How Does Frederick Douglass Present The American Dream

For some the American dream is the value of hard work. To others it's a huge emphasis on material possessions. So, the American dream is no longer the American dream. It is a dream that anyone and everyone can relate to. This dream is the idea of having what ever you want. May it be material goods, ideas and values, or freedoms and rights. This idea also represents the uniqueness of America. It is a dream a lot of people around the world don't get to enjoy;

It is insinuated that Gatsby did not make his money in the most ethical way when Tom shares that he “found what your ‘drug-stores’ were” and explains that Gatsby and Wolfsheim purchased side-street drug stores and sold alcohol over the counter, which was illegal at the time (Fitzgerald 100). Gatsby covers this scheme up with talk of inheriting his money from old family, but is not very consistent in his lies, as Nick notices him use several different answers at separate times. “I think he hardly knew what he was saying when I asked him what business he was in he answered, ‘That’s my affair’ before he realized that it wasn’t the appropriate reply” (Fitzgerald 103). While Gatsby may have been successful in his illegal money affairs, this does not mean his efforts were not wasted on someone unworthy of the time and money

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave was written by Douglass himself, giving a detailed description of the slaveholders cruelty. Douglass was born in Tuckahoe, Maryland, and he makes known that he does not know his specific birthdate, “... no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it.” (47), but it was approximately around 1818. Once being enslaved, and then escaping in 1838 he became known as an eloquent speaker for abolitionists, being able to deliver passionate speeches about the role of a slaveholder and their relationship to their slaves, especially since he was one of them. Douglass even discovered the true meaning of the songs sung by enslaved people, “ I did not, when a slave, understand the deep meaning of those rude and apparently incoherent songs, I was myself within the circle; so that I neither saw nor heard as those without might see and hear.” (27). The book is not an easy read for those who believe in equal rights, as Douglass put into painful words the description of brutal whippings, signs of no mercy, and people being taken advantage of because if they had shown mercy they believed they would have lost their dignity.

The "American Dream" is an idea that has always been different throughouttime. It changes in diverse forms and in the end involves success. The "American Dream" was a phrase used by the American people and peoplewanting to become American. It was always the idea that you can become a success. This is true in a partial way, but the true "American Dream" is that with somework and determination anyone can build themselves up in the economic classsystem.

Gatsby doesn't exactly belong in the wealthy group and his outsider status is very important. Gatsby plays a person who does belong in the wealthy group. So, Nick's is surprised at Gatsby's ability make his dreams come to life making it seem so easy. Gatsby kind of just plays a part.

Fitzgerald chose Nick to narrate the text because his perspective creates a multifaceted view of the world Fitzgerald portrays. He is an outsider to the wealthy materialistic world in which he lives. His similarity to Gatsby in that respect helps us gain an appreciation for Gatsby’s character, but although Nick and Gatsby are both outsiders Nick fails to fully understand Gatsby. This appreciation but lack of full understanding gives the reader a very different perspective than a narration from Gatsby’s point of view or that of anyone else in the novel. Nick is caught between the perspective of the man “looking up and wondering” (35) and the man in the party. Gatsby is neither; he holds the party but then scarcely shows up. Far from being an outsider to the world of wealth and materialism, he seems to embody it. Gatsby and Nick both disdain the world of vacuous wealth, but they do so from different perspectives. Gatsby has everything he needs to be part of it and chooses not to; Nick is caught on the edge, unsure whether or not he wants that world, but ultimately he cannot have it. If Nick is an outsider unsure about trying to become an insider, Gatsby is an insider trying, studiously, to make himself an outsider.

The American dream can be defined as the promise of living in America with opportunities for all, regardless of social class, and according to their ability and effort (Schnell, 2010). Proponents of the American dream believe that there is equal opportunity for all in the American society to achieve success. Success is not pegged on social status, race, or creed, but rather on an individual’s own efforts. The definition of the American dream has unique interpretations to different people. The most common meaning is that of a life of abundance and prosperity, characterized by economic rewards that enable one to live a middle class life of comfort. Here, success is measured by material possessions such as beautiful homes, cars, a high

Frederick Douglass, he is consider one of the greatest influential civil rights activists. His full name is Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, he was born into slavery on a Maryland Eastern Shore plantation. Frederick Douglass aspect in life was to become educated, to read and write, that was the only path to freedom, for himself and fellow slaves. He wanted to truly understand the larger picture of slavery. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass gives us an eye-opening of the horror of slavery. Douglass is driven by the need to express and portray his life as a slave, he educates himself and was able to read and write and he came to realize the dehumanization that was depicted towards slavery. He was determined to escape the horror of slavery. He failed the first time, but the second time was a success. Frederick Douglass became a great abolitionist, compelling America 's view of slavery through his writing and actions. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass includes events from his life as a slave and many other stories of others slave.

American dream is the ideal that every United States citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through challenging work, determination, and initiative. Fredrick Douglass attaining freedom was merely a starting-point for Frederick Douglass. He was a world-famous abolitionist, author, and orator. Frederick Douglass published narrative detailing his time as a slave, edited his own newspaper, and traveled throughout the United States and Britain lecturing on important civil rights and social justice topics. Throughout this essay, Frederick Douglass’ biography and achievements, examples and my opinion related to the American Dream.

The idea of the American Dream has been around since America was founded, but until 1933, it was not put into words. In the article American Faces 1933’s Realities, by James Truslow Adams, he defines the American Dream as “ ...a vision of a better, deeper, richer life for every individual, regardless of the position in society which he or she may occupy by the accident of birth” (1). The American Dream does not have to be described as having copious amounts of wealth. To some, it is only a vision of a better life for themselves and their families.

There are many writers throughout American literature that discussed the topic of slavery. Some were slaves themselves, and others were just individuals who saw the injustice and cruelty of the institution for what it truly was, un-American. Slavery limited the African American’s from reaching their full potential, and deprived them of many heavenly rights every human being should have. In that time of great oppression, a certain individual, who would not even be considered human a few short years before, rose up from the ashes and ironically enough became the symbol of what I believe to be a true American. He was a self taught, self made individual that attempted and succeeded at accomplishing the unthinkable. Frederick Douglass embodies the American dream by breaking from the shackles of slavery and building a successful life that in turn, inspired others to pursue change within their social class.

of his own age. He goes on in the book to describe how he has no

No slave needs to live on a manor in the nation, and Douglass is to some degree more fortunate than most in such manner. For quite a bit of his life, he lives in Baltimore, where slaves are dealt with better, and which is a less demanding spot from which to escape to opportunity. In the nation slaves are regularly whipped fiercely, and they are once in a while sufficiently given nourishment or attire. Slave proprietors in the city would be embarrassed for their neighbors to see their slaves abandoning enough sustenance or apparel. In the city, Douglass figures out how to peruse and meets a wide assortment of individuals who help him on his street to opportunity: the white kids who help him figure out how to peruse and compose, the mariners

Although to Nick, Gatsby seems at once completely unoriginal, extremely knowable, being with him, he notes, was "like skimming hastily through a dozen magazines” (Fitzgerald 55). Gatsby, in Nick’s point of view, was disruptive. He is unable to trust Gatsby, for a fear that he would just vanish at the moment in which a promise leans toward its fulfillment.

While readers are shown this message through the downfall of greed many times, there is an emphasis on the topic specifically during the last conversation Nick and Gatsby have. Nick says to Gatsby, “you’re worth the whole damn bunch put together”(154 Fitzgerald). While this certainly isn’t a typical compliment, it comes as a surprise to readers because of Nick’s character. He was advised by his father to be careful when passing judgement on people, a recommendation that changes the telling of the entire story. Nick rarely expresses an opinion on the moral value of the people around him, and Gatsby is no exception. Based on this fact alone, the few words go a long way. In order to best understand why Nick believes this to be true, it is important to understand what makes Gatsby different from all other characters. Judging on face value, Gatsby is no different from every other person living in East or West Egg. He has excess wealth, throws too many parties, has a list of petty and meaningless relationships, and is portrayed as a liar from the beginning. At the same time, he seems careless and irresponsible, as well as socially awkward. None of these characteristics make him stand out from the crowd of equally stuck up characters. The most relevant difference that sets Gatsby aside from the crowd is that he has a goal besides making money. Tom and Daisy appear to be living in order to make money; it is as if their final destination is simply more wealth. Gatsby is separated from this group because his ultimate goal is to restore his past relationship with Daisy and is using money as a way to accomplish his goal. While the two concepts seem to bleed together, a clear distinction can be made in the purpose of having wealth. The Buchanan’s want money simply to