James Truslow Adams’ definition of the American Dream was that “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement”. To be an American means that every citizen has an equal opportunity to have a fulfilled life of freedom, happiness and success. An extreme situation in which this lifestyle can be found and understood is in the book, Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer. The book illustrates the life of Chris McCandless, a young adventurer. Chris left everything he had, including his family, to live a life of freedom from insignificant and materialistic items in the great wilderness of Alaska. Chris used the resources and abilities that living in this free country gave him to to live the life he wanted, even though it ended in tragedy. Every American has this same freedom and opportunity, even when it seems hard to reach.
Chris McCandless was able to fulfill his desires of trekking into the wild because of the country …show more content…
A life not full of true happiness and success, but full of greed for economic and social success. A novel that represents American’s avarice is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In the novel, Fitzgerald encompassed the corrupt idea of the American Dream that many people had during the Roaring 20s. The epitome of the greed was represented by Gatsby’s extravagant parties and wealth (‘new money’), as well as Daisy’s fiance, Tom Buchanan's, wealth (‘old money’). The two men competed for Daisy’s love, using their money and social statuses as enticements. Success during that time period, and even present time, is based on money. Even things like love were influenced by what people believed were important. However, just because some Americans use their freedom and opportunity to gain prosperity negatively, it does not mean it has any less significance in what it means to be an
Chris McCandless was able to fulfill his desires of trekking into the wild because of the country …show more content…
A life not full of true happiness and success, but full of greed for economic and social success. A novel that represents American’s avarice is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In the novel, Fitzgerald encompassed the corrupt idea of the American Dream that many people had during the Roaring 20s. The epitome of the greed was represented by Gatsby’s extravagant parties and wealth (‘new money’), as well as Daisy’s fiance, Tom Buchanan's, wealth (‘old money’). The two men competed for Daisy’s love, using their money and social statuses as enticements. Success during that time period, and even present time, is based on money. Even things like love were influenced by what people believed were important. However, just because some Americans use their freedom and opportunity to gain prosperity negatively, it does not mean it has any less significance in what it means to be an