Being an American means the beginning as a ‘have-not’ and progressing to being a ‘have,’ or, to put in the hip-hop artist’s Drake’s words: “Started from the bottom, now we here.” Furthermore, being a ‘have’ means the glorification of pleasure, and the high life. This hedonistic worldview kept stable for the ‘haves’ often at the expense of the ‘have-nots.’ This duality of the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ has expressed itself through multiple American conflicts and struggles, and is depicted in a plethora of American literature. Ultimately, hedonism, the glorification and maximization of pleasure and the minimization of all suffering, becomes the meaning of the American Dream.
The American Revolution sparks images in one’s mind of valiant patriots …show more content…
One of the natures of the dichotomy is not all dissimilar to the evolved American Dream of future generations, namely, the free seeking wealth to become the ‘haves.’ Originally, the main demographic coming to the American coast came from Britain. This was due the Anglican Church’s persecution of religious minorities and Catholicism. Hence, this had an effect on the nature of the American Dream and how it changed. From the discovery of America, people have been coming to the new world for, ultimately, opportunity. Opportunity to live one’s life away from fear and oppression; opportunity for economic advancement. This latter notion contains the ideals of ascending in social standing and wealth; something not easily done in a more rigid Europe. Over time, more and more of the ‘have-nots’ started making the miserable, arduous journey to the New World. Naturally, it was not long before some of these ‘have-nots’ themselves became ‘haves.’ Thus, the relationship is born anew in a new land. Take, for example, the Puritans of Massachusetts. They themselves having been persecuted, persecuted those who were of a different creed. Eventually, some of the ‘have-nots’ became disenchanted with the …show more content…
In his rather famous pamphlet, Common Sense, Paine illustrates the anima between the American ‘have-nots,’ and the English ‘haves.’ Paine states: “These are times that try men’s souls.” (Paine) During this time, the Mercantilist English were levying heavy taxes amongst their colonies, which had no representation in
The American Revolution sparks images in one’s mind of valiant patriots …show more content…
One of the natures of the dichotomy is not all dissimilar to the evolved American Dream of future generations, namely, the free seeking wealth to become the ‘haves.’ Originally, the main demographic coming to the American coast came from Britain. This was due the Anglican Church’s persecution of religious minorities and Catholicism. Hence, this had an effect on the nature of the American Dream and how it changed. From the discovery of America, people have been coming to the new world for, ultimately, opportunity. Opportunity to live one’s life away from fear and oppression; opportunity for economic advancement. This latter notion contains the ideals of ascending in social standing and wealth; something not easily done in a more rigid Europe. Over time, more and more of the ‘have-nots’ started making the miserable, arduous journey to the New World. Naturally, it was not long before some of these ‘have-nots’ themselves became ‘haves.’ Thus, the relationship is born anew in a new land. Take, for example, the Puritans of Massachusetts. They themselves having been persecuted, persecuted those who were of a different creed. Eventually, some of the ‘have-nots’ became disenchanted with the …show more content…
In his rather famous pamphlet, Common Sense, Paine illustrates the anima between the American ‘have-nots,’ and the English ‘haves.’ Paine states: “These are times that try men’s souls.” (Paine) During this time, the Mercantilist English were levying heavy taxes amongst their colonies, which had no representation in