...“America! From the other end of the earth where I came, America was a land of living hope, woven of dreams, aflame with longing and desire” (Yezierska 16). This quote centers on America’s promise to provide everyone with access to the American Dream. The American Dream is the thoughts, aspirations, visions and hopes associated with one’s future in America, specifically one’s goals, ambitions, and intents. In recent times, the dynamics of the American Dream has changed, and this shift has raised questions as to whether America is keeping its promise pertaining to the American Dream. While many Americans assert that because they have been able to achieve their goals America still provides access to the American Dream, others insist they have no way to achieve their American Dream because the...
Words: 1073 - Pages: 5
...The American Dream something that is easy because it is generally what everyone strives to live throughout their life. The Dream is that everyone should have an equal opportunity to achieve the best. I don’t agree with this “Dream”. I think it is actually impossible. No one will ever be equal in this society. Whites and men will always be “better” and even though that isn’t right it happens. With the luck of the draw you could live the American Dream, but without luck you aren’t going to be very lucky. Inequality is a major setback for everyone trying to achieve the American Dream. Source 1 states, “All americans should be equal.” but why won’t our society to allow them to be? Whites and males tend to be “superior” over everyone else. Men...
Words: 409 - Pages: 2
...Have you ever wanted anything so bad, you would have done anything to get it? In the story “The Great Gatsby” it talks about a man named Jay Gatsby and how he tried to achieve his American Dream. Jay Gatsby did everything he can to try to achieve his American Dream, even if that meant showing off, being sneaky, and fighting. First off, Jay Gatsby loves to show off. There has been multiple times he has shown off in the story. One of the times he showed off was to impress Daisy. He invited both Daisy and Nick to his house. Gatsby showed Daisy some shirts and Daisy fell in love with them. “They’re such beautiful shirts.” she sobbed, her voice muffled in the thick folds. “It makes me sad because i've never seen such-such beautiful shirts before.”...
Words: 771 - Pages: 4
...The purpose of working is to make money and achieve the American Dream, however, reality is not as sweet as dream, people work like workaholic, and they never have plenty of money like the rich. Despite this bitter reality, people still give up everything they have and come to the U.S like the ephemera see the light. However, the light will burn the ephemera like how the rich make the poor suffer, and slower the upward mobility. The two mains reason make the upward mobility get slower is because of race and political. Race is the huge factor for most of problem in the U.S. In the movie park avenue, it said that for some kids they are far behind in the success race even when they haven’t born because of who they are. Also, in busted, the author said that more than half of our income is determined when we are...
Words: 832 - Pages: 4
...El Coyote left him and told one of his contact to take him to New York. Eduardo got into the van where he was waiting. The van arrives and takes him to New York. A couple of years passes where he reached the age 35 and works in a deli where he works as a chief. A lot has changed during the years where he has a family and haven’t stop working ever since coming to the United States. It was a busy night at Essen deli where Eduardo was working hard and upon his night he realizes how long he been working with no vacation or sick pay days. Eduardo a Mexican trying to achieve the American dreams which tends to become a nightmare every day for him. He came to the United States when he was 16 years old crossing the border. As mentioned previously,...
Words: 315 - Pages: 2
...Nuong Nguyen Professor Renee Gaines English 102 - #3300 9 November 2014 Paper #1- Resubmit edition The struggles to achieve the American Dream in The House on Mango Street Sandra Cisneros is the author of several books including The House on Mango Street. She has been writing for more than forty-five years, publishing for more than thirty-five years. The House on Mango Street was first published in 1984, and has sold over two million copies since its initial publication and is still selling strongly today. The book tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, whose neighborhood is one of harsh realities and natural beauty. The house on Mango Street is not the house, which Esperanza has been dreaming about; however, it is symbolical of the struggles to achieve the American Dream. That dream of the young girl depicts a reality. The house on Mango Street has much better quality than the third floor on Loomis, which is where the Esperanza lived before. That improvement shows that Esperanza’s family is trying to make their dream come true, little by little in changing their lives. It also proves that her family can achieve the dream of the real house. The house on Mango Street depicts a house in which the family resides. In any event, the place on Loomis is merely a third floor that Esperanza cannot proudly admit that it is her house to the nun passing by. Esperanza describes the gloomy third floor as, “The house on Mango Street is ours and we don’t have to pay rent to...
Words: 883 - Pages: 4
...The American Dream The phenomenon of the American Dream is the substance of almost all American icons, and actually achieving the American Dream is the ideal aspiration of not only Americans but immigrants as well. Some people would argue that the American Dream actually really consists only of being able to buy and own a home, but to me it is so much more! The American Dream named, because it seemingly exists only here in America, for very ambitious people to be a distinguished success through their own hard work and determination. People constantly try to achieve their own dreams. Some people, already here in America, chase their dream by wanting to be a bigger success than their parents. The others who have immigrated to this country chase their very own dream, by giving up all they had just to come and have the opportunity to succeed. The American Dream is something that is mainly achieved with hard work and determination. First of all, you cannot have a dream without working hard at it; this definitely applies to the American Dream. Whether you are just looking for a job or working a job hard work is something that you need, without it achieving your dream becomes a lot more difficult. Hard work will also lead to more promotions and more successes a lot quicker; these tend to be apart of the average American Dream. The other big reason hard work is needed is if you do not exude a hard working attitude a lot of opportunities will pass you by. With missed opportunities...
Words: 540 - Pages: 3
...The Clutter family lives a prosperous, although rather quiet life in Holcomb, the Clutter family lives the American Dream they were not born into wealth, but they worked hard and managed a comfortable life, until their murder. Dick and Perry on the other hand, are criminals they squandered their first chance at the American Dream before they ever met each other, but they take any measures to make sure it does no slip through their fingers. In Truman Capotes true crime novel In Cold Blood the idea of the American Dream is interviewed throughout the story of a brutal murder. The American Dream is the idea that people who live in America have the chance, opportunity and right to prosperity. The American dream attracts people rich and poor, rural...
Words: 922 - Pages: 4
...many people immigrate to the United States of America in search of the American Dream; freedom, equality, and the opportunity to achieve their personal goals in life that they could not otherwise achieve in their homeland. The American Dream is the pursuit of prosperity and opportunity that drives people to push their own limits and persevere in order to lead successful lives and achieve whatever goals they set. The American Dream is a reality; every citizen of the United States of America has the opportunity of its achievement no matter what prejudices they may face, depending on their perseverance and luck. The term “ The American Dream” has a few interpretations, but one of the most popular is “ Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Declaration of Independence1) which is the dream that most Americans strive for. In simpler terms, The American Dream is the opportunity of the pursuit of freedom, opportunity and satisfaction of needs and wants. As Thomas Wolfe said, “ ...to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ...the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him” (Wolfe2). This quote explains how everyone in the United States gets the right to fulfill this American Dream: to function as a member of modern day society and to pursue their hopes and dreams. If you come to America underprivileged or destitute, then you have ...
Words: 1689 - Pages: 7
...to a poll done by New York Times, only 64 percent of people said they still believed in the American Dream. This is the lowest percent in two decades. The American Dream has changed over time. The American Dream started as people wanting a better life for everyone but now it has diminished to people not even believing in it or others being very optimistic that we can still fulfill the ‘dream.’ The American Dream is different for everyone that you ask. Some might say that their dream is to own a house with 5 children. Others might say it is to have a good education, healthy family, and a steady job. Some even say that it is to own 5 cars with 3 houses across the globe. Everyone’s view on this term is different. Some may think that...
Words: 1112 - Pages: 5
...What is the American Dream? When describing the American dream, there are endless possibilities. The beautiful thing about the American Dream is that it is different for every single person. One person’s dream may be to be an NFL superstar, making ten million dollars a year. Conversely, someone else’s dream can be making minimum wage just to ensure their family can eat. This alone is what makes America the greatest country in the world. Everyone can have a different dream, but they have every possibility to achieve it. Although, it is not a guarantee the person will achieve their dream, it is a guarantee they will have no unfair regulations stopping them. A neighbor of mine at home has a very sad story that led to his pursuit of the American dream. He was one of the highest regarded Medical Doctors in Egypt. He was making great money, and his family was very happy. Then his life was turned upside down when a family member of his was killed because of his religion. He was Christian, and some radical Egyptians hate Christians, so he had to move to America to keep his family safe. His story relates to a quote on page four, “The idea of the American dream has been attached to everything from religious freedom to a home in the suburbs” (Hochschild). Unfortunately his story does not end like the Hollywood motion pictures, but he is completely happy with his current life. He now lives in a two room apartment with his wife, and two daughters and he is working as a cab driver, and...
Words: 869 - Pages: 4
...EA Lamkin Definition Essay The American Dream Today's millions immigrate to the United States looking for the American Dream; the equal opportunity to achieve success through hard work, determination and initiative. But people from around the world still travel to the US because of this idea that you can be anything you want to be if you put in the work. I believe one of the reasons Americans think the "dream" of a better life is dead is that we were born in the US and we usually got what we wanted quickly. The people who immigrate here is because they want to improve their lives and they can't do it from where they come from. The American Dream is a reality; every citizen of the United States of America has the opportunity of achieving something better no matter what prejudices they may face, but it also depends on their perseverance and luck. The term “The American Dream” has a many interpretations, but one of the most popular is from the Declaration of Independence. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. In simpler terms, The American Dream is the opportunity of the pursuit of freedom, and satisfaction of needs and wants. As Thomas Wolfe said, “ ...to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ...the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him”. This quote explains how everyone in the U.S. as the right to the American Dream: to function as a member of society...
Words: 911 - Pages: 4
...The American Dream* (*Adjustment Required) The American Dream is a constantly evolving and developing concept that adapts to the current social and economic conditions of a time period. In “Millennials’ Ball-and-Chain: Student Loan Debt” author Malcolm Hadley describes the difficulties young Americans facein this day and age because of the cost of education and how it’s affecting their outlooks on life and their goals. In his article, Hadley iterates what is holding this generation back:the “tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt” (Hadley); As a result, they cannot afford to have what is commonly associated with being an independent adult. Many millennials find themselves dreaming of living independently, marrying, or being able to buy an apartment. The author continued to expand his argument by delving further into the lives of millennials who do choose to start families and lead traditional lives and how their student loans continue to burden them; often couples both have debt and are reluctant to go into that next phase of their lives while so indebted. Essentially, what Hadley argues is that being chained to their student debt is making young Americans strive for more simplicity than the traditional...
Words: 770 - Pages: 4
...Unarguably, the American Dream means something different to everyone. Those who dream the American Dream, however, share a common aspect they all hope to achieve: happiness. Out of many factors which play into one’s happiness, one may be the relationships people share with others. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck both imply that the American Dream is primarily about achieving happiness through relationships such as family and companionship— A statement still relevant in modern society’s view of the dream. However, while Hansberry argues family is more important than achieving the dream, Steinbeck argues companionship is essential to achieving the dream. Hansberry reveals that having a family is...
Words: 915 - Pages: 4
...America is seen by many as the Land of Opportunities, a place where one can achieve anything and be anything, no matter what their past may be. Some however, say that the American Dream is not real, that it is simply a dream that cannot be realized due to social or political obstacles. The truth is that many of these obstacles can be overcome through hard work and perseverance. The American Dream is achievable through hard work and the determination to keep going, no matter how slim the odds seem to be. One important aspect of the American Dream is that one’s past has no bearing on the achievability of the American Dream. One can come from nothing and become the richest person in the world if they put their minds to it. Andrew Sullivan, in his essay, My America, touched on this when he wrote that what matters in America is not where you come from, but “where you are going” (Sullivan, Para 5). This shows that in America, people don’t care about one’s past as they do about one’s future. Here, the past is not a hinderance, it is simply something that is there, motivating one to do better, to achieve their American Dream....
Words: 474 - Pages: 2
