...“What is an Ideal society?” A society is a group of individuals living in the same place and sharing the same values called civilization. In fact we have heard and seen different type of societies from the royal ancient Egypt to the actual modern democratic society. Different persons have different visions, Martin Luther King describes his own vision of an ideal society in “I have a dream” but let’s find out what make up his vision and compare it to others. The world has known many political leaders who thoroughly influenced its organizational society among them, Martin Luther King. King was an African American, leader of the civil rights movements. He is known for his famous speech “I have a dream”. In his address, King brings up some painful memories; he evokes slavery and other injustice that Black people have suffered from in the past. He points out the fact that even though slavery has ended the socio economic conditions of Negros remain very deplorable compared to their whites’ counterparts. But let’s find out who was Martin Luther King? King was a black man who spent most of his life fighting against discrimination and racial segregation in the nineteen sixty’s. He was leading the civil rights movement and was claiming justice, equality of for all citizens .In fact, in his speech, he states, ” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of the former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood...
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...The Unachievable American Dream One of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, and one of the most iconic civil rights activists in our countries history, Martin Luther King Jr., both believed in equality for all. In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson wrote “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” ( 327). Since then, America has become the number one country for achieving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, we know this better as the American Dream. The American Dream is something that every American strives for. Immigrants from other countries come here and become American citizens with the hope of someday achieving their ideal American Dream. We all design and carry this image in our heads of our own American Dream. The job we hope to have and the pleasant family we hope to build and raise in our perfect ideal homes, are all images that come to mind when thinking of the American Dream. Most of us, every day of our lives, are doing the best we can. We try to make this dream become a reality, but the reality of this dream is that it’s getting harder and harder to reach; due to unemployment, poverty, and our countries overall economic state. Over the past few years the country’s economy has been in a downward spiral and we’ve reached an economic recession. Poverty and unemployment rates amongst United States citizens have...
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...The American Dream is the aspiration to obtain wealth, status and power based on the desire of self-betterment through self-reliance and accomplishment. F Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby, is an effective critique on the corruption that surrounds the American Dream. It is also a commentary on the warped view of Western hedonism and idealized lifestyles. The dream is portrayed strongly through the characters, depicting undignified ways to obtain wealth, the amoral social interactions and the illusion of affection and false fellowship. Thus exposing the unscrupulousness, self-absorption and disillusionment that lie at the wake of the American Dream. Fitzgerald critiques on the ideal of ‘self-made’ men (financially) and how through sheer desperation, men stray from conformity and followed a deviated path in order to reach wealth. The American Dream is the belief that regardless of one’s socio-economic background, an individual could still reach financial triumph through hard work, education and drive-which has been the belief of the American society. According to American sociologist Robert K. Merton, American society has generated common desires and pressures for material possession-which is how success was measured- those who fail to succeed by conformity or valid means, resort to devious acts to do so. Fitzgerald comments on this aspect of his society through the portrayal of Gatsby in the novel; who employed unorthodox ways of obtaining wealth in order to gain his incommunicable...
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...Raskolinikov’s third dream takes place while he is hospitalized in the prison as “he is still lying in feverish delirium” (pg 547). He envisions that a microscopic bug carrying an infectious pathogen has swept across Europe. The narrator specifies that “these creatures were spirits, endowed with reason and will” (pg 547), which makes the infected believe they are all-knowing. Believing that each individual’s ideals and beliefs were superior to the rest, society begins to destroy itself and chaos erupts. As society implodes and nearly everyone is killed, the only ones left, are those who are described as “pure and chosen” (pg 547). It is up to this remainder of the human population to renew mankind. This dream illustrates Raskolinikov’s significant...
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...Scott Wednesday, March 26, 2003 The Pursuit of a Dream Janet Sharp Herman Mississippi History 411 1. In this book there is a dream trying to be achieved. First, Jefferson Davis tries to create an ideal society. This society would be one in which members would strive to make the society work for all of its participants. Davis leaves his job as a successful lawyer to implement this dream. He buys a plantation and slaves. Among his slaves he tries to construct this new society. The Civil War put an end to Davis’ pursuit of this dream. But all was not lost for it. Benjamin Montgomery, one of Davis’ former slaves, brought Davis’ land and tried to continue the dream himself. After a period of prosperity, the society again began to decline. His son Isaiah Montgomery moved himself and a number of Davis’ former slaves to a small settlement in the Mississippi Delta. The area later was named Mound Bayou and served to be the ideal society for post-war blacks. The colony prospered and later declined. The theme of the book was the ultimate achievement of the dream. No matter who was trying to execute it or where they were trying to achieve it, the dream was the most important element of the book. The author’s main points were the start of the dream, Davis’s persistent pursuit of the dream, and Montgomerys later taking the dream to another level. 2. Joseph Davis’ dream was an ideal society. This society would be an efficient, prosperous slave plantation. It...
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...“The American Dream is that any man or woman, despite his or her background, can change their circumstances and rise as high as they are willing to work” (Fabrizio Moreira). Ecuadorian politician, Fabrizio Moreira, recognizes this widespread idea and the primary criteria that embody the overall picture. It is believed that if one is given the freedom and opportunity, he or she has the ability to work to achieve their own goals. In the early 1900s, this idea of achieving the ‘American Dream’ was quite prevalent throughout the United States. Immigrants came from all around the globe to simply obtain the opportunity to change their quality of life and maintain a sense of freedom. However, due to varying social, political, and economic conditions...
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...The American Dream: An American Constant As a newborn child lies in his mother’s arms in an American hospital following his birth, he doesn’t possess courtesy to be grateful for the gifts bestowed upon him; this baby hasn’t merely been given life. This infant has been given an opportunity that we have come to know as The American Dream. This ideal will be held constant in the mind of this moments old baby as soon as he is mature enough to yearn and desire the concept of gain. America is widely believed to be a land of opportunity, so the concept of The American Dream is an ethos taken to heart in almost every being who respects America. Every day, people set out to achieve their full potential and succeed. Though, in America we are blessed with freedom, I feel the assumption that being free yields success and happiness is a false premise. I believe the only way to define true success of this ideal is unconditional happiness and success. To achieve this dream proves nearly impossible; as humans, we instinctively desire more. Success, like the concept of The American Dream, is truly subjective. We go to different colleges, have different majors, and surround ourselves with different people; how can success truly be defined? To me, The American Dream proves to be more hope and incentive to better yourself and your family for future generations to come. In respect to the subjectivity of the term, The American Dream will always mean different things to different people. As a...
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...utopia is described as a perfect, highly desirable society where all citizens live in peace. The job of a utopian society, whether it is real or not, is to create a desirable goal for all people. "An ideal may be reasonably defined as a standard of perfection supremely desirable but not fully attainable",(Bottiglia). An example of a place that fits these standards is Eldorado from Voltaire’s Candide. Candide stumbled upon this place of great wealth and beauty with Cacambo and thought it must be the best possible world, therefore a utopia. “Fountains of pure water, rose-water, and sugar-cane liqueur played unceasingly in public squares, which were paved with a kind of precious stone smelling of cloves and cinnamon”,(Butt...
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...Her appearance, her face in particular, never changes and never appears older even if her figure changes, “One selfsame figure sits or walks or leans.” He is obsessed with her beauty and her face. The image of the artist “feeding upon her face by day and night,” also shows how obsessive and how much of a perfectionist he is. I view his obsession for this perfect face to be something that is possibly missing in his life, and her image on the canvas is providing him with whatever it appears to be. Again, his appetite for her face, fills him up every time he looks at her. He is so obsessed with the way she looks that when he isn’t drawing her face and trying to perfect her appearance, he gazes at her during the day and he dreams about her every night. He dreams about this perfect woman and draws her in this image of perfection....
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...Scott Fitzgerald one can see that the idea of the American dream is expressed through the simplicity of color. Many have argued that The Great Gatsby is a book of sexual immorality and critically acclaimed thoughts as well as a magnificent book that secretly has deeper meaning than the simply words it offers in its sentences. Such a person is Daniel J. Schneider who is an advocate of the glory behind the cover, he wrote “Color Symbolism in The Great Gatsby” where he puts forward his own point of view on the meaning of the use of Fitzgerald’s color symbolism in each sentence were he expressed an elusive idea hard for the common reader to find. In this mysterious book the color blue is very much present, from describing attire to showing the mode of the characters, blue goes beyond this and elusively states that it is the dream...
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...from another nation to form an encompassing society in this nation. America is comprised of a literal and metaphorical “melting pot” of immigrant cultures, customs, religions, and philosophies. Although our flag is not tied together by one culture or ethnicity, certain characteristics are truly woven into a person on this soil. An American is not defined by their religion, customs or place or origin, but by their drive for freedom, equality and the pursuit of the American Dream. Every American has been shaped by the plethora of different cultures that permeate through this unique society. While many other nations divide or separate through differences, Americans can be tied together by these very same disparities. A citizen can be English, Chinese, Polish, Italian, Greek; they can be Catholic, Buddhist, Jewish, or Islamic. No religion, no custom, no ethnicity can truly define every citizen of America because it “is every person’s country” (Crevecoeur 309). Yet, because of this great diversity, many Americans have an appreciation or understanding for the co-existence of lifestyles and beliefs. Since the founding of this country in Jamestown and the Pilgrims of Plymouth, immigrants “of every hue and caste … of every rank and religion” (Whitman 1015) have brought their different ways of life to the United States. Traditions and customs of many different cultures were introduced to America with the arrival of immigrants from various societies. This diversity that composes this country...
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...My Dream Company My dream company is an organization that values its employees, nurtures intrapreneurs, gives them the freedom to be innovative and allows them to turn their innovative ideas into realities. Company where a healthy work environment dominates. When employees are free to be innovative, the company portfolio will be much more than just product improvements, and will include better business models, customer service improvements, as well as continuous process improvements. In my dream company management team will consider needs and interests in all conected with organization,not only those who have directly financial relations with company profit. Namely: employees, suppliers, customers, competitors, government agencies, clams, public entities and others. In my ideal company, all decisions made by owners are reasonable business decision. This decisions work for the good of everyone in the company and respond positively to those following: they are the only ones alternatively, are fair to all concerned, will create goodwill in the organization. Ideal company is one which gives its employees the opportunity to develop creative approaches in order to increase the profitability of the business while working towards the prosperity of society. Not only does an employee expect monetary rewards from an organization but also recognition for their hard work. Also, I dream to work in such an organization where the organization takes into consideration their work...
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...GROWING UP IN AMERICA, MANY PEOPLE ARE TAUGHT THAT THERE IS THIS THING CALLED THE AMERICAN DREAM. THIS DREAM DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. MEN OR WOMEN, BLACK OR WHITE, PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD CAN TAKE REFUGE IN THIS COUNTRY AND BUILD A LIFE OF THEIR OWN AND POTENTIALLY BECOME SUCCESSFUL. ANDREW CARNEGIE EXEMPLIFIED THE AMERICAN DREAM: HE WAS A POOR IMMIGRANT WHO BECAME ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST MEN ON THE PLANET. THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE CAN ENTER A SOCIETY OF FREEDOM AND BECOME WHATEVER THEY WANT TO BE IS AN IDEAL. BUT IDEALS ARE NOT ALWAYS REALITY, WHICH IS AN IDEA THAT CAN BE SEEN OFTEN IN LITERATURE. MANY AUTHORS USE THEIR WORK TO PORTRAY HOW MANY SOCIETAL IDEALS ARE ACTUALLY FLAWED. IN GEORGE ORWELL’S NOVEL 1984, THE PROTAGONIST, WINSTON SMITH, STRUGGLES WITH THE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE PRESENT AND THE PAST. WINSTON DREAMS, IMAGINES, AND ROMANTICISES THAT CAPITALISM AND THE PAST WAS MUCH BETTER THEN PRESENT TOTALITARIAN RULE. WINSTON DOES NOT HAVE ANY REAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE PAST, BECAUSE THE HIGHER POWER, BIG BROTHER, HAS DESTROYED ALL OF IT. SO THIS POSES THE QUESTION, IS IMAGINATION REALLY STRONGER THAN KNOWLEDGE? ORWELL USES WINSTON’S EXPERIENCES WITH HIS IMAGINATION AND HOPE TO SHOW THAT HIS IMPRACTICALITY RESULTS IN HIS DEMISE. SO NO WINSTON’S IMAGINATION AND HOPE IS NOT STRONGER THAN HIS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. IN FACT, THE AMERICAN DREAM HAS BECOME A FANTASY. IN THE BEGINNING OF THE NOVEL, READERS ARE TAUGHT WINSTON'S LIFESTYLE AND HOW HE LONGS FOR THE PAST. WINSTON IS A VERY...
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...The American dream has stood to be each person’s idea of success. The American dream is usually associated with 1940’s America depiction of the ideal family, as can be depicted from television shows such as Leave it to Beaver. However, this is one aspect and shallow analysis of the American dream that is not appropriate for all reaching to achieve their American dream. In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Miller succeeds in portraying this through the characters Willy and Biff. Their conflict represents two varying perspectives of the American dream, and this very struggle leads to the conclusion that the American dream is rooted in the pursuit of a better life. Throughout Death of a Salesman, Miller portrays two ideas of the American dreams and it is definite that they are “American dreams” as they both deal with success and that character’s idea of success. Though, this is where characters’ views differ and conflict with one another. Willy’s American dream is to have his children succeed and to leave his imprint on the society which he was unable to succeed in doing so in a life long career as a salesman. Furthermore, Willy lived in the ideology that being “well liked” was far more important and and necessary than being a Bernard type of person and make a living based on his studies. Willy’s belief and encouragement of this ideology upon his sons influenced Biff immensely. As a result, Biff did not put the effort into his studies that would have enabled him to pass...
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...Jennifer Mills Professor Usha Wahwani English 102 1, April 2013 A Detailed Look at Death of a Salesman Death of a Salesman has been accepted worldwide as one of the greatest American dramas to premier in theatre. The story behind the play is based on Miller’s interactions with his Uncle, a salesman whose efforts to obtain the “American Dream” and pass his success on to his two sons becomes his main focus. Miller’s life during the preparation of Death of a Salesman provides the spark and inspiration needed to pen a literary classic. Almost five decades later, Death of a Salesman’s themes is still relevant in today’s society. Arthur Asher Miller was born October 17, 1915 in Harlem, New York City. Miller was the son of Isadora and Augustus Miller, Polish Jewish immigrants who settled in Harlem in the early 1900’s. Arthur’s father owned a successful women’s clothing manufacturing company that employed hundreds of people. Although he was a figure of wealth and prominence in the community the Wall Street Crash of 1929 left the successful family in a financial struggle. They relocated to a section in Brooklyn known as Gravesend. There Miller delivered bread to help the family maintain. In 1932 he graduated Abraham Lincoln High School. After high school miller enrolled at the University of Michigan. He worked several small jobs to pay for his college tuition. He first majored in journalism, taking up freelance writing for the Michigan Daily. While he served as a reporter and night...
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