Research Paper On The American Dream

While the motivation of the American Dream may be materialistic or moralistic, it is based on the sole property of opportunity. As shared by Martin C. Jischke in “The American Dream,” “the American dream is the ‘dream of a land…with opportunity for each according to the ability or achievement’” (75). Because the qualities of an individual are unique, the measurement of success varies. Improvement in any sense must be sparked by a window of hope at a richer life. The American Dream is easily attainable when paired with opportunity and a strong work ethic. Without the necessary investment of time and labor, the skill sets and knowledge of those working towards the American Dream are laid to waste.

Some people who became American didn't always have the perfect life, especially when it is taking place by individuals who struggled their whole life in a disadvantaged society. As a matter of fact they migrate to the United States so they can live their dream and to be able to acquire being called an American. Not only do they move, but also abandon everything in their old home, and move to the United States to start a new life. Sometimes children are left behind so their parents can come to the land of dreams. Due to that the many children are left without their parents in their life's. Therefore, the American dream is necessary for them because they don't have many things in their hands, such as clothing, wealth, an opportunity in life and a different lifestyle. They also look at many Americans in some countries and assume everything is simpler in the United States. Therefore, the desire of being an American can provoke into having various emotions. Occasionally when they don’t feel like they have reached their target, they may receive it in as their way of life is gone and turnover on their dream. But that’s not what an American is, an American is someone who is hardworking, shows patriotism to their country and freedom.

There is a twenty-five percent unemployment rate. People are desperate for lodging and food. Families are stretching every penny to support themselves. Government is trying to solve these problems through reforms and programs. This is what the world in the 1930s was like for Lennie and George, two migrant workers traveling across California, earnestly trying to achieve the American Dream. Even though these dreams seem impossible to accomplish, during the Great Depression a dream was a reason to get out of bed.

What is American Dream? What does it mean to you? What does it mean to me? Although we all have the same ideology of what the definition of what the American Dream is, we can all come up with a different meaning, each one more personal to ourselves than to others. As we will see with the help of three different authors, regardless of age, race, sexuality, religion, or social status, we could possibly agree on the idea of the American Dream falling short and being a false sense of reality for many Americans to this day.

As we studied in the previous unit, the American Dream is the idea that everybody is equal to each other and people can live their lives to the fullest. I also believed that this dream was for Americans only. However, after realizing that other countries and cultures had heard of how great life in America is, they wanted to be part of the American Dream as well. These immigrants took action by entering the U.S. through Ellis Island, which used to be the main hub for all foreigners to apply for ability to enter the U.S. The main reason that people immigrated to America was to have freedom. During World War II, many people were murdered for being Jewish. This act by Adolf Hitler showed that religions were restricted in Europe during World War II. People wanted to live a more free life with no restrictions to their religious beliefs, causing many immigrants to come to the U.S.

The American Dream has been a long debated topic since the beginning. Recently, the American Dream has significantly decreased in popularity along with the chance of it becoming a reality. Some feel that the American Dream is just a piece of propaganda, constantly shifting ideas to keep the country’s attention and warping their expectations. Statistically, the idea that anyone can make it is absurd. The chances of someone getting rich and out of poverty differ drastically throughout the country. Despite high taxes and expensive college tuition seem to be the issues to blame, they are not the greatest contributors. In the Bible Belt of America, a child who is raised in the bottom five percent has a four percent chance of making it to the top five percent (O’Brien). In the article “Are the Suburbs Where the American Dream Goes to Die?”, Matthew O’Brien documented that the

In an average day, an American is exposed to over 3000 advertisements, (Kilbourne). Whether they want to admit it or not, they are drawn toward them. A common scheme of the advertisers is to allow the consumer to “picture the new them.” Whether this be a wealthier them, a skinner them, or a prettier them, they gear there product towards every person and want everyone be able to connect with the advertisement and picture the “new them.” American Idol, Nutrisystem, and The Biggest Loser, the lottery, and many other “products” promote that anyone has the chance to be famous, fit, or fortunate. The successes from these “products” present themselves as they were before, with the sob story that hopefully touches a nerve with

Research conducted by Sandra L. Hanson and John Zogby concerning shifting attitudes toward the American Dream states, “lack of thrift, effort, ability, motivation, and self-control are the most popular explanations for poverty among Americans” (Hanson 571). Such explanations demonstrate the growing issues that help to create the darkness of the American Dream. In placing such an emphasis on achieving success, the American Dream belittles those unable to achieve it and allows no room for failure. Though some individuals may work hard their entire lives, they may never find the material success that others such as Ben or Charley do. Even in the case of characters who have worked their entire life, such as Willy, the lack of tangible, material success creates a false idea that they did not do enough or did not work hard enough. Concerning Willy’s career and life, Ben states, “What are you building? Lay your hand on it. Where is it?” (Miller 1271). This statement pushes the misconstrued idea that whatever success one has achieved needs to be tangible and seen, which is not always the case. It can be argued that by the end of his life, Willy had found success. Linda’s proclamation that they were “free and clear” after having finally paid off the mortgage furthers this argument (Miller 1298). Out of debt, and with the comfort of a devoted wife and loving sons, Willy had achieved a life that many can only dream. However, because he and others do not recognize love and happiness as

“For many, the American Dream has become a nightmare.” - Bernie Sanders This quote says that for a lot of people achieving the American Dream is easier said than done. This is referred to being a nightmare because for all the people who try to achieve the dream it seems impossible. They see a lot of other people achieve the dream, but can not make it for their own.

Before addressing Coates’ truth about the American Dream, the idea of race needs to be discussed in relation to the American Dream. Coates proclaims that "Americans believe in the reality of ‘race’ as a defined, indubitable feature of the natural world. Racism- the need to ascribe bone- deep features to people and then humiliate, reduce, and destroy them" (7).This thought perfectly defines how the American society-and essentially how the world views race. We see race as defining, permanent, and impossible to escape; it is something that is not actually real, something that people made up to create a sort of hierarchy. This is because humans have a drive to be above others and this trend of "race" continues due to the ones "on top" wanting to

From the moment colonists stepped foot on American soil, freedom flowed through their skin. The new country would bring endless opprotunities to anyone who wished to pursue their dreams. Through years of effort, the United States was born and along with it a sense of equality and meaning. Today, America has much to stand for. Although times were rough along the way, the American dream is one of being free and having a voice.

The American dream of happiness, families, opportunities, and freedoms have slowly faded away. The American dream today is dying. In today’s society advertising, consumerism, and new media has help to change the original impression of the ideal American dream. Even though, the word choice dying to describe the American dream may raise eyebrows among Americans, but upon further explanations one will see why the concept of that word speaks truth.

The American Dream; a reality chased by Americans for centuries, based on the ideas of liberty, happiness and equal right to success for all. But, for F. Scott Fitzgerald the American Dream was a materialistic world of permanent riches and fortune. This distorted perception of the American Dream, shared by many others, resulted in the failure of the real American Dream, a reality where one can live comfortably and safely. Instead, the American Dream became this unattainable goal that can never result in satisfaction, as humans will always have that desire for more. F. Scott Fitzgerald clearly represents the failed American Dream, as he proved throughout his life of short periods of glamor which concluded

He gave up family time in order to pay for the damages caused by economic downfall in America, and he is not the only person to have made such a sacrifice. My friend’s father represents the current state of thousands of others in this generation who are striving and working to overcome unemployment.

Growing up I have seen and heard many stories of my grandpa always putting others before himself. He was born in Mexico to U.S. citizens then moved to the States at a young age. Before finishing high school, he enlisted into the service. He was never in combat rather he built the bridges