Is The American Dream Truly Attainable Essay

to their European nations proclaiming the majesty and wonder of America. This led to the centuries-old term, the American Dream. As months, years, and decades went by, this dream continued to bring in immigrants and others hoping to find what they were looking for in this new land. While some found this great promise of the American borders, many were left disappointed. The American Dream is just that, simply an idea. The shortcomings of this preconceived notion are shown through the works of two Great

Scarlet Letter, portrays the American Dream as being somewhat achievable in those times because the three main characters mostly achieved their goals, except the suspicious physician, Roger Chillingworth. The three main characters, Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Arthur Dimmesdale all have aspirations that fit the definition of the American dream: if hard work is put in, goals are always attainable. Reverend Dimmesdale, an individual who has proved the American Dream by accomplishing his very

There is a misconception that anyone living in America can simply grasp the concept of the American Dream; no matter a human being's life experiences, cultural background, or language spoken. The Declaration of Independence states, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"(Jefferson, paragraph two). These words are inscribed in

Many are familiar with the “story-truth” of the American Dream. There is a wealth of stories in regards to individuals who persevere through adversity and achieve staggering feats, working to make their American Dream a reality. However, The “happening-truth” of the American Dream is more dim, filled with stories of failure. Even through hard work, many Americans are barely able to sustain themselves, let alone consider following a dream. The United States has a strikingly high poverty rate for being

Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, a novel documenting the experiences Nick Carraway has in New York, is ultimately used to voice Fitzgerald’s perception of the American dream. Nick, voicing the message from Fitzgerald, affirms his confidence in the matter that the American Dream will always be unattainable. From the beginning of the novel, Gatsby is illustrated as a mysterious character who constantly changes his backstory in an attempt to appeal to the “old rich.” As Nick and Gatsby became acquainted

Struggle in the Search for the American Dream The American Dream. Ahhhh, sounds nice doesn’t it? From the earliest centuries beginning with the Pilgrims settling on Plymouth, to the struggle for gender and racial equality, to the desire of having a perfect family with a substantial amount of money, the American Dream is always present. The idea that used to be so romanticised because of the materialized glory and fortune that came along with it, is now the ideology has completely changed. In our

When you ask someone what does the American Dream mean to them, they either tell you to go from dirt poor to filthy rich, or live a comfortable lifestyle with a white picket fence, family, and financial security. In the 1900s everyone would tell you the first one, although in present day more and more people just want to live with the second option. When the Great Depression occured in 1929, not only did it take a toll on the economy of the United States, but also the spirit. A famous historian during

Mia Mooko AP Lang. Summer Assignment 30 July 2016 The Great Gatsby Section One: 1. By the third paragraph of the third chapter, verb tense changes. What is the effect of this change, or what do you think it 's purpose is? When describing Gatsby 's parties, Fitzgerald switches from past to present tense not only to make the reader feel as if they are engulfed in the festivities, but to also emphasize the repetitiveness and predictability of his parties. By using present tense, the reader

young, they are told to “dream big” and “shoot for the stars”. Nothing seems impossible. As people grow older, they become more aware of reality and dim their childhood dreams to a more practical level. However, this light always remains in the back of their brain, keeping them wondering what if? What if they had continued to pursue this goal despite the likeliness of failure? Would it still be worth it? Fences by August Wilson tells the story of an impoverished African-American family in the 1950s and

be reached. The illusionary nature of a dream can be likened unto a mirage. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and A Death Of A Salesman by Arthur Miller, both the main characters are living this ongoing fantasy of chasing their dreams. Both Jay Gatsby and Willy Loman ultimately want to fulfill their American Dream, but are misguided to believe that they are getting closer to their Dream, when in reality they are just as far away from their Dream as when they started. The