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.
Does being American mean that you’re an American citizen, or does it mean that you have the same rights and decisions as someone who is a successful American citizen? These decisions include choices you make in order to better yourself in life, whether it has to do with your choice in career, or what you want to do in life. Making decisions, and having choices comes with freedom, as a person, and that reflects on being an American everywhere in the world, even though you’ve never been in America. To be an American means that you have the freedom, and rights to do what you want, be who you are, and be/ become who you want. This right of having the freedom to do what you want, can be elaborated by someone’s life chances.
"The American Dream is that any man or woman, despite of his or her background, can change their circumstances and rise as high as they are willing to work” (Fabrizio Moreira). For many years, men and women struggled to achieve the idealistic life of living on independent terms. Many characters in Of Mice and Men work in order to pursue and achieve the American Dream that consisted of having their own house and income. Characters in the book may use that dream to help the overcome their life struggles and personal problems. Of Mice and Men tells the story of two friends, George and Lennie, who find themselves on a ranch in pursuit of their dreams. Unfortunately for them, circumstances beyond their control cost Lennie and George their dream and much more. In Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, Steinbeck portrays how dreams create a false sense of hope in order to cover up the realities of life through George, Curley’s wife, and Candy.
American Dream? American Dream: Noun, the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity traditionally held to be available to every American. That is the definition of the American dream according to Dictionary.com, but the American Dream is more than a definition, but a way of life for many. Millions of immigrants come
The American dream is what makes people from all around the world to want to move to America. The American dream is what makes America wonderful. The American dream has been categorized as an equal opportunity to attain success through hard work. The end result of the American dream for the universal people is for that character and their loved ones to be living contentedly for the rest of their lives. However, this is not the same apparition that every individual has of the American dream. The American dream differs from many different social classes of people in America. Comparing the picture of the American dream between the upper-class, middle-class, and lower-class can result in different situations. All in all there are many different discernments of the American dream for discrepant social classes yet every American in their lifetime will want to achieve their version of the American dream.
The American Dream is a concept that has been wielded in American Literature since its beginnings. The ‘American Dream’ ideal follows the life of an ordinary man wanting to achieve life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The original goal of the American dream was to pursue freedom and a
The American Dream- The human race’s tasks in the United States for what they strive for, for ourselves and our families and even for each other to achieve a grand satisfaction with the life we all lead. When any student or young person first hears the American dream they assume it is only but one thing until they learn it is a phrase meaning said person’s personal goal given possibility by freedom. The student will then cultivate and mull over their end goal for life. The goal is almost never the same and can range from the extreme like pro mountain skier/fighter pilot or be nice and quaint like owning a little family business or opening a bakery with your significant other in a small town. No matter what you choose I’ll be the one to tell these stories with a camera and a talented writer.
Kumchai Praponpoj Professor G 11/19/2017 Does learning the English Language affect one’s chances at attaining the “American Dream”? In my opinion, I believe that English is a gateway to achieving the American Dream. English is one of the most dominant language in the world. According to the Babel Magazine, it is the third most spoken language by number of native speaker and probably the most commonly spoken language. English language greatly influenced in every field of study and our daily basis that it is inevitable for people to ignore it. By becoming proficient in English, one’s is a step closer to achieving American Dream.
I believe that the American Dream is alive and dead. I also believe that humanity will never reach a point where everyone has an equal opportunity in everything as we crave power and not good will. Those who are rich will continue as so and those who are poor will most likely not improve. However, I also believe that one can achieve happiness through any situation they are put in. That being said, it requires gargantuan amounts of strife to put oneself in a certain mindset to see the positive in life. While still being naive and young I have traces of optimism for the future; as a result, I refuse to accept that the American Dream is dead. But as life sets in and I develop a more realistic perspective, it is becoming an ever more
People cannot achieve the American Dream as a result of obstacles relating to race, gender, and socioeconomic status; this can be rectified by instituting equal housing and service programs nationwide. The racial blockades on the path to reaching the American Dream are apparent throughout the stories of many. The lives of these people are wrought with racism and discrimination, for no reason other than the color of their skin. A plethora of women are also held back and prevented from attaining their goals, as a result of their gender. In each of their unique stories, they are unnecessarily defined by their gender, and averting those women from their objective of the American Dream. Accompanying race and gender, socioeconomic status serves
If the American Dream is defined as owning a house, like one of those two-story, four-bedroom, and white picket fence houses, or even a one -story, two-bedroom, chain-fenced yard, then no, I could not say with a strong conviction that this the dream that exists in the hearts of all
For many immigrants, America is the chance for success. The United States stands for liberty and opportunity and proceeds to stand tall around other nations that cripple with time. Our iconic symbol is the Statue of Liberty, which migrants would first see when they came into our country seeking a better life than they left behind. America is filled with a much-perceived wealth, but what may seem like gold to foreigners is actually just pyrite.
The United States is known for the American Dream. The belief of this was that every citizen, no matter the class, rights, race, or gender, should have the same opportunities to succeed. People wanted to start their own business, get an education, start a family, and pay to send them off to college. The motto went from, “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” from the Ford administration to “success is not given, it is earned” which was created during Obama’s presidency. This dream has become increasingly difficult to achieve over the past few years, unless you are one of the top 1% super wealthy citizens. Corporations have been attempting to take control of the government and to make sure that they stay on top while everyone else struggles to
The American Dream has been a prominent idea in American society for a very long time. It says that anyone, from any class, religion, race or background can achieve a good job, a home, car and family through only their hard work. As time has passed, the American Dream fades
America has always been considered a melting pot. Today, it is filled with people of many different backgrounds and is more diverse than ever before. Mostly all of these people are in search of a better life or strive to accomplish “The American Dream”. Although, there is an underlying factor that restricts these dreams from becoming a reality. In society, mainstream today requires people to be and act like the “ideal American” to fully succeed in this world. There is a bias in society that if someone does not fit the perfect description of an American they will not be the best at any job or goal they want to achieve. The mainstream that is active in America today has created norms that people must fulfill in order to have a fair chance at succeeding. In Sherry Turkle’s passage “The Flight From Conversation” she elaborates on how technology distracts us from living a full life and working toward personal goals. This passage relates to In “Covering: Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights” by Kenji Yoshino because he explains how mainstream pressures people to be someone they aren’t, which also distracts them from their personal goals because they have a new role to fill. He explains how the mainstream today as forced people to cover up stigmas to be presented as normal and how assimilation has never been lost in American society, even when culture had shifted to “celebrate diversity”. Defining others has become a routine to ultimately decide if a person can succeed in this world