The Attainability of the American Dream - 1560 Words

Thesis: Some might say that the American Dream is not attainable because it takes hard work and risk to get there, however motivation to become successful, love for and from family members and the ability to recreate yourself makes the American Dream very much attainable for anyone. I. Motivation to become successful A. Franklin proved that the American Dream was not clichà ©; it just took time and effort to succeed. 1. Ben also explains in his autobiography that this dream can be accomplished by extraordinary goals, these goals push you. They push you to achieve the dream. a. Franklin had a goal to not become like his family, he wanted to be someone new and better. 2. Every person had different views on what the American dream meant to him or her. a. The clichà © dream was said and thought to be the rise from rags to riches without any effort. b. The truth was the rise of a hero is by a sudden stroke of good fortune or by making heroic acts of courage. c. Franklin believed the major part of it was not to gloat when you were wealthy but to focus on your public business not private wealth. He would indirectly gloat about his financial success. B. Many parents migrate from their home countries to come to the United States to find better money and seek higher wages at jobs. 1. Job opportunities was the biggest part of coming to the United States for immigrants, they wanted the American life that could never come true back home. a. â€Å"An estimated 48,000Show MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1287 Words   |  6 Pagesprosperity was built. As the moral foundations of American society begin to decay, so do the foundations of the American Dream itself. By having characters from all social classes share a common sentiment of discontent, Fitzgerald suggests that instead of having a common American Dream, society only has a common discontent. Seeking ways to quench such insatiable desires will ultimately lead to moral depravity, suggesting that the roots of the American Dream have also deteriorated to only just a lie. ThroughoutRead MoreNickel And Dimed, By Barbara Ehrenreich1636 Words   |  7 PagesThe concept of the American Dream has borne change since its conception in 1776, with the Declaration of Independence referencing men’s unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Its definition to the American people and its attainability is conditional upon the period it is prevalent in. In general, the American Dream refers to the idea that every American has the equality, freedom, and opportunity to strive. Many classic pieces of American Literature highlight this conceptRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald893 Words   |  4 Pageshis dream in the midst of the prohibition. The story is told from the perspective of the narrator, Nick Carraway. Nick recounts the summer he spent with Gatsby as Gatsby tries to attain the American Dream, which he has personified in his past love, Daisy Buchanan. Fitzgerald presents two contrasting responses to the American D ream through his characterization of Nick as cynical and Gatsby as hopeful. Nick’s cynical response to Gatsby’s meeting with Daisy shows Nick’s response to the American dreamRead MoreAnalysis Of Barbara Ehrenreich s Nickel And Dimed1337 Words   |  6 PagesAchieving the American Dream Living in America is said to provide an opportunity to anyone who works hard and strives for prosperity. Despite this saying, many people still reside in the lower-class after years of working laborious jobs. Indeed, some people have miraculously found their way out of the gutters on the system, but most people happen to not be as lucky. Through experience, author Barbara Ehrenreich finds that the social divide in America makes the American Dream much more difficultRead MoreThe American Dream By Dan Kadlec1344 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Dream is steadily changing as time goes on and some say this is a bad thing. As different generations come about the dream changes with the people. As stated by Dan Kadlec in the article â€Å"Millennials Put Their Surprising Stamp on the American Dream† the American dream is now seen as having control over your daily life. Today s generation has seen some of the main aspects of the original American Dream fail greatly so they have ma de up a new dream. With the things Millennials have seenRead MoreThe American Dream is Built on Family Bonds Essay1305 Words   |  6 Pages The American Dream is a concept that is essentially older than the United States, dating back to the seventeenth century. It was then when people began to come up with hopes and aspirations for the newly discovered, unexplored continent. The â€Å"American Dream† is in essence the idea in that puts forward the notion that all people can succeed through hard work, that all people have the right to the pursuit of happiness, and be successful. The definition of the American Dream has been expanded uponRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1524 Words   |  7 Pages Though many generations have defined the American Dream as obtaining economic success and prosperity, for many people, economic security is rather something that corrupts the mind and leads to the degradation of one’s soul. The Great Gatsby, Her Kind, and Frien ds all depict people of different backgrounds that are deeply affected by the culture of their upbringing. They support the idea that the American Dream is ultimately not about wealth, rather it is about seizing opportunities and the freedomRead MoreGreat Gatsby - the Green Light1560 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald deals on one level with Jay Gatsby’s hopes and dreams, but on a deeper level also deals with the Great American Dream. The novel starts and ends with a reference to the green light at the end of the dock, indicating an important symbolism. The first time Nick catches sight of Jay Gatsby, Gatsby â€Å"stretched his arms towards the dark water [†¦] [Nick] distinguished nothing except a single green light [†¦] that might have been at the end of a dock.† (Fitzgerald 2000:25)Read MoreGreat Gatsby - the Green Light1554 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald deals on one level with Jay Gatsby’s h opes and dreams, but on a deeper level also deals with the Great American Dream. The novel starts and ends with a reference to the green light at the end of the dock, indicating an important symbolism. The first time Nick catches sight of Jay Gatsby, Gatsby â€Å"stretched his arms towards the dark water [†¦] [Nick] distinguished nothing except a single green light [†¦] that might have been at the end of a dock.† (Fitzgerald 2000:25)Read MoreThe Principles Of The American Constitution1720 Words   |  7 PagesThe principles of the American constitution base it’s ideals on Judeo-Christian beliefs and morals. Laws against murder, adultery, theft and practices deemed â€Å"unholy† were instituted with belief these guidelines and restrictions would create a stable but more importantly, prosperous nation economically and socially. However, nearing the 1920’s these rules were challenged in their purity and importance which lead many to question the d octrine of the ideal lifestyle those involved in religious practice