The Dream Of The American Dream - 1023 Words

The American Dream can be described as someone starting at the bottom of the social or economic ladder and working hard towards prosperity, wealth and fame. By having money, a car, a big house, nice clothes and a happy family symbolizes the true American dream. This dream also represents that people, no matter who he or she is, can become successful in life by his or her own work. The majority of people pursue the American Dream for themselves, their families and their legacy. Several years ago the American Dream represented getting ahead and become everything that our parents’ generation were not able to do. Perhaps, because of the great depression, poor economy, wars, and unemployment, as well as older generations working longer hours to†¦show more content†¦The American dream may also cause destruction. Myrtle, Gatsby and Daisy for example have all been corrupted and destroyed by the American dream. Money cannot buy you happiness which is something that the three c haracters in the story did not realize. However, Fitzgerald is mainly criticizing the American Dream throughout The Great Gatsby. Making the reader question â€Å"Is this dream really worth achieving even if encountering impossible conditions?† In the early 19th century, the idea of the American Dream focuses on reaching their goals by honesty and hard work. On the other hand, Jay Gatsby’s idea of the American Dream in the book centers on becoming successful by having illegal money that was not acquired through an honest working lifestyle. When the first settlers came to America, they found opportunity but most importantly freedom. Back then with hard work and determination an average person had the opportunity to be prosperous. This concept has proven to be true for many successful individuals throughout the years. Moreover, the American dreams foundation was based on good ethics; however, with the passing of time it has become corrupted. Hence, the dream no longer st ands for hard work and equal opportunity. It involves false happiness, materialistic possession, high social status and wealth. People who have achieved the materialistic AmericanShow MoreRelatedAmerican Dreams : The American Dream1068 Words   |  5 PagesAmerican Dream? American Dream: Noun, the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American. That is the definition of the American dream according to Dictionary.com, but the American Dream is more than a definition, but a way of life for many. Millions of immigrants come to our country in search of this â€Å"American Dream† including my grandparents but more and more are disappointed. So does the American Dream exist? Has it ever existed or has it allRead MoreThe Dream Of The American Dream1047 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream is heralded and aspired to, by immigrants and natives alike. It is a hopeful belief, that although many believe in, very few achieve. This variability of outcomes is due to the American Dream’s dependency on ideals of equality and freedom of opportunity. These two ideals do not institutionally exist in the United States, causing its construction to be inherently unequal, as individuals cannot reach the Dr eam without systemic privilege and power. Social positions and historic contextRead MoreAmerican Dreams And The American Dream Essay1727 Words   |  7 PagesMobility and the American Dream feed off one another, immigrants and American citizens wanting to work hard and building new inventions to make life easier. Without this American ingenuity, it might of taken the United States longer to get to where the country is now. 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There is no one set of words or characteristics that the entire population assigns directly to its definition. With the American population consisting of people of various races, ethnicities, ages, classes, and genders, it seems trivial to even attempt to attribute a single definition to the concept of the American Dream. It is this inability however, to be confined within one single meaning, that allows for the American Dream to govern theRead MoreAmerican Dreams And The American Dream1728 Words   |  7 PagesAmericans have been dreaming since the Mayflower arrived in the New World and the American Dream itself has withstood threats up until this very day to all of its internal characteristics: international peace, health, leadership, wealth, supremacy, and equality. H.W. Brands states in his book American Dreams that â€Å"Americans had dreamed since our national birth, and in the twenty-first century we are dreaming still†. Both Brandsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ story and Nathaniel Philbrick’s account in Mayflower assist significantlyRead MoreAmerican Dream Is Not A Dream771 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican dream is not a dream What is your own version of the American Dream? Money? Living a big house or having a nice car? I believe these are values that most of people define to them what the American Dream is. The American Dream has alway been challenging to receive happiness; but as an Americans, we had worked our way from inequality to freedom. First, immigration as one biggest puzzle in the United States. America is also refer to a melting pot. Because many different ethnic groups andRead MoreDreams And The American Dream828 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Dream is the thought the United States had never ending chances to live ones dream no matter where one would come from. During the Great Depression, the American Dream is to own land, to rise out of one’s current situation, and to not have to worry about money. In the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, three characters have individual dreams that directly relate to the American Dream. George and Lennie want to own their own farm. He wants to not have to work 11 hour shifts andRead MoreThe Dream Of The American Dream1178 Words   |  5 PagesThe American dream has been a beacon of hope and motivation for the millions of people who have immigrated and grown up in the United States; especially for those of the lower class. Through hard work and determinatio n one could completely change their life for the better while provide better circumstances for future generations. The American dream is defined as, â€Å"a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by workingRead MoreThe Dream Of The American Dream1098 Words   |  5 Pagesline â€Å"Follow your dreams!† This simple sentence has inspired many. This idea of creating a dream and chasing it has inspired the American Dream. The American Dream is different for everybody. It could be getting married, creating a business, or being a hero. It turns out the American Dream is not for everybody. There is always something standing in the way of the American Dream. Race, social status, and the individual are standing in the way between the person and the American Dream. A person s race