Is The American Dream Attainable?

In the article “America and Americas: Is the American Dream Even Possible?”, written by John Steinbeck, he uses a series of paradoxes and generalities to show how Americans themselves are paradoxical and how they are never happy with what they have. For example, the author states “We fancy ourselves as hard-headed realists, but we will buy anything we see advertised, particularly on television, and we buy it not with reference to the quality or value of the product, but directly as a result of the number of times we have heard it mentioned” (Steinbeck). With the use of this paradox, Steinbeck is demonstrating how Americans claim to be realistic people, yet they will buy something that is unrealistic without even questioning it. “One of the

The American Dream is a two sided discussion. Some believe the American Dream is easily accessible to anyone. Others believe the American Dream does not exist today. Then there is the gray area of believing the American Dream exists but is harder to achieve for some. The American Dream is also different for every person. People have materialist dreams. Hoping to have nice cars, big houses, and a full wallet. Compared to the Americans who dream of freedom, safety, and family.

In history, there are many recurring themes, one of the biggest is the “American Dream”. Many people resonate the words dream, freedom, equality, and the opportunity to achieve their utmost desired and achievable dreams. This definition of a perfect land that helps you achieve your dream has been termed the “American Dream.” The “American Dream”, which is supposedly available for all Americans, has unfortunately become untrue for those who are minorities or immigrants. The “American Dream” is dictated by the American society that is controlled by a racial hierarchy that does not give access to the American dream for those who are not part of the preferred race and who don’t fit into its structured box of singularity. Overall, The American

Dreams are merely your own fantasies living within your mind. The American Dream is anything you believe it to be, all depending on each individual's mentality. If there was a better way of saying this, it would be like this: “Never let it be said that to dream is a waste of one’s time, for dreams are our realities in waiting. In dreams, we plant the seeds of our future” (unknown). The American Dream is a misconception for the ways that society has portrayed it to be. As how society paints a portrait in the minds of people, that America is only about freedom and equality where life comes easier than it does in other countries. There is no right way to fulfill the American Dream. For some it may be to simply emigrate to the U.S, to provide a better life for

The American dream can be one of the most possible things to have EVER been possible. Us as people must realize what we can work with. We can eventually become one of the world’s greatest countries to live in. If anything, we are already acceding a point in potential to became THE greatest county to ever live in. We have some amazing people that can do some amazing stuff for our country. Other countries might be thinking the same exact thing for their country, but I strongly think that anyone can do anything in the USA. So much opportunities to take in this country, but us humans are being put down for our hopes and dreams by other people. Sometimes it isn’t fair for certain people, they just don’t realize the type of impact that we can all

Among many Americans, a common misconception exists. This misconception is the belief that all Americans can achieve anything, no matter where they started from. This belief can be considered the American Dream. I have personally perceived that the American Dream is a malleable belief that changes with every person who wields it. For some, it might be living the high life at the end of Wall Street, finally receiving the job as a lawyer they always wanted, or lounging on a front porch of a country barn, watching the sun slowly creep over the horizon. In reality, only those fortunate enough to be born in a wealthy family with no ethnic oppression can really achieve the American Dream.

The American Dream is indefinable. There is no one set of words or characteristics that the entire population assigns directly to its definition. With the American population consisting of people of various races, ethnicities, ages, classes, and genders, it seems trivial to even attempt to attribute a single definition to the concept of the American Dream. It is this inability however, to be confined within one single meaning, that allows for the American Dream to govern the desires and goals of the large and diverse American population. And, regardless of all of the heterogeneity within society, the American Dream is generally a goal of all American peoples. In examining this idea, I began to think about the specific meanings attributed to the American Dream for different types of individuals. I broadly outlined the American Dream for myself, to represent the belief in hard work as a pathway to success and raising oneself in society. Consequently, this higher position in society allows for the possession of increased amounts of power. My definition however, neglects to take into account the certain other societal constructs that could possibly have a decisive role in how to both define and achieve the American Dream for the wide variety of people who pursue it.

The “American Dream” has always been this country’s greatest and most successful form of propaganda. The notion of the “American Dream” has bred entitlement since the term was coined by James Truslow Adams during the 1930s. Many Americans have, and still feel, entitled to achieving the “American Dream” even though this phrase has never been attainable for all members of American society. Despite Adams hoping the “American Dream” would transcend “birth or position” allowing anyone to attain the Dream, obviously this has not been possible for everyone living in the U.S. The wage gap between men and women easily makes attaining the Dream difficult, since the social order still does not pay women for the same jobs as men. Additionally, the racism which systematically pervades all of our institutions makes the Dream merely a dream for black people, as institutions are systematized to hinder the growth of Black Americans. White Americans face only the challenge of individual wealth. Owning a home is often impossible as these institutions have implemented ways to hinder the growth of non-white Americans.

The American Dream has always been a driving force in the lives of Americans. It has become a foundation of ideals and hopes for any American or immigrant. Specifically, one of the ideals that always exist is the dream of America free of class distinction. Every American hopes for a society where every person has the opportunity to be whomever he or she desire. Another ideal in the American dream is the drive to improve the quality of life. As one’s idea of the American Dream gets closer and closer, often times political and social ideals of America cause their American Dream to take a turn for the worst.

Many years ago today, the United States of America was the prime example of prosperity and opportunity. It established America with the idea that its citizens would be guaranteed life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, it is true that people have liberties and are free to pursue happiness. However, in recent years, in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Unemployment, growing economy inequality, and medical care have skyrocketed. Despite the odds, the American Dream is still a goal that many people strive for and hope to reach. In fact, an essay written by Brandon King, The American Dream: Dead, Alive or on Hold? He says, “the American dream is a dream in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with the opportunity for each according to his/her ability and achievement…” (King 610-611). Therefore, the problem with the American Dream lies not within the dream itself, but within the means people pursue to attain this dream.

The common question that is asked is, Is the American Dream still reachable in today’s world? Immigrants come from all over to try to achieve the American dream and leave behind a better life for their children. If you were to ask someone what they believe the american dream is, They would most likely say the American Dream is to have a nice job and nice house and provide for their family. The American Dream is the idea that every U.S. citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. The American Dream is still achievable for most people today because if Americans strive for your own pursuit of happiness and continue to go toward your dream then you can achieve the American Dream but also for some people the American Dream may not be achievable due to job scarcity or

“The American Dream” is advertised as being the act of a person having an idea, goal, or as the saying suggests, a dream, and then them spending time, energy, and money to make it come true. However, if you haven’t realized it yet, there’s a reason they call it a dream because it hardly becomes a reality. More and more people are realizing this so called “dream” is nothing but a hoax, and that the promises America assures and guarantees such as equal opportunity and equal success are nothing but pure manipulation. Furthermore, the American dream no longer stands by the virtue of discrimination and prejudice, overwhelming debt, and failed establishments.

Is The American Dream Worth Achieving? The American Dream founded this country, filling citizens with ideas of hope and prosperity; the idea of a better tomorrow. Inaugurated on the notion that “all men are created equal” (Declaration of Independence), there should be nothing a person cannot achieve through hard work. However, with the observation that there are many social barriers in between the lower class and the American Dream, it becomes nearly impossible. Once the wealth and white picket fence is attained, there is nothing left to strive for.

It was once said by Tommy Hilfiger, “The road to success is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, it's possible to achieve the American dream”. However, some believe that the American Dream is unachievable but this is not the case. If the American Dream were to be described as a painted picture it would have the American flag wrapped around Miss Liberty as a blanket as she held a seed at the palm of her hands. The flag would represent the freedom America offers. Then, would be Miss Liberty, who holds the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by one's way of life, behavior, or radical opinions. Lastly, the seed within her hand would be a representation of the chances for opportunities

In the 1920’s, the American Dream is a main part of the reason anyone moves to America in the first place. Everyone wants that promise of riches, happiness, and everything they could ever possibly want. At the same time, across the globe, the Russian Rebellion had recently happened in 1918, and the first communist state had been created out of the wreckage. Communism is based on Marxism, created by Karl Marx, and outlined in the “Communist Manifesto”. The Marxists have a view on the American Dream just as the people who want the American Dream do, but their view is slightly different. Marxists believe that the American Dream is impossible to achieve for 99% of the population, as Capitalism, the economic system that the United States goes by is the opposite of the American Dream. Capitalism promotes getting ahead anyway a person can, and that once they are up, they should try to keep themselves up and never allow anyone else a chance to rise, while the American Dream says that everyone gets a chance to become something more than they were. In “Marxist Criticism” From Lois Tyson’s Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide, she outlines the Marxist belief with her explanation of why the American Dream is just a facade. Tyson states that we are blinded to the horrors and failures of the United States past, from “the genocide of Native Americans, [to] the enslavement of Africans, the virtual enslavement of indentured servants, [to] the