What Is the American Dream Essay

The Great Gatsby is a sad story about the unattainable American Dream. A story about love, sadness, and destruction. Which if you ask me that's what all great stories have in common. And what they all have in common with the American dream. Destruction is a common theme it seems by trying to get more of something they want they must destroy something else. Either happiness or money two thing everyone tries to get but only ended up getting one or the other successfully. For instance Tom and…

American Dream? The American Dream has been depicted and romanticized as the opportunity for anyone wanting to better their lives, find their ideal jobs, exercise any freedoms they may not have previously had, and achieve a higher economic status. America has been portrayed to the rest of the world as the opportunity of a lifetime for immigrants and those born in a lower socioeconomic status to take advantage of opportunities that will improve their lives. Many foreigners come to America…

What is the American Dream? Is it to be wealthy or to have the desire for rising to the top? In the present world, we as a people, have a widely different opinion of what we call the American Dream. Some are fine with what they have and their dream is to live the rest of their life out as successful and happy dwellers. Others want social status and for major amounts of wealth. However, those who have impacted the world the most seem to want more and more, never actually settling with what they…

The American dream is known as a set of ideas that expresses the opportunity for success; a richer and fuller life is achievable by anyone who desires to work towards it. F. Scott Fitzgerald describes the American dream in The Great Gatsby as a longing or desire to constantly dream of an unachievable dream. Once the dream is achieved there is nothing left to chase and there is nothing beautiful left to dream about. Fitzgerald expresses this idea through the eyes of Mr. Gatsby. The reader…

The American Dream is commonly taught as man’s common desire to own a house with a ‘white picket fence’ and a car, as well as have a reliable spouse. This American Dream was indeed common during the time period, in which such a term was vaguely beginning to form throughout the nation. However, the American Dream has the potential to vary vastly from individual to individual; it can eclipse any idea that entails a better lifestyle. Since the very birth of the nation, it has existed as a prominent…

The American dream is the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Many people who encouraged Americans to get involved in World War II did so believing that people all over the world deserved their chance to realize the American Dream. Americans fantasized about homes filled with happy families who vacationed every summer. The American Dream became closely tied to home ownership, and the American marketplace filled up with products to help improve life at home.The American Dream…

Lenny Wilkens once said, “The American Dream, to me, means having the opportunity to believe, because I do not think you should be guaranteed anything other than opportunity.” The definition of the American Dream is to have an equal amount of opportunities to accomplish an individual’s image of success; whether that be working hard and earning money or laying on the couch playing video games. The American Dream is about doing whatever you want to do in your lifetime, while it is still available…

Dictionary.com defines the American dream as "a life of personal happiness and material comfort as traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S." In Authur Miller's Death of a Salesman Willy Loman, the main character, tries to achieve his idea of the American dream but ultimately fails in the end. Each person could have their own version of the American dream that they want to achieve. "While Miller clearly uses Willy's collapse to attack the false values of a venal American society, the …

The concept of the American Dream is heavily engraved in society. It is what gives many lower and middle-class citizens the motivation to work hard in hopes of a better life. However, “a better life” is a vague term that often has a different meaning with respect to time and situation. In the article, “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” Brandon King attempts to answer the ambiguity of this question. As the title gives it away, the author analyzes and compares different time periods…

It’s no secret that the American Dream is viewed a lot differently now, as opposed to in the twentieth century. It used to be the idea that no matter who you were or how you started, any citizen in America had the opportunity to live that dream. “Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.” In 1931, that was how James Truslow Adams properly defined this ideal. Anyone…