the affirmation that Americans everywhere are a special people, "a city upon a hill" like the old puritans of New England called it, a land and place formulated by divine providence and right to be a beacon of hope, promise and freedom to the rest of the world. The basic tenet of this dream for the puritans was an all inclusive affirmation that everyone should belong and get a chance to be treated fairly and justly; that no insignificant person was ever born and that America should be a land where by sheer dint of hard work, pluck and trust in God, any person, regardless of their background and history, can pursue their life. commitments and avocations devoid of monarchical control, demagoguery and the rigid social and class stratification that once characterized the old world. Through much of the colonial era, the neoclassical to the post- modernist years, this feeling of idealism and cheerfulness about America and Americans has evolved, today adding secular and capitalistic overtures to its propositions, perpetrating a hegemony of class and social privilege. William Fahey in his book F. Scott Fitzgerald and the American Dream, defined the "dream" as it connotes today. For Fahey, this dream involves "a rise from rags to riches, of amassing a great fortune that will assure a life of luxuriant ease, power, and beauty in an ideal world untroubled by care and devoted to everlasting pleasure with nothing to intervene between wish and fulfillment (70)." In my essay I bring into discussion issues arising from the pursuit of this dream by examining the lives of the protagonists of two important American literatures: Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser and The Great Gatsby by F.
And frankly, I get more and more disappointed every day: does that worldwide famous "American dream- actually exist? ... I'm not attempting to establish a new theory that destroys the "American dream-. ... Europe was under major conflicts and major social revolutions. ... And in my opinion it is actually a strike to the "American dream- myth. ... The "American dream- started to build its myth. ...
According to the American Dream, the United States is a country where immigrants from around the world can come and live a comfortable lifestyle through education and hard work, and possibly improve their social status. ... " Both the "Myth of the Model Family" and the "Myth of Education and Empowerment" have negative impacts on the lives of Americans, as, according to many articles, neither provide a possible means of attaining the American Dream, resulting in a population unsatisfied with both its family life and general success in life. ... It contradicts the Ameri...
The Myth of the American Dream 311 first What exactly is the Myth of the American Dream is it that everyone is created equal, is it that everyone is rich, or is it none of the above. I believe that in all fairness the American Dream is what you make of it and what you want it to be the dream is not a must it is a Life style. That no one can take from you it is not what you make of the American dream it is what you do to get to the top of the chain an are able to say what it means to be in the American dream. ... Tend to work harder and begin castin...
One's race, social status, and even gender all determine the ability a person has to achieve this American Dream. ... Only those who are already well-to-do can will get to enjoy the American Dream. ... Even though my dream has been dimmed to me the American Dream has many parts to it, and it can be fact or fiction depending on how much the American people put in to it. ... But it is also the American people who protect the dream. Only through their perseverance can our American dreams be attained....
The American dream is a constantly fluctuating set of ideals, reflecting the ideas of an era. ... The American dream is interwoven and deeply embedded in every fabric of American life. The American dream has become the major focal point of many works of American literature. ... The protagonist Jay Gatsby had dreams that took the path of amassing personal wealth and social status. ... In saying this Nick means is that the conventional social idea in the world about a rose connoting atheistic beauty is because people give it that symbolism. ...
I would like to begin by presenting an abridged account of what I believe to be the American Dream. The American Dream is, to me, not an individualistic concept, but rather, a collective one. ... Aside from the fact that today's religions, conventionally speaking, do not agree with modern science, its persuasive powers on the vulnerable masses are too great of a liability on my American Dream. ... Other differences that threaten my American Dream are differences in political opinion. ... Even if the differences can be tolerated, the very presence of these differences is counterproductive ...
The American Dream is to have social stability, be able to achieve one's full potential, and start a new life where one won't be judge by his or her past. ... The inequalities of the social classes make those who are struggling financially not believe in the American Dream. ... Unfortunately, social classes have become the backbone of American society. If an individual has a fairly low social status, the American Dream leads us to believe that we are able to rise from rags to riches and achieve economic stability. ... Therefore, an individual's social class is a direct reflectio...
The American Dream Willy entirely believes in what he considers the promise of the American Dream "that a "well liked- and "personally attractive- man in business will unquestionably and be worthy of acquiring the material comforts offered by modern American life. ... In death of a salesman, The Loman family struggles to obtain "the American Dream-. ... I believe the American dream is obtainable because the author, Arthur Miller, presents a different scenario where another family- being Charley and Bernard- have been completely able to encompass the thorough idea of the American dream. ...
The American Dream is seriously flawed The presentation of the ideal of the American Dream is a mixture of contrast and confusion. ... Miller, their portrayals of the American Dream, its risks and dangers. ... This energy and light symbolise the vibrancy of ambition created by the American Dream. ... This shows that the American Dream is seriously flawed; it encourages the inability to see, and also accept reality. ... However, like Miller, Fitzgerald casts doubt on the American Dream, through his introduction of corruption into the plot. ...