essay topics about american dream

103 American Dream Essay Topics & Examples

If you’re in need of American dream topics for an essay, research paper, or discussion, this article is for you. Our experts have prepared some ideas and writing tips that you will find below.

📃 10 Tips for Writing American Dream Essays

🏆 best american dream essay topics & essay examples, 👍 catchy american dream topics, ❓ american dream research questions.

The American dream is an interesting topic that one can discuss from various perspectives. If you need to write an essay on the American dream, you should understand this concept clearly.

You can choose to present the American dream as a miracle that one cannot reach or depict a free and wealthy nation. In any case, the American dream essay is a good opportunity to reflect on the concept and learn more about it.

There are many topics you can choose from while writing your essay. Here are some examples of the American dream essay topics we can suggest:

The true meaning of the American dream
The image of the American dream in the Great Gatsby
Is the American dream still relevant in today’s society?
The role of the American dream: Discussion
Americans’ beliefs and values: The American dream
Can we achieve the American dream?
The American dream in today’s world and society

Remember that you do not have to select one of the American dream essay titles and can come up with your own one. Once you have selected the topic, start working on your essay. Here are ten useful tips that will help you to write an outstanding paper:

Start working on your essay ahead of time. You will need some time to study the issue, write the paper, and correct possible errors.
Do preliminary research on the issue you want to discuss. The more information you know about the question, the better. We advise you to rely on credible sources exclusively and avoid using Wikipedia or similar websites.
Check out the American dream essay examples online if you are not sure that the selected problem is relevant. Avoid copying the information you will find and only use it as guidance.
Write an outline for your essay. Think of how you can organize your paper and choose titles for each of the sections. Remember that you should include an introductory paragraph and a concluding section along with body paragraphs.
Remember that you should present the American dream essay thesis clearly. You can put it in the last sentence of your introductory paragraph.
Your essay should be engaging for the audience. Help your reader to know something new about the issue and include some interesting facts that may not know about. Avoid overly complex sentences and structures.
Make your essay personal, if it is possible. Do not focus on your opinion solely but provide your perspectives on the issue or discuss your concern about it. You can talk about your experiences with the American dream, too.
Provide statistical data if you can. For example, you can find the results of surveys about people’s perspectives on the American dream.
The concluding paragraph is an important section of the paper. Present the thesis and all of your arguments once again and provide recommendations, if necessary. Remember that this paragraph should not include new information or in-text citations.
Do not send your paper to your professor right away. Check it several times to make sure that there are no grammatical mistakes in it. If you have time, you can put the paper away for several days and revise it later with “fresh” eyes.

Feel free to find an essay sample in our collection and get some ideas for your outstanding paper!

Essay on the American Dream: Positive and Negative Aspects The American dream is one of the most revered ideals of the nation and it has become a part of the American national identity.
Michelle Obama American Dream Speech Analysis – Michelle’s purpose was to introduce her husband as man who was more concerned about the common citizens’ concerns and who was willing and able to help everyone to realize his/her American dream because he himself […]
American Dream: “Fences” by August Wilson The American dream makes it clear through its guarantee of the freedom and equality with the promise of prosperity and success as per the ability or personal achievements of every American citizen.”Fences” reveals the obstacles […]
The American Dream by Edward Albee Play Analysis The American Dream play is an apologue of how American life has turned awry under the pretext of the American Dream.
American Dream After World War I People lost vision of what this dream was supposed to mean and it became a dream, not of the vestal and industrious, but of the corrupt coterie, hence corrupting the dream itself.
American Dream in “The Pursuit of Happiness” Film In America today, there is a general belief that every individual is unique, and should have equal access to the American dream of life “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”.
The Tortilla Curtain: American Dream – Characters, Summary & Analysis The cultural difference between the two families is introduced by the author as a theme describing the role of gender in the community.
The American Dream in The Great Gatsby After spending some time in this neighborhood, Nick finally attends Gatsby’s exuberant parties only to realize that Gatsby organizes these parties to impress Daisy, Nick’s cousin, and wife to Tom.
Is the American Dream Still Alive? The American Dream can be defined as a summation of national values entrenched in the culture of the United States. In this regard, the minority groups in the United States are often on the receiving […]
The American Dream in Arthur Miller’s Plays Willy has a distorted vision of the American Dream, and he has such blind faith in this inaccurate vision that it leads to his mental disturbance when he is not able to accept how the […]
Portrayal of the American Dream in the 20th Century Theatre However, different analysts criticized the use of the amelting pot’ in the play to show the pursuit of the American dream terming it as unrealistic in the sense that the term amelting’ creates a picture […]
American Dream and Socialism in the Book “The Jungle” by Sinclair The main idea of the book lies in upholding the Marxist belief of the inevitable collapse of capitalism and the accession of the proletariat, or industrial working class.
Femininity and the American Dream in Works of Chopin, Gilman, and Williams Even though the general understanding of the American dream was advertised to everyone, the idea was more applicable to the male members of the American society, which is reflected in Chopin’s “The Story of an […]
Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream – Movie Analysis It can be taken as the national ethos of the citizens of the USA. The basis of the American society is broken and it is not united anymore.
Music Talent Shows and the American Dream Talent search shows, like American Idol and The Voice, have suffered a lot of criticism for different reasons. Stanley says the main reason for this cynicism is the failure of such shows to focus on […]
In Pursuit of the American Dream: An Analysis of Willa Cather’s O Pioneers The experiences of the characters in the novel portray the endeavors of the early immigrants’ pursuit of the American dream. The instinct to forgo the comforts, which a home country offers by default and then […]
The Dilemmas of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby The Great Gatsby is a story of a young man in the early twentieth century who seems to know what he wants in the way of that dream and what to do to achieve it.
Willy Loman and the American Dream As a result of his boasting, a great deal of what his family knows about Willy is based upon the image he feels he must portray of himself in order to bring himself in line […]
Meritocracy and the American Dream In the perception of such people, the American Dream is directly connected to meritocracy, i.e.a judgment on people on their individual abilities rather than the connections of the families, and in that regard such perception […]
Whitman, Hughes, and the American Dream Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes, two prominent figures of American poetry of the past, are of them.”I Hear America Singing,” “I, Too,” “Harlem,” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” are the emotional responses to the […]
The American Dream, Social Status and Hierarchies The persistence of social status and hierarchies in modern-day America undermines the possibility of realizing Winthrop’s ideal community as a goal for the current American Dream, considering his argument of wouldivinely ordained’ holds no traction […]
The American Dream and Its Roots The tension between the ideals of the American Dream as espoused by the Puritans and the realities of American life has been a recurrent theme in American history.
Tensions in the American Dream The imbalance can lead to debates and discussions about the meaning and purpose of the American Dream, as well as a conflict between the ideals of freedom and agency and the desire for a more […]
Support of the American Dream Act of 2001 In contrast to many supporters of the American Dream Act, some individuals claim that the policy promotes the entrance of illegal immigrants.
The Possibility of Realizing the American Dream Thus, according to the author, the American dream is only a fantasy. Returning to the ideas of Krugman, Cox and Alm, and Dalmia, it seems necessary to highlight some aspects.
The American Dream: Meaning and Myth Initially, the existence of this myth set a very high pace and performance for the American economy because it was the only way to achieve the desired level of prosperity.
Reflection on the American Dream Concept The vision of the American Dream can be different for individuals, and people create their interpretations according to their specific experiences.
Reaching the American Dream From Scratch For example, the experience of a person coming to the United States from Haiti is one of poverty, under-resourced communities, and a complete disillusion with the promise of a good life.
The American Dream Based on “Re Jane” by Patricia Park The main difference is that Jane had a chance to live her dreams in New York than in Seoul. Nina is an example of Jane’s friends who want her to succeed and understand the flaws […]
The American Dream in Boyle’s The Tortilla Curtain The personal experience of the characters can be explained by their varying life conditions and, hence, are linked to the notion of the American Dream, which can be achieved by everyone while the efforts differ.
The Corrupted American Dream and Its Significance in “The Great Gatsby” The development of the American dream and its impact on the society of the United States is a pertinent topic of discussion for various authors.
Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Gatsby’, Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ and the American Dream “The America Dream’ is a longstanding common belief of the American population that in the United States, people are free to realize the full potential of their labor and their talents and every person in […]
Color Adjustment: False Image of American Dream The documentary tells the story of white, well-dressed people advertising the American dream, completely ignoring that the U.S.is not only a country of the white race.
The American Dream: Franklin’s and Douglass’s Perception The objective of this paper, therefore, is to discuss the topic of the American dream and how both Franklin and Douglass, each exemplify this dream.
The American Dream and Success One of the most pertinent topics associated with the American Dream is taking the courage to act and seize the opportunity.
The Concept of American Dream: Examples of Columbus and Bradstreet Bradstreet’s other dream was to be able to secure a position in the ‘New world’ and still be seen as a woman who cares for her family.
Racial Wealth Gap and the American Dream The speaker evaluates the accumulative wealth of Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites in America and arrives to the conclusion that race plays a role in financial burdens that many people of color experience.
American Dreams: The United States Since 1945 Although the major idea of the book is a critical one, the author’s intention does not concern analyzing approaches to the American social evolution in order to define the most adequate one.
History of Achieving the American Dream James Truslow Adams who wrote the book “The Epic of America” defined the American dream as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity […]
The American Dream in the 21st Century It is the labor of these people that allowed the country to afford to build its industry and set up a base for fulfilling the American Dream.
American Dream of Early Settlers He did not tell the settlers of the difficulties they were going to face in moving from Europe to the land of honey that is America.
The American Dream: Defining the Great Society For instance, the Medicare bill was for the elderly and the poor, human rights for the oppressed, and antipoverty laws that set a stage for growth in the society.
American Literature and the American Dream The difference in how the dream is defined lies in how one sees the shape and color of the concoction, whether the texture is just right for the shape of the taste buds assessing the […]
American Dream and Reality for Minorities The topic of our concern is the reality that is faced by women, blacks, and war veterans who are associated with the American army.
Richard Rodriguez’s Opinion on Migration and the American Dream American seems to refer only to the citizen of the United States and does not include the rest of the people in the continent!
American Dream Is Not a Myth The paper is based on the argument, a simplified definition of the American dream: the American dream can be defined as “the achievement of economic and social advancement through hard work and determination”.
The Immigrant Experience and the Failure of the American Dream The fates of the heroes of the book amaze with their tragedy, and this is the story of slaves of wage labor.
Tycoons and Their American Dream The American Dream as Rockefeller, Carnegie, Morgan, and others saw it and forged it to be seen by others contributed meaningfully to the values of the American people and the priorities of a nation.
Theater Exam: American Dream and Family Legacy To start the discussion on the concept of American Dream, I would like to focus on Willy, the main character of the Death of a Salesman.
Is the American Dream Still Alive? The topic of discussion in this setting would be the American dream and the factors associated with the quest. They would talk about the cost of living, the cost of education, and the fact that […]
American Dream in Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” The play Death of a salesman is indeed an anatomy of the American dream especially because the plot of the story revolves around some of the basic material gains that individuals in the American society […]
“American Dream” of English and Chinese Immigrants My family decided to move to the US from England because of the low wages in our town. My intentions were to explore the new opportunities of the West and to earn more money than […]
The American Dream and Working Conditions In fact, it might be said that it is due to their efforts that the American Dream still exists as a piece of reality.
American Dream and Equity of Outcome and Opportunity The American dream is one of the most famous declarations of the world and the American subsequent governments have kept the dream alive for the last hundred years.
Park Avenue: Money, Power and the American Dream This is one of the drawbacks that should be taken into account by the viewers who want to get a better idea about the causes of the problems described in the movie.
American Dream in Hansberry’s and Miller’s Tragedies Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” and Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” tell the stories about how people can perceive and be affected by the idea of the American Dream, how they choose wrong dreams […]
Michelle Obama’s Remarks on American Dream She added that the main goal was to secure the blessings of liberty and to bring about the fulfillment of the promise of equality.
The American Dream’s Concept The American economy is also likely to improve as a result of realizing the American dream 2013 since most of the residents are likely to indulge in productive activities as stipulated in the American dream […]
The Concept of Progress or the Pursuit of the American Dream The concept of progress or the pursuit of the American Dream since 1930s has been a matter of concern for many immigrants who believe that they can achieve much in the US than in their […]
The Book American Dream by Jason DeParle From the name of the book, it is clear that the cardinal theme of the book is the American dream. This is contrary to the fact that she was pregnant and in a crack house.
The Definition of the Great American Dream: Hearing Opportunity Knock Although the concept of the American Dream is very recognizable, its essence is very hard to nail down, since it incorporates a number of social, economical and financial principles; largely, the American Dream is the […]
The American Dream Negative Sides and Benefits The United States is thought of as the land of opportunity and there are many people who want to live “The American Dream”.
Role of Money in the American Dream’s Concept Many people lack the meaning of the American dream because they are always looking forward to find opportunity and fail to realize that the opportunity to succeed is always around them in the work they […]
The Reality of American Dream The government encouraged the immigration of the population whose labor and skills were required in the United States. The housing in the urban was overcrowded with very unsanitary conditions, and some of the immigrants did […]
Social Status Anxiety and the American Dream The pain of a loss and the status anxiety that came with being inferior to other students at Harvard instigated the urge to revenge and brought a desire to achieve success.
Francis Scott Fitzgerald & His American Dream In the novel “Tender is the Night,” Fitzgerald describes the society in Riviera where he and his family had moved to live after his misfortune of late inheritance.
American Dream: Is It Still There? It is a dream for immigrants from the Middle East to be in America; a country where discrimination is history and where no one will prevent them from achieving their dreams in life.
The American Dream: Walt Disney’s Cinderella and Ron Howard’s Cinderella Man This is attributed to the fact that the original ideas and the fundamental principals that founded the dream are quickly fading away given the changing fortunes of the average American.
The Death of the American Dream It is the moral decay that leads to the loss of freedom, the very essence of the founding of the American dream.
American Dream and Unfulfilling Reality Living the American dream is the ultimate dream for most of the American citizens and those aspiring to acquire American citizenship.
Inequality and the American Dream It is only after the poor workers are assured of their jobs that the American model can be said to be successful.
A Response to the Article “Inequality and the American Dream” It has drawn my attention that other world countries embrace the “American model” since the super power has enormous wealth and its economic development is marked by up-to-date juggernauts of globalization and technology.
Fitzgerald’s American Dream in The Great Gatsby & Winter Dreams To my mind, Winter Dream is a perfect example of the American Dream, since the main hero, Dexter, implemented each point of it, he was persistent and very hard-working, he was a very sensible and […]
How Did Ben Franklin Exemplify the American Dream?
Does Fitzgerald Condemn the American Dream in “The Great Gatsby”?
How Do Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass Represent the American Dream?
Has America Lost Its Potential to Achieve the American Dream?
How Has Disney’s Social Power Influenced the Vision of the American Dream?
Does the American Dream Really Exist?
How Does the Great Gatsby Portray the Death of the American Dream?
What Does “The Great Gatsby” Have to Say About the Condition of the American Dream in the 1920s?
How Does One Achieve the American Dream?
What Are the Greatest Obstacles of Full Access to the American Dream?
How Has the American Dream Been Translated Into Popular Film?
What Does the American Dream Mean to an Immigrant?
How Does Arthur Miller Through “Death of a Salesman” Deal With the Theme of the American Dream?
What Must Everyone Know About the American Dream?
How Has the American Dream Changed Over Time?
What Is Infamous About the American Dream?
How Does Millar Portray His Views of the American Dream Using Willy Loman?
When Did American Dream Start?
How Has the Media Changed the American Dream?
Who Would Think the American Dream Isn’t Possible?
How Does Steinbeck Present the American Dream in “Of Mice and Men”?
Why Will Equal Pay Help Women Achieve the American Dream?
How Might the Disadvantage of Immigration Affect the Chances of Having That American Dream?
Why Is the American Dream Equally Given and Registered To All Citizens?
How Does Extreme Inequality Make the American Dream Inaccessible?
Why Is the American Dream Still Alive in the United States?
How Are Millennials Redefining the American Dream?
Why Is the American Dream Unattainable?
How Does Society Influence the Idea of the American Dream?
Why Must the United States Renew Opportunities to Achieve the American Dream to Reform Immigration Policy?
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124 American Dream Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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The American Dream is a concept deeply rooted in the American ethos, representing the belief that anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination. This idea has been a source of inspiration for countless individuals and has shaped the nation's history and identity. If you are tasked with writing an essay on the American Dream, here are 124 topic ideas and examples to help you get started:

The evolution of the American Dream throughout history.
The impact of the American Dream on immigration patterns.
The portrayal of the American Dream in literature and film.
The role of education in achieving the American Dream.
The American Dream and socioeconomic mobility.
The American Dream in the context of racial and gender equality.
The American Dream and the pursuit of happiness.
The influence of the American Dream on consumer culture.
The American Dream and the pursuit of homeownership.
The American Dream and the pursuit of higher education.
The American Dream and the pursuit of entrepreneurship.
The American Dream and the pursuit of fame and fortune.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a better life for future generations.
The American Dream and the pursuit of freedom and democracy.
The American Dream and the pursuit of equal opportunities.
The American Dream and the pursuit of social justice.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.
The American Dream and the pursuit of personal growth and self-improvement.
The American Dream and the pursuit of financial security.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong work ethic.
The American Dream and the pursuit of individualism.
The American Dream and the pursuit of technological advancement.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a better environment.
The American Dream and the pursuit of cultural diversity.
The American Dream and the pursuit of religious freedom.
The American Dream and the pursuit of political power.
The American Dream and the pursuit of social mobility.
The American Dream and the pursuit of community engagement.
The American Dream and the pursuit of personal happiness.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a balanced lifestyle.
The American Dream and the pursuit of creativity and innovation.
The American Dream and the pursuit of equal rights and opportunities for all.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong family unit.
The American Dream and the pursuit of volunteerism and philanthropy.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a fair and just society.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong healthcare system.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a secure retirement.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a sustainable future.
The American Dream and the pursuit of personal freedom and liberty.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong national identity.
The American Dream and the pursuit of technological innovation.
The American Dream and the pursuit of social equality.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong economy.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a diverse and inclusive society.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong education system.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong justice system.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong military.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong infrastructure.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong environmental policy.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong social safety net.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong democracy.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong international presence.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong cultural identity.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong work-life balance.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of community.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong national pride.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of belonging.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of purpose.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of justice.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of equality.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of opportunity.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of achievement.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of ambition.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of success.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of fulfillment.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of contentment.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of peace.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of optimism.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of resilience.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of determination.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of perseverance.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of endurance.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of hope.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of courage.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of empathy.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of compassion.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of integrity.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of honesty.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of trust.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of responsibility.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of accountability.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of transparency.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of fairness.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of freedom.
The American Dream and the pursuit of a strong sense of democracy.

These topic ideas and examples should give you a starting point for your essay on the American Dream. Remember to use critical thinking, research, and personal insights to develop a compelling and thought-provoking piece that explores the complexities and nuances of this enduring concept.

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113 American Dream Essay Topics

🏆 best american dream essay titles, ✍️ american dream essay topics for college, 🎓 interesting american dream topics for research papers, 💡 simple american dream titles for essays, ❓ research questions about the american dream, ✨ good american dream argumentative essay topics.

Gran Torino Essay – Clint Eastwood’s Film Analysis
The American Dream Theme in Ginsberg’s “America”
The Concept of American Dream in Plays
“Paper Moon” as a Symbol of the American Dream
The Downside of the American Dream
The Concept of the American Dream
American Dream vs. Reality Throughout History
“Watchmen” Film in Relation to the American Dream Watchmen’s “American Dream” depicts the “gritty reality” within the realm of comic books; the “American Dream” has been distorted.
American Dream as a Symbol of Hopelessness in Gothic Fiction This paper aims to provide evidence that the characters of Lutie Johnson and Robin both failed to fulfill the American Dream.
Stratification and Social Mobility and its Impact on the American Dream According to Kerbo, social stratification includes a ranking of people in a society. It is more concerned with systematic inequalities other than individualistic differences.
Concepts of American Dreams Historically Americans have been seeking to achieve the American dream of fame, success and immense wealth through changes and much effort.
Comparing American Dream Collapsing and the Fading American Dreams The first article is American dream collapsing done by Jim Tankersley in 2016. The author is writing about the decline in several children earning more than their parents.
The American Dream as a Way of Crossing the Frame of Consciousness The American Dream is a concept that describes the ideal life to which the population of the United States aspired in the 30s and 40s.
Failure of American Dream: “The Great Gatsby” by Fitzgerald Review Despite the seeming glamor and wealth, the character of Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald is deeply and inherently tragic.
The Problems of American Dream and Race For a long time, many people have been coming to the United States to realize their goals. The cultural and social phenomenon of the American dream was formed.
Changing the American Dream of Immigrants and African Americans The position of African Americans and other immigrants was not the same throughout US history, denoting that they had different dreams during various periods.
Cruel Optimism: Karl Marx’s Ideas and the American Dream The work provides a summary and an analysis of the work of Berlant L. “Cruel optimism: On Marx, loss and the senses” in regard to Karl Marx’s ideas and the American Dream.
American Dream and Poverty in the United States The concept of the American dream and its component has changed over the years and remains different for different people.
Homeownership as the American Dream The paper identifies the current and previous asking prices, the seller’s investment yield, down payment, and other necessary costs.
Ideals of the American Dream Even though working may not be fun all the time, there is still a reasonable number of opportunities provided: financial independence and a clearer perspective on one’s future.
The American Dream: Values and Hopes The American Dream is a set of national values that can be traced back to 1620 when the Plymouth Colony was established.
Crumbling American Dream: The Thrive of Capitalism The notion of the American dream has now become a universal matter. The thrive of capitalism has made the American dream a desirable state of things unachievable in the near future.
The Challenge of the American Dream in Cinematography “Midnight Cowboy” and “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” are similar in challenging the idea of success presented in the conventional context of the American Dream.
The American Dream and Social Disorganization American Dream is the belief that everyone in the state can attain success due to the uniqueness of the U.S society and environment.
Recession and the American Dream for Education This paper analyses the ill effects of the recent recession which has occurred and the terrible consequence which families, students, and children in America are currently facing.
Fleeing to U.S., the American Dream for Cubans From time immemorial Cubans have been moving to America in search for greener pastures. This eventually worked for the formation of American-Cuban connections around the United States.
Youthful View of the American Dream During Uncertain Economic Times The American Dream for youth is now all about helping the country reclaim it’s rightful place of leadership in the world.
American Dream in the XXI Century The understanding of the concept of the American dream today and several decades or even centuries ago is quite different.
Conception of “The American Dream” in US “The American Dream” means living a better life. Americans have different opinions on describing this better life. Though some may express this issue as an illusion, it can become real.
The American Dream: Civil Rights and Opportunities Civil rights have much to do with citizens having an opportunity to achieve the American dream. Discrimination is a massive obstacle that prevents the country from economic growth.
American Dream, Religions and Sikhism The USA represent a unique cultural phenomenon. On the one hand, it is a country of many cultures, nationalities, and religions co-existing in the same area.
Social Studies: The American Dream’s Concept The American dream focuses on making life better for its citizens and immigrants. It entails the aggressiveness instilled in the residents of America.
Wealth and the American Dream in the Great Gatsby
Choosing the Right Path Toward the American Dream
American Liberalism and the Democratic Dream: Transcending the American Dream
How Does Gatsby Represent the American Dream?
Adam Smith’s American Dream
Democracy and the American Dream
Work Ethic and Ethical Work: Distortions in the American Dream
Women and the American Dream
Black Identity and the American Dream
Depression and the American Dream
Ben Franklin and the Definition of the American Dream
How Are Millennials Redefining the American Dream?
Disillusionment and the American Dream
Debunking the American Dream
Factors Influencing the American Dream
American Tragedy and the Futility of the American Dream
Westward Expansion and the American Dream
Capitalism, Drug Abuse, and the American Dream
British Colonization and the American Dream
Exploring the American Dream in Great Gatsby and Grapes of Wrath
Asian Americans and the American Dream
Does Income Inequality Affect the American Dream Of Upward?
American Dream and Ben Franklin
Corporate Scandals: How Greed Consumed The American Dream
Inequality and the American Dream
How Has the American Dream Changed Over Time?
African Americans Must Work to Achieve the American Dream
American Dream America Immigrants British
Albee and Twain: Demystifying an American Dream
Deconstructing the American Dream
American Dream: Accessibility vs. Achievability
Crime and the American Dream With Regards to Sociology
African Americans and the American Dream
Dramatizing the American Dream
Commercialism Deteriorates the American Dream
American Exceptionalism and the American Dream
How Long Has the American Dream Been Around?
Understanding the Real Meaning of the American Dream
American Dream Delayed: Shifting Determinants of Homeownership
All Men and Women Have the Right to the American Dream
How Social Stratification Dictates the American Dream, It Is?
Abraham Lincoln and the American Dream
Willy Loman’s Idealistic American Dream
Can Everyone Achieve the American Dream?
How Can Money Affect the American Dream?
What Is the True Cost of the American Dream?
How Does Poverty Affect the American Dream?
Is the American Dream More About Money or Happiness?
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of the American Dream?
How Does the American Dream Reinforce Socioeconomic Barriers?
Do You Need Money for the American Dream?
Was Walt Disney the Prisoner of the American Dream?
How Does Social Class Affect the American Dream?
What Is at the Heart of the American Dream?
Is the American Dream Still Alive Today?
What Is Success in the American Dream?
Does the Growing Economic Threat to Individuals and the American Dream?
How Expensive Is the American Dream?
What Was the First American Dream and What Was the Result?
Is the American Dream a Fallacy?
Who Does the American Dream Exclude?
How Does the Rising Cost of Education Affect the American Dream?
Why Is the American Dream Harder Today?
How Realistic Is the American Dream?
What Is the Biggest Obstacle to Reaching the American Dream?
Is the American Dream Real or Purely Imaginary?
How Does Great Gatsby Represent the American Dream?
Has Gatsby Achieved the American Dream?
Keeping the Dream Alive: Perpetuating the American Dream in Changing Times
Reimagining the American Dream: Cultural Pluralism and Identity
The American Dream and Economic Inequality: Bridge or Divide?
The Dream Project: Assessing the Impact of Public Policies on Achieving the American Dream
Healthcare Accessibility and the American Dream: Health vs. Wealth
The Illusion of Meritocracy: Challenging the Attainability of the Dream
Is the American Dream Still Achievable?
Consumerism and the American Dream
The Shifting Landscape of the American Dream in the 21st Century
Environmental Sustainability and the Future of the American Dream
Addressing the Counterclaim: Crafting a Roadmap to Ensure Equality in Dream Attainment
Perspectives on the American Dream Across Age Groups and Generation Gap

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These essay examples and topics on American Dream were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on December 26, 2023 .

Essays About The American Dream: 7 Interesting Topics to Discuss

American Dream has main themes: hard work and equal opportunity create a better life over time. Discover essays about the American dream topics in this article.

The concept of the American dream includes many ideas, including those outlined in the Declaration of Independence: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Professional writers, high school students, and many people have worked to outline the meaning of the American dream in essays and research papers.

Many United States citizens operate under the assumption that working hard can elevate their financial and social status. Many people in American society grapple with whether the idea of the American dream is an attainable reality for those born into less-fortunate circumstances. While some argue that social mobility—meaning changes in social class based on effort and hard work—are at the core of the American dream, others argue that those who are born into a preferable situation may have an easier time achieving the dream, disputing the notion of an equal playing field.

Here, we’ll discuss 7 interesting essay topics on the American Dream that you can use in your next essay.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers

1. Is The American Dream Still Alive?

2. the american dream is still alive: these people are proof, 3. the american dream defined, 4. the american dream in literature, 5. what does the american dream look like for immigrants, 6. how has the american dream changed over time, the final word on essays about the american dream, what literary works discuss the american dream, what should be considered when writing an essay on the american dream’s existence.

A topic of much debate, it can be tough to figure out whether the American Dream continues to exist as it did half a century ago. Many people question whether the American Dream is a reality for that outside of the American family depicted in 1950s television and print ads—largely white, upper-middle-class families.

Suppose you decide to write about whether the American Dream still exists. In that case, you’ll want to consider the inflation of the cost of a college education that has made it impossible for many students to work and pay their way through college, resulting in debt that feels impossible upon graduation. Rather than a fresh start in life, many graduates face low-paying jobs that make it difficult to handle daily living costs while also paying back high-interest student loans.

As you write about why the American Dream is currently a struggle for many, include success stories that show how the American Dream is still being achieved by many. You may want to touch on how the traditional idea of the American dream is changing with time. You can do this by highlighting studies that explain how successful Americans today feel regarding the American Dream and how the tenants of a successful life are changing for many people.

Want to show your audience that the American Dream is still alive and well? Highlighting the stories of people who have achieved success in their lives can be a great way to convey proof of the existence of the American Dream to others.

As you write your essay, it’s important to share how the definition of the American dream has changed over time. Today, many people feel that the American dream has more to do with a sense of belonging and community than making a certain amount of money or living in a certain type of home. Research shows that across the United States of America, people generally shared a positive feeling about the possibility of achieving the American dream. Most felt that they either had achieved the dream or were on their way to achieving it.

As you write your essay on proof of the existence of the American Dream, be sure to highlight people from different backgrounds, sharing the different challenges they’ve faced throughout their lives. You’ll want to show how Americans achieve success despite challenges and different starting points and how they’ve enjoyed their success (despite having different definitions of what it means to achieve the American Dream).

In years past, the definition of the American Dream was clear: rising above circumstances, developing a successful financial portfolio, owning a home, and having kids in a successful marriage. Today, however, many people define the American Dream differently. In an essay on defining the American dream, it’s important to consider viewpoints from different cultures and how a person’s socioeconomic starting point affects their view of what it means to have “made it” in America.

When defining the American Dream, you may want to touch on how social and economic issues in America have made the American Dream a more realistic possibility for some groups than others. Social programs, discrimination, and civil rights issues have made it tougher for some minority groups to climb above the standing they were born into, making it harder to achieve financial stability and other aspects of the American dream.

In your essay about defining the American Dream, you may also want to touch on the importance of being able to take risks. This can be easier for people whose parents and other relatives can provide a safety net. People who are dependent on their savings to support new business ventures may find it harder to take risks, making it more difficult to achieve the American dream.

When defining the American Dream, be sure to touch on how the Dream can be different for different people and how one person’s financial stability might not be the same as someone else’s. If possible, include anecdotal quotes and stories to help your reader connect to the way you’re defining the American Dream.

Many pieces of classic American literature work to show what the American Dream means to various groups of people. In writing an essay about the American Dream in literature, you’ll want to discuss several different classic works, including The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson.

When discussing the theme of the American Dream in literature, there are a few different approaches that you can take to show your readers how the American Dream has changed in novels over time. You may want to work through a timeline showing how the American Dream has changed or talk about how real-life social and economic issues have been reflected in the way that authors discuss the American Dream.

When writing about the American Dream, you may also want to touch on how each author’s social standing affected their view of the American Dream and whether the achievement of the Dream was feasible at the time. Authors born into difficult circumstances may have a different view of the American Dream than authors born into a more affluent lifestyle.

Growing student debt, a lack of high-paying jobs, and increasing living costs have made it difficult for people to keep their faith in the American dream. Economic research shows that many first- and second-generation Americans experience economic mobility upward in immigrant families, but this mobility eventually stalls in future generations. According to some researchers, t’s possible that first- and second-generation immigrants feel more of a push to be a success story in an attempt to erase the negative connotations that some American citizens have with the word “immigrant.”

People who are new to the United States face different challenges than people who have lived in the country for their entire lives. Writing an essay about how the American Dream is different for people born in other countries can enlighten many of your readers about how the Dream is different for people in different circumstances.

Essays About the American Dream: How has the American dream changed over time?

The American Dream has not remained stagnant over the years, and what people once believed to be the American Dream is something that many Americans no longer want. Writing an essay about how the American dream has changed over time can be an interesting way to explore how the ideals of America have changed over the years.

The wealth gap has changed over time in the United States, making it increasingly difficult for people born into a lower socioeconomic status to build their wealth and achieve the American dream. Research shows that more than 40% of people born into the lowest part of the income ladder in the United States stay there as adults. Talking about how economic challenges in the United States have made it difficult for many people to go through college or start businesses can be a jumping-off point to discussing changes in the American Dream.

For many people, the ideals associated with the American dream—marriage, family, kids, a job that provides financial stability—are no longer as desirable. Some people don’t desire to get married, and it’s more acceptable in society to stay single. Some people have no desire to have kids, and some people prefer to work in the gig economy rather than going to a 9-5 job every day. Discussing these changes in American society and how they relate to changes in the American Dream can help your reader see how the Dream has changed over time.

In the eyes of many, the American dream is often associated with homeownership. Skyrocketing mortgage rates in the U.S. make it hard for many people to afford a home, relegating them to rent or living with family members. If you decide to talk about the difficulties of becoming a homeowner in today’s economy, do your research on the latest mortgage news. Many people who once qualified for mortgages struggle to get approved due to skyrocketing interest rates. Including recent financial news can help help your readers connect recent events with the reality of the American Dream.

Opinions on the American dream differ, and when writing about the topic, it’s important to keep your audience in mind. While some people have experienced at least part of the American dream, others have struggled despite hard work due to an unequal playing field from the start.

FAQs About Essays About The American Dream

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller is well-known for their takes on the American dream.

When writing a persuasive or argumentive essay on the American dream, it’s important to consider social mobility, interest rates, homeownership rates, the cost of education, and other factors that contribute to creating a lucrative financial life.

If you’re still stuck, check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

Amanda has an M.S.Ed degree from the University of Pennsylvania in School and Mental Health Counseling and is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. She has experience writing magazine articles, newspaper articles, SEO-friendly web copy, and blog posts.

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American Dream Essay: Structure, Outline, Sample, and Topics

Icon Calendar 19 May 2024
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The American Dream is a recurring controversial topic in modern society. Individuals have developed different arguments to deconstruct what is the American Dream essay in the context of day-to-day life. In the academic setting, learners that engage in this discourse hold the weight of the proper expression of their arguments. A structured essay is analyzed with a focus on the introduction, main body, and conclusion of the five-paragraph essay. The process of topic selection, outline development, and structured writing is exemplified using an essay titled, “The Promise of the American Dream.” Recommendations for narrow scoped topics for exploring the concept are provided as a starting point for students.

In contemporary discourse, there is much controversy over the meaning of the American Dream. Basically, people hold different positions on multiple aspects of the concept in their essays and research papers. During the schooling years, it is important to acquire knowledge. Also, young minds benefit significantly from reflecting on the influence of their recently acquired knowledge on their position regarding controversial topics. Upon completing the reflection essay process, the expression of one’s newly defined position is the next step. An essay on the American Dream is presented to introduce the readers to the basic principles behind the concept. Moreover, the structure of a five-paragraph essay is explored with the support of an outline and a sample essay.

What Is the American Dream Essay?

1. general description.

The American Dream is a widely known concept, but there is no definition that can be identified as a correct, comprehensive, and precise. Basically, freedom and opportunity are the most critical aspects of the essay on the American Dream. In this case, freedoms are essential to the idea of achieving goals. It because these freedoms provide an individual with the space to live freely without any oppression from their peers or the government. Moreover, equal access to opportunity allows each individual to pursue happiness and prosperity regardless of the social class, gender, race, and other social or cultural factors that stratify society. Therefore, this concept may be defined as a set of beliefs that explain the experience of life that many people are expected to have in an ideal situation, where their freedoms are protected, and no opportunity barriers exist.

2. Unique Experiences

People are born into families that provide them with a unique starting point for their pursuit of desired goals. For example, the financial capability, level of education, and cultural beliefs of an individual’s parents define the foundation on which a person begins to achieve desired goals. As a result, all people may be pursuing the same ideas when writing essays. In turn, it is not a level playing field because some individuals may find themselves in better circumstances than others. Furthermore, it is differentiated at a personal level because individuals with relatively similar starting points may have distinct outcomes. Based on this perspective, it is highly unlikely that any two individuals can attest to going through identical experiences when writing an essay.

3. Belief Systems

Besides the circumstances of the starting points, an individual’s belief system plays a significant role in their strategy of achieving desired goals. For instance, happiness and prosperity are broad terms that have contrasting meanings for individuals because there is no standardized scale for measuring happiness or prosperity. Moreover, one person may consider owning a car and house to be a sign of prosperity. In contrast, another person may believe that providing his or her children with a college education to be prosperity. Hence, these beliefs are imposed on desires goals, which results in variations in the meaning of the concept for each individual to be covered in an essay. In turn, desires goals affected to a large extent by an individual’s beliefs regarding the things that make them happy or prosperous.

Topic Selection for American Dream Essays

1. challenges of topic selection.

The American Dream is a concept that people can examine from a variety of perspectives, which makes the selection of an essay topic for an American Dream paper quite challenging. During the selection of an essay topic, it is essential to remember that no point of view is more superior or correct than another. In this case, the weight of the claim proposed in the American Dream argumentative essay is dependent on the writer’s ability to explain a position logically and convincingly. Moreover, in the presentation of the argument in the essay, it is important to adequately consider competing counterarguments that may arise in the audience’s minds when writing essays. In turn, the failure to evaluate counterarguments critically may undercut the authority of the author, especially when writing for an academic audience.

2. Solution

Equally important, writers should select a topic that has a link with their personal experiences. For instance, an argument concerning the essay about the American Dream gains a sense of authenticity when writers discuss an issue that resonates with their beliefs. It is essential because some passion is embedded in the essay. In this case, as a starting point for identifying the essay topic, writers may identify a “main concept” under review, for example, equal opportunity. Based on the main concept, writers can think through their life experiences and single out events that they consider invaluable in the position taken concerning the main concept (see the example of a simple brainstorming template). Finally, writers should settle on the essay topic that is specific and can be argued out entirely within the constraints of the essay requirements.

3. Example of a Simple Brainstorming Template

State the main concept.
How has it affected you?
How has it affected other people in your life?
Do you think the events mentioned above are in line with the American Dream?
Specify the issue.
Describe the ideal situation.
Can the situation be improved?

American Dream Essay Outline

Introduction (approximately 10% of the word count).

It is the first statement in the introductory paragraph.
The statement should capture the attention of the reader, for example, a unique fact about the topic.

2. Overview of the Topic

It comprises of two or more sentences.
The statements should contain adequate detail for the reader to understand the thesis statement.

3. Thesis Statement

It is a single statement that appears at the end of the introductory paragraph.
The statement provides an answer to the essay prompt in the form of a single argument, which summarises the main evidence or rationale presented in the main body.

Main Body (Approximately 80% of the Word Count)

The creation of paragraphs in this section is based on the separation of ideas to ensure that each paragraph presents one original idea. In this case, each paragraph in this section must follow the sandwich rule, which dictates the organization of paragraph elements:

Topic sentence – States the main idea for that paragraph.
Evidence – Provides the information that is crucial to the paragraph’s idea.
Evaluation of evidence – Explains the relevance of the evidence and offers an interpretation of the evidence.
Transition statement – Summarises the paragraph and links it to the thesis statement or the next paragraph.

Conclusion (Approximately 10% of the Word Count)

1. Restating the Main Argument

The first statement in the paragraph should repeat the main argument presented in the thesis statement.
It should not contain the same words as the thesis statement, but keywords can be reused.
Provide a detailed overview of the main points of the essay logically.
Demonstrate the value of the main points in answering the essay prompt.

Five-Paragraph American Dream Essay Outline Sample

Introduction/Paragraph 1

Hook: Besides the differences in the American populations, they are similar because they pursue the same dream.

Overview of the topic: Outline some of the differences in the American population.

Thesis statement: Creating equal opportunities allows individuals to achieve upward mobility.

Paragraph 2 :

Topic sentence: Breaking down social mobility and its quantification.

Evidence: Definition and measures of social mobility.

Evaluation of evidence: Illustrate how upward social mobility is achieved while referring to the measures.

Transition statement: Introduces the need for self-improvement for social mobility to occur.

Paragraph 3 :

Topic sentence: Opportunity is a requirement for social mobility.

Evidence: The role of education in equipping an individual to utilize opportunities.

Evaluation of evidence: Demonstrate the link between education, access to jobs, and the ability to improve an individual’s quality of life.

Transition statement: Recognise that there are socially constructed limitations on the accessibility of opportunities.

Paragraph 4 :

Topic sentence: Discriminative practices affect an individual’s access to opportunities for social mobility.

Evidence: Identify some forms of discrimination and explain the occurrence of discriminative practices.

Evaluation of evidence: Describe the value of government and organization’s role in managing discriminative practices using policies that uphold equality.

Transition statement: Stress the centrality of equality in the argument for opportunity access and upward mobility.

Conclusion/Paragraph 5 :

Restating the main argument: Emphasise the importance of equality in securing opportunities for upward mobility and the attainment of the American Dream.

Summary: Allude to the measures of social mobility, the interaction between discriminative practices and opportunities, and the relief provided by policies on equality.

Sample of Five-Paragraph American Dream Essay

Topic: The Promise of the American Dream

Introduction

Although we are different, we share a single dream. In this case, the American population is composed of people of different genders, races, education levels, religions, and disability statuses. Nonetheless, each American is entitled to the opportunity to make themselves better regardless of the underlying differences. Thus, the American Dream thesis statement is that it is founded on the promise of equal opportunity for upward social mobility.

Social Mobility

Social mobility is a multidimensional concept. It can be assessed using a variety of measures that attempt to quantify the change occurring in an individual’s life. For example, the ability of an individual to move along the social hierarchy may be described as social mobility. In turn, there are different measures of social mobility. However, each one is focused on a specific aspect of average Americans’ livelihood:

health status – the susceptibility of an individual to diseases,
education – an individual’s highest level of education,
homeownership – the capability of an individual to acquire permanent housing.

Upward social mobility implies that an individual can improve their position in the social hierarchy through improving their performance on any of the measures of social mobility. Therefore, upward social mobility is the desired outcome of a successful pursuit of desired goals because it suggests some form of self-improvement.

Opportunity

The opportunity for upward mobility is vital in pursuing the desired goals. Basically, access to opportunity is facilitated by some factors, for example, access to quality education. In this case, an individual that has attended school and acquired the necessary skills has a higher likelihood of securing a job. If individuals acquire jobs, it becomes easier to secure health insurance, buy homes, and improve the quality of life for their families. Moreover, individuals can only attain what they want if they are provided access to basic education, which prepares them to maximize any opportunities. However, it is difficult for an average individual to pursue opportunities without the government’s efforts to increase the ease of access to basic needs.

Equality Policies

Many barriers affect an average American’s ability to access positive opportunities, and it manifests in the form of discriminative practices in society. In this case, discrimination in society may occur based on a variety of issues, for example, gender, disability, religion, and race. Basically, personal biases create ideological differences regarding superiority in the social hierarchy. It pushes individuals to deny others access to opportunities and the necessary skills to exploit those opportunities. Moreover, state and organizational policies against discrimination are created and enforced to maintain equality among Americans. These laws serve to eliminate the barriers that exist between hardworking people and the American Dream. Consequently, equality among individuals ensures that all individuals can take advantage of opportunities regardless of their gender, disability status, religion, race, and other social differences that tend to create boundaries between social groups.

Equality is crucial in the pursuit of the American Dream because it provides each individual with the opportunity to move up the social hierarchy. In this case, people can access upward social mobility by using various measures, which quantify an individual’s quality of life. Moreover, opportunities may exist, but individuals need to be assisted in developing themselves to a level where they can utilize the available opportunities. Hence, equality policies are useful in curtailing the power of discriminative practices in reinforcing social mobility barriers.

American Dream Essay Topics

The origin of the American Dream.
Intergenerational differences in the definition of the American Dream.
The American Dream in contemporary music.
Does society still believe in the American Dream?
Defining the American Dream through the racial lens.
Individualism and the American Dream.
The influence of unrestricted surveillance on the American Dream.
Health care policies and the American Dream.
The impacts of globalization on the American Dream.
The rise of right-wing populism and the future of the American Dream.

Summing up on the American Dream Essay

The capacity of a person to participate in the discourse on the controversial essay topic nurtured through the continuous practice of structured essay writing. Basically, the concept may be approached from a different perspective, depending on the individual’s beliefs and personal experiences. Nonetheless, the written presentation of these points of view is achieved through the use of structured essays. The five-paragraph American Dream essay examined in this paper is a useful tool for the expression of any argument on the topic.

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The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Introduction-Chapter 1

Chapter 6-Conclusion

Key Figures

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

What should the Puritans’ legacy be for American history and the American Dream? Do you agree with the author’s statement that “you’ll never really understand what it means to be an American of any creed, color, or gender if you don’t try to imagine the shape of [the Puritan] dream—and what happened when they tried to realize it” (13)? Would all social groups in the US understand the Puritan dream the same way?

To what extent is the American Dream accessible only to Americans? In what ways would the concept of the American Dream make sense (or not make sense) for people raised outside the US? In which countries (if any) would the Dream make more sense to people today—or be easier to achieve?

Cullen discusses three groups that were largely excluded from pursing the American Dream for much of history: First Nations people, slaves, and women. What obstacles to pursuing and achieving any aspect of the American Dream still exist today for historically oppressed groups in the US? If structural patterns of injustice hinder certain groups from achieving the American Dream, does this discredit the Dream? Why or why not?

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Home — Essay Samples — Economics — American Dream — Synthesizing the American Dream

Synthesizing The American Dream

Categories: American Culture American Dream

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Words: 629 |

Published: Sep 12, 2023

Words: 629 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

The historical roots of the american dream, contemporary interpretations of the american dream, the american dream in the 21st century, the american dream and individual lives, conclusion: synthesizing the american dream.

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Book Guides

The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story on the surface, but it's most commonly understood as a pessimistic critique of the American Dream. In the novel, Jay Gatsby overcomes his poor past to gain an incredible amount of money and a limited amount of social cache in 1920s NYC, only to be rejected by the "old money" crowd. He then gets killed after being tangled up with them.

Through Gatsby's life, as well as that of the Wilsons', Fitzgerald critiques the idea that America is a meritocracy where anyone can rise to the top with enough hard work. We will explore how this theme plays out in the plot, briefly analyze some key quotes about it, as well as do some character analysis and broader analysis of topics surrounding the American Dream in The Great Gatsby .

What is the American Dream? The American Dream in the Great Gatsby plot Key American Dream quotes Analyzing characters via the American Dream Common discussion and essay topics

Quick Note on Our Citations

Our citation format in this guide is (chapter.paragraph). We're using this system since there are many editions of Gatsby, so using page numbers would only work for students with our copy of the book.

To find a quotation we cite via chapter and paragraph in your book, you can either eyeball it (Paragraph 1-50: beginning of chapter; 50-100: middle of chapter; 100-on: end of chapter), or use the search function if you're using an online or eReader version of the text.

What Exactly Is "The American Dream"?

The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of race, class, gender, or nationality, can be successful in America (read: rich) if they just work hard enough. The American Dream thus presents a pretty rosy view of American society that ignores problems like systemic racism and misogyny, xenophobia, tax evasion or state tax avoidance, and income inequality. It also presumes a myth of class equality, when the reality is America has a pretty well-developed class hierarchy.

The 1920s in particular was a pretty tumultuous time due to increased immigration (and the accompanying xenophobia), changing women's roles (spurred by the right to vote, which was won in 1919), and extraordinary income inequality.

The country was also in the midst of an economic boom, which fueled the belief that anyone could "strike it rich" on Wall Street. However, this rapid economic growth was built on a bubble which popped in 1929. The Great Gatsby was published in 1925, well before the crash, but through its wry descriptions of the ultra-wealthy, it seems to somehow predict that the fantastic wealth on display in 1920s New York was just as ephemeral as one of Gatsby's parties.

In any case, the novel, just by being set in the 1920s, is unlikely to present an optimistic view of the American Dream, or at least a version of the dream that's inclusive to all genders, ethnicities, and incomes. With that background in mind, let's jump into the plot!

The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

Chapter 1 places us in a particular year—1922—and gives us some background about WWI. This is relevant, since the 1920s is presented as a time of hollow decadence among the wealthy, as evidenced especially by the parties in Chapters 2 and 3. And as we mentioned above, the 1920s were a particularly tense time in America.

We also meet George and Myrtle Wilson in Chapter 2 , both working class people who are working to improve their lot in life, George through his work, and Myrtle through her affair with Tom Buchanan.

We learn about Gatsby's goal in Chapter 4 : to win Daisy back. Despite everything he owns, including fantastic amounts of money and an over-the-top mansion, for Gatsby, Daisy is the ultimate status symbol. So in Chapter 5 , when Daisy and Gatsby reunite and begin an affair, it seems like Gatsby could, in fact, achieve his goal.

In Chapter 6 , we learn about Gatsby's less-than-wealthy past, which not only makes him look like the star of a rags-to-riches story, it makes Gatsby himself seem like someone in pursuit of the American Dream, and for him the personification of that dream is Daisy.

However, in Chapters 7 and 8 , everything comes crashing down: Daisy refuses to leave Tom, Myrtle is killed, and George breaks down and kills Gatsby and then himself, leaving all of the "strivers" dead and the old money crowd safe. Furthermore, we learn in those last chapters that Gatsby didn't even achieve all his wealth through hard work, like the American Dream would stipulate—instead, he earned his money through crime. (He did work hard and honestly under Dan Cody, but lost Dan Cody's inheritance to his ex-wife.)

In short, things do not turn out well for our dreamers in the novel! Thus, the novel ends with Nick's sad meditation on the lost promise of the American Dream. You can read a detailed analysis of these last lines in our summary of the novel's ending .

Key American Dream Quotes

In this section we analyze some of the most important quotes that relate to the American Dream in the book.

But I didn't call to him for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone--he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and far as I was from him I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward--and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. (1.152)

In our first glimpse of Jay Gatsby, we see him reaching towards something far off, something in sight but definitely out of reach. This famous image of the green light is often understood as part of The Great Gatsby 's meditation on The American Dream—the idea that people are always reaching towards something greater than themselves that is just out of reach . You can read more about this in our post all about the green light .

The fact that this yearning image is our introduction to Gatsby foreshadows his unhappy end and also marks him as a dreamer, rather than people like Tom or Daisy who were born with money and don't need to strive for anything so far off.

Over the great bridge, with the sunlight through the girders making a constant flicker upon the moving cars, with the city rising up across the river in white heaps and sugar lumps all built with a wish out of non-olfactory money. The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world.

A dead man passed us in a hearse heaped with blooms, followed by two carriages with drawn blinds and by more cheerful carriages for friends. The friends looked out at us with the tragic eyes and short upper lips of south-eastern Europe, and I was glad that the sight of Gatsby's splendid car was included in their somber holiday. As we crossed Blackwell's Island a limousine passed us, driven by a white chauffeur, in which sat three modish Negroes, two bucks and a girl. I laughed aloud as the yolks of their eyeballs rolled toward us in haughty rivalry.

"Anything can happen now that we've slid over this bridge," I thought; "anything at all. . . ."

Even Gatsby could happen, without any particular wonder. (4.55-8)

Early in the novel, we get this mostly optimistic illustration of the American Dream—we see people of different races and nationalities racing towards NYC, a city of unfathomable possibility. This moment has all the classic elements of the American Dream—economic possibility, racial and religious diversity, a carefree attitude. At this moment, it does feel like "anything can happen," even a happy ending.

However, this rosy view eventually gets undermined by the tragic events later in the novel. And even at this point, Nick's condescension towards the people in the other cars reinforces America's racial hierarchy that disrupts the idea of the American Dream. There is even a little competition at play, a "haughty rivalry" at play between Gatsby's car and the one bearing the "modish Negroes."

Nick "laughs aloud" at this moment, suggesting he thinks it's amusing that the passengers in this other car see them as equals, or even rivals to be bested. In other words, he seems to firmly believe in the racial hierarchy Tom defends in Chapter 1, even if it doesn't admit it honestly.

His heart beat faster and faster as Daisy's white face came up to his own. He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God. So he waited, listening for a moment longer to the tuning fork that had been struck upon a star. Then he kissed her. At his lips' touch she blossomed for him like a flower and the incarnation was complete. (6.134)

This moment explicitly ties Daisy to all of Gatsby's larger dreams for a better life —to his American Dream. This sets the stage for the novel's tragic ending, since Daisy cannot hold up under the weight of the dream Gatsby projects onto her. Instead, she stays with Tom Buchanan, despite her feelings for Gatsby. Thus when Gatsby fails to win over Daisy, he also fails to achieve his version of the American Dream. This is why so many people read the novel as a somber or pessimistic take on the American Dream, rather than an optimistic one.

...as the moon rose higher the inessential houses began to melt away until gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes--a fresh, green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby's house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams; for a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder.

And as I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night." (9.151-152)

The closing pages of the novel reflect at length on the American Dream, in an attitude that seems simultaneously mournful, appreciative, and pessimistic. It also ties back to our first glimpse of Gatsby, reaching out over the water towards the Buchanan's green light. Nick notes that Gatsby's dream was "already behind him" then (or in other words, it was impossible to attain). But still, he finds something to admire in how Gatsby still hoped for a better life, and constantly reached out toward that brighter future.

For a full consideration of these last lines and what they could mean, see our analysis of the novel's ending .

Analyzing Characters Through the American Dream

An analysis of the characters in terms of the American Dream usually leads to a pretty cynical take on the American Dream.

Most character analysis centered on the American Dream will necessarily focus on Gatsby, George, or Myrtle (the true strivers in the novel), though as we'll discuss below, the Buchanans can also provide some interesting layers of discussion. For character analysis that incorporates the American Dream, carefully consider your chosen character's motivations and desires, and how the novel does (or doesn't!) provide glimpses of the dream's fulfillment for them.

Gatsby himself is obviously the best candidate for writing about the American Dream—he comes from humble roots (he's the son of poor farmers from North Dakota) and rises to be notoriously wealthy, only for everything to slip away from him in the end. Many people also incorporate Daisy into their analyses as the physical representation of Gatsby's dream.

However, definitely consider the fact that in the traditional American Dream, people achieve their goals through honest hard work, but in Gatsby's case, he very quickly acquires a large amount of money through crime . Gatsby does attempt the hard work approach, through his years of service to Dan Cody, but that doesn't work out since Cody's ex-wife ends up with the entire inheritance. So instead he turns to crime, and only then does he manage to achieve his desired wealth.

So while Gatsby's story arc resembles a traditional rags-to-riches tale, the fact that he gained his money immorally complicates the idea that he is a perfect avatar for the American Dream . Furthermore, his success obviously doesn't last—he still pines for Daisy and loses everything in his attempt to get her back. In other words, Gatsby's huge dreams, all precariously wedded to Daisy ("He knew that when he kissed this girl, and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath, his mind would never romp again like the mind of God" (6.134)) are as flimsy and flight as Daisy herself.

George and Myrtle Wilson

This couple also represents people aiming at the dream— George owns his own shop and is doing his best to get business, though is increasingly worn down by the harsh demands of his life, while Myrtle chases after wealth and status through an affair with Tom.

Both are disempowered due to the lack of money at their own disposal —Myrtle certainly has access to some of the "finer things" through Tom but has to deal with his abuse, while George is unable to leave his current life and move West since he doesn't have the funds available. He even has to make himself servile to Tom in an attempt to get Tom to sell his car, a fact that could even cause him to overlook the evidence of his wife's affair. So neither character is on the upward trajectory that the American Dream promises, at least during the novel.

In the end, everything goes horribly wrong for both George and Myrtle, suggesting that in this world, it's dangerous to strive for more than you're given.

George and Myrtle's deadly fates, along with Gatsby's, help illustrate the novel's pessimistic attitude toward the American Dream. After all, how unfair is it that the couple working to improve their position in society (George and Myrtle) both end up dead, while Tom, who dragged Myrtle into an increasingly dangerous situation, and Daisy, who killed her, don't face any consequences? And on top of that they are fabulously wealthy? The American Dream certainly is not alive and well for the poor Wilsons.

Tom and Daisy as Antagonists to the American Dream

We've talked quite a bit already about Gatsby, George, and Myrtle—the three characters who come from humble roots and try to climb the ranks in 1920s New York. But what about the other major characters, especially the ones born with money? What is their relationship to the American Dream?

Specifically, Tom and Daisy have old money, and thus they don't need the American Dream, since they were born with America already at their feet.

Perhaps because of this, they seem to directly antagonize the dream—Daisy by refusing Gatsby, and Tom by helping to drag the Wilsons into tragedy .

This is especially interesting because unlike Gatsby, Myrtle, and George, who actively hope and dream of a better life, Daisy and Tom are described as bored and "careless," and end up instigating a large amount of tragedy through their own recklessness.

In other words, income inequality and the vastly different starts in life the characters have strongly affected their outcomes. The way they choose to live their lives, their morality (or lack thereof), and how much they dream doesn't seem to matter. This, of course, is tragic and antithetical to the idea of the American Dream, which claims that class should be irrelevant and anyone can rise to the top.

Daisy as a Personification of the American Dream

As we discuss in our post on money and materialism in The Great Gatsby , Daisy's voice is explicitly tied to money by Gatsby:

"Her voice is full of money," he said suddenly.

That was it. I'd never understood before. It was full of money--that was the inexhaustible charm that rose and fell in it, the jingle of it, the cymbals' song of it. . . . High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl. . . . (7.105-6)

If Daisy's voice promises money, and the American Dream is explicitly linked to wealth, it's not hard to argue that Daisy herself—along with the green light at the end of her dock —stands in for the American Dream. In fact, as Nick goes on to describe Daisy as "High in a white palace the king's daughter, the golden girl," he also seems to literally describe Daisy as a prize, much like the princess at the end of a fairy tale (or even Princess Peach at the end of a Mario game!).

But Daisy, of course, is only human—flawed, flighty, and ultimately unable to embody the huge fantasy Gatsby projects onto her. So this, in turn, means that the American Dream itself is just a fantasy, a concept too flimsy to actually hold weight, especially in the fast-paced, dog-eat-dog world of 1920s America.

Furthermore, you should definitely consider the tension between the fact that Daisy represents Gatsby's ultimate goal, but at the same time (as we discussed above), her actual life is the opposite of the American Dream : she is born with money and privilege, likely dies with it all intact, and there are no consequences to how she chooses to live her life in between.

Can Female Characters Achieve the American Dream?

Finally, it's interesting to compare and contrast some of the female characters using the lens of the American Dream.

Let's start with Daisy, who is unhappy in her marriage and, despite a brief attempt to leave it, remains with Tom, unwilling to give up the status and security their marriage provides. At first, it may seem like Daisy doesn't dream at all, so of course she ends up unhappy. But consider the fact that Daisy was already born into the highest level of American society. The expectation placed on her, as a wealthy woman, was never to pursue something greater, but simply to maintain her status. She did that by marrying Tom, and it's understandable why she wouldn't risk the uncertainty and loss of status that would come through divorce and marriage to a bootlegger. Again, Daisy seems to typify the "anti-American" dream, in that she was born into a kind of aristocracy and simply has to maintain her position, not fight for something better.

In contrast, Myrtle, aside from Gatsby, seems to be the most ambitiously in pursuit of getting more than she was given in life. She parlays her affair with Tom into an apartment, nice clothes, and parties, and seems to revel in her newfound status. But of course, she is knocked down the hardest, killed for her involvement with the Buchanans, and specifically for wrongfully assuming she had value to them. Considering that Gatsby did have a chance to leave New York and distance himself from the unfolding tragedy, but Myrtle was the first to be killed, you could argue the novel presents an even bleaker view of the American Dream where women are concerned.

Even Jordan Baker , who seems to be living out a kind of dream by playing golf and being relatively independent, is tied to her family's money and insulated from consequences by it , making her a pretty poor representation of the dream. And of course, since her end game also seems to be marriage, she doesn't push the boundaries of women's roles as far as she might wish.

So while the women all push the boundaries of society's expectations of them in certain ways, they either fall in line or are killed, which definitely undermines the rosy of idea that anyone, regardless of gender, can make it in America. The American Dream as shown in Gatsby becomes even more pessimistic through the lens of the female characters.

Common Essay Questions/Discussion Topics

Now let's work through some of the more frequently brought up subjects for discussion.

#1: Was Gatsby's dream worth it? Was all the work, time, and patience worth it for him?

Like me, you might immediately think "of course it wasn't worth it! Gatsby lost everything, not to mention the Wilsons got caught up in the tragedy and ended up dead!" So if you want to make the more obvious "the dream wasn't worth it" argument, you could point to the unraveling that happens at the end of the novel (including the deaths of Myrtle, Gatsby and George) and how all Gatsby's achievements are for nothing, as evidenced by the sparse attendance of his funeral.

However, you could definitely take the less obvious route and argue that Gatsby's dream was worth it, despite the tragic end . First of all, consider Jay's unique characterization in the story: "He was a son of God--a phrase which, if it means anything, means just that--and he must be about His Father's Business, the service of a vast, vulgar and meretricious beauty" (6.7). In other words, Gatsby has a larger-than-life persona and he never would have been content to remain in North Dakota to be poor farmers like his parents.

Even if he ends up living a shorter life, he certainly lived a full one full of adventure. His dreams of wealth and status took him all over the world on Dan Cody's yacht, to Louisville where he met and fell in love with Daisy, to the battlefields of WWI, to the halls of Oxford University, and then to the fast-paced world of Manhattan in the early 1920s, when he earned a fortune as a bootlegger. In fact, it seems Jay lived several lives in the space of just half a normal lifespan. In short, to argue that Gatsby's dream was worth it, you should point to his larger-than-life conception of himself and the fact that he could have only sought happiness through striving for something greater than himself, even if that ended up being deadly in the end.

#2: In the Langston Hughes poem "A Dream Deferred," Hughes asks questions about what happens to postponed dreams. How does Fitzgerald examine this issue of deferred dreams? What do you think are the effects of postponing our dreams? How can you apply this lesson to your own life?

If you're thinking about "deferred dreams" in The Great Gatsby , the big one is obviously Gatsby's deferred dream for Daisy—nearly five years pass between his initial infatuation and his attempt in the novel to win her back, an attempt that obviously backfires. You can examine various aspects of Gatsby's dream—the flashbacks to his first memories of Daisy in Chapter 8 , the moment when they reunite in Chapter 5 , or the disastrous consequences of the confrontation of Chapter 7 —to illustrate Gatsby's deferred dream.

You could also look at George Wilson's postponed dream of going West, or Myrtle's dream of marrying a wealthy man of "breeding"—George never gets the funds to go West, and is instead mired in the Valley of Ashes, while Myrtle's attempt to achieve her dream after 12 years of marriage through an affair ends in tragedy. Apparently, dreams deferred are dreams doomed to fail.

As Nick Carraway says, "you can't repeat the past"—the novel seems to imply there is a small window for certain dreams, and when the window closes, they can no longer be attained. This is pretty pessimistic, and for the prompt's personal reflection aspect, I wouldn't say you should necessarily "apply this lesson to your own life" straightforwardly. But it is worth noting that certain opportunities are fleeting, and perhaps it's wiser to seek out newer and/or more attainable ones, rather than pining over a lost chance.

Any prompt like this one which has a section of more personal reflection gives you freedom to tie in your own experiences and point of view, so be thoughtful and think of good examples from your own life!

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#3: Explain how the novel does or does not demonstrate the death of the American Dream. Is the main theme of Gatsby indeed "the withering American Dream"? What does the novel offer about American identity?

In this prompt, another one that zeroes in on the dead or dying American Dream, you could discuss how the destruction of three lives (Gatsby, George, Myrtle) and the cynical portrayal of the old money crowd illustrates a dead, or dying American Dream . After all, if the characters who dream end up dead, and the ones who were born into life with money and privilege get to keep it without consequence, is there any room at all for the idea that less-privileged people can work their way up?

In terms of what the novel says about American identity, there are a few threads you could pick up—one is Nick's comment in Chapter 9 about the novel really being a story about (mid)westerners trying (and failing) to go East : "I see now that this has been a story of the West, after all--Tom and Gatsby, Daisy and Jordan and I, were all Westerners, and perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly unadaptable to Eastern life" (9.125). This observation suggests an American identity that is determined by birthplace, and that within the American identity there are smaller, inescapable points of identification.

Furthermore, for those in the novel not born into money, the American identity seems to be about striving to end up with more wealth and status. But in terms of the portrayal of the old money set, particularly Daisy, Tom, and Jordan, the novel presents a segment of American society that is essentially aristocratic—you have to be born into it. In that regard, too, the novel presents a fractured American identity, with different lives possible based on how much money you are born with.

In short, I think the novel disrupts the idea of a unified American identity or American dream, by instead presenting a tragic, fractured, and rigid American society, one that is divided based on both geographic location and social class.

#4: Most would consider dreams to be positive motivators to achieve success, but the characters in the novel often take their dreams of ideal lives too far. Explain how characters' American Dreams cause them to have pain when they could have been content with more modest ambitions.

Gatsby is an obvious choice here—his pursuit of money and status, particularly through Daisy, leads him to ruin. There were many points when perhaps Gatsby ;could have been happy with what he achieved (especially after his apparently successful endeavors in the war, if he had remained at Oxford, or even after amassing a great amount of wealth as a bootlegger) but instead he kept striving upward, which ultimately lead to his downfall. You can flesh this argument out with the quotations in Chapters 6 and 8 about Gatsby's past, along with his tragic death.

Myrtle would be another good choice for this type of prompt. In a sense, she seems to be living her ideal life in her affair with Tom—she has a fancy NYC apartment, hosts parties, and gets to act sophisticated—but these pleasures end up gravely hurting George, and of course her association with Tom Buchanan gets her killed.

Nick, too, if he had been happy with his family's respectable fortune and his girlfriend out west, might have avoided the pain of knowing Gatsby and the general sense of despair he was left with.

You might be wondering about George—after all, isn't he someone also dreaming of a better life? However, there aren't many instances of George taking his dreams of an ideal life "too far." In fact, he struggles just to make one car sale so that he can finally move out West with Myrtle. Also, given that his current situation in the Valley of Ashes is quite bleak, it's hard to say that striving upward gave him pain.

#5: The Great Gatsby is, among other things, a sobering and even ominous commentary on the dark side of the American dream. Discuss this theme, incorporating the conflicts of East Egg vs. West Egg and old money vs. new money. What does the American dream mean to Gatsby? What did the American Dream mean to Fitzgerald? How does morality fit into achieving the American dream?

This prompt allows you to consider pretty broadly the novel's attitude toward the American Dream, with emphasis on "sobering and even ominous" commentary. Note that Fitzgerald seems to be specifically mocking the stereotypical rags to riches story here—;especially since he draws the Dan Cody narrative almost note for note from the work of someone like Horatio Alger, whose books were almost universally about rich men schooling young, entrepreneurial boys in the ways of the world. In other words, you should discuss how the Great Gatsby seems to turn the idea of the American Dream as described in the quote on its head: Gatsby does achieve a rags-to-riches rise, but it doesn't last.

All of Gatsby's hard work for Dan Cody, after all, didn't pay off since he lost the inheritance. So instead, Gatsby turned to crime after the war to quickly gain a ton of money. Especially since Gatsby finally achieves his great wealth through dubious means, the novel further undermines the classic image of someone working hard and honestly to go from rags to riches.

If you're addressing this prompt or a similar one, make sure to focus on the darker aspects of the American Dream, including the dark conclusion to the novel and Daisy and Tom's protection from any real consequences . (This would also allow you to considering morality, and how morally bankrupt the characters are.)

#6: What is the current state of the American Dream?

This is a more outward-looking prompt, that allows you to consider current events today to either be generally optimistic (the American dream is alive and well) or pessimistic (it's as dead as it is in The Great Gatsby).

You have dozens of potential current events to use as evidence for either argument, but consider especially immigration and immigration reform, mass incarceration, income inequality, education, and health care in America as good potential examples to use as you argue about the current state of the American Dream. Your writing will be especially powerful if you can point to some specific current events to support your argument.

What's Next?

In this post, we discussed how important money is to the novel's version of the American Dream. You can read even more about money and materialism in The Great Gatsby right here .

Want to indulge in a little materialism of your own? Take a look through these 15 must-have items for any Great Gatsby fan .

Get complete guides to Jay Gatsby , George Wilson and Myrtle Wilson to get even more background on the "dreamers" in the novel.

Like we discussed above, the green light is often seen as a stand-in for the idea of the American Dream. Read more about this crucial symbol here .

Need help getting to grips with other literary works? Take a spin through our analyses of The Crucible , The Cask of Amontillado , and " Do not go gentle into this good night " to see analysis in action. You might also find our explanations of point of view , rhetorical devices , imagery , and literary elements and devices helpful.

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Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Theme of the American Dream in Literature: Guide & Topics

The American Dream theme encompasses crucial values, such as freedom, democracy, equal rights, and personal happiness. The concept’s definition varies from person to person. Yet, books by American authors can help us grasp it better. Many agree that American literature is so distinct from English literature because the concept of the American Dream influences it heavily.

In this article, our custom writing team will focus on the theme of the American Dream in literature. We will give examples of books that discuss the concept and suggest some essay topics. Read the full article to learn more!

🗽 Definition & History
📚 The Theme in Literature
📝 Essay Topics

🔍 References

🗽 the american dream theme & its history.

We all, as human beings, have the desire to fulfill our dreams. To achieve them, we put forth the effort. The idea behind the phrase “hard work pays off” is closely related to the American Dream. Let’s look at the term’s history and how its meaning evolved.

The term was coined back in 1931 by James Truslow Adams. He defines the American Dream as “the pursuit of a happier and a better life for all citizens of every rank.” In his book Epic of America , he also mentions that the American Dream is “a dream of a land where life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”

The roots of the idea behind the American Dream can be traced back to Colonial Period. First settlers and pilgrims from England saw the States as a promised land of opportunities. They wanted to build a new nation on those lands, free from the old order.

The 1920s or the Jazz Age is the time when the American Dream was at its peak. It is the time of the Harlem Renaissance, economic growth, and technological progress. It is also the time when the idea of the American Dream becomes “corrupted.” In other words, the concept focused on wealth and materialism rather than the ideas of freedom and equality. One of the reasons for that was increased consumerism in American society.

Core American Values & The American Dream

The American Dream played a crucial role in constructing the nation. Since America is a country formed through immigration, people needed something that could unify them.

Unlike other countries, the early colonies featured a mix of nationalities with different histories and cultures. However, people who came to America all shared the hope to find opportunities and achieve independence. The ideas that laid out the basis for constructing the American nation can be referred to as the American Dream.

The picture shows the core national values associated with the American Dream.

Although James Adams first used the term in Epic of America , the idea behind the American Dream goes back to the 4th of July, 1776. It is the day The Declaration of Independence was signed. The declaration reflects the values associated with the American Dream.

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. The Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson, one of the declaration’s authors, explicitly emphasizes the pursuit of happiness. Happiness is the key to everything that the Dream encompasses.

The ideas of Benjamin Franklin have also influenced the formation of the American Dream. In his Autobiography , he tells a story of a man who came from nothing and achieved success through hard work.

Franklin defines himself as an example of an ideal American citizen. He emphasizes that his success can be imitated by any American who strives for success and works hard. Franklin’s life became an example of self-improvement. He believed that if people follow his model, America can become a prosperous country with self-aware citizens.

The American Dream in Literature

From the very beginning, the theme of identity has been prominent in American literature. The US was a land of promise, a New World where everyone dreamed of a just, forward-thinking society. When America began to form its own culture during the revolutionary period, many started to question what it meant to be American.

Literary works of that time were, in a way, a self-discovery. They reflected the ideas, values, and aspirations of the American people. For that reason, along with self-identity, they focused on freedom, racial discrimination, gender, equality, and individualism.

📚 Examples of the American Dream in Literature

It’s true that the theme of the American Dream is present in almost every work of American literature. It is seen as either a positive or a negative phenomenon by various authors.

For instance, the poem I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman and The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin describe the American Dream as something that can help the country develop and bring positive changes to society.

In contrast, the following works talk about the vanity of the American Dream:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck,
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry,
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.

The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby raises a lot of social and psychological questions. One of the book’s topics is the American Dream and how it fails people’s expectations. You can learn more about this and other themes in the novel from our article on the themes in The Great Gatsby .

Fitzgerald depicts the American Dream as something materialistic. It comes in the form of wealth, success, and social status—things that don’t guarantee happiness.

The American Dream posits that anyone who works hard can achieve success in the United States, no matter their social class. The novel questions that idea. Specifically, it criticizes how materialistic the American Dream became when the initial ideas were about freedom and equality. The Great Gatsby shows how consumerism had corroded and corrupted one of the country’s foundational ideas. 

How does the Great Gatsby Represent the American Dream?

The protagonist of Fitzgerald’s novel, Jay Gatsby, is the proof that the American Dream, despite people’s expectations, can’t be achieved. From the outside, Gatsby looks like a successful man who paved the way for himself. In reality, however, his life is miserable. He stays an outsider in the eyes of elite society and has no one who truly cares about him.

Jay Gatsby is a romantic character who believes in love and achieving dreams. He pursues wealth and influence as a way to fulfill these dreams. He is too blinded by his passion for Daisy, whom he idealizes, just like people idealize the American Dream.

In the end, Gatsby’s naivety and unwillingness to see the truth bring him to his downfall. Through the character of Jay Gatsby, Fitzgerald shows how corrupted the American Dream became. You can learn more from our article on the characters in The Great Gatsby .

The Great Gatsby: American Dream Quotes

Here are some quotations from Fitzgerald’s novel that demonstrate how the idea of the American Dream is depicted in the book:

I decided to call to him. Miss Baker had mentioned him at dinner, and that would do for an introduction. But I didn’t call to him, for he gave a sudden intimation that he was content to be alone—he stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward—and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he had vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness. The Great Gatsby, Chapter 1

He had come a long way to this blue lawn and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night. The Great Gatsby, Chapter 9

If that was true he must have felt that he had lost the old warm world, paid a high price for living too long with a single dream. The Great Gatsby, Chapter 7

American Dream: Death of a Salesman

The play Death of a Salesman talks about the difference between reality and dreams. The main character, Willy Loman, is a tragic hero. He is flawed because he refuses to accept reality and keeps living in the illusion he had created for himself. Eventually, it leads him to his downfall resulting in his death.

In his play, Arthur Miller criticizes the American society of the 1940s for its materialistic values. The author shows the struggles that each character has to go through in an attempt to achieve their American Dream.

Rather than directly criticizing the American Dream, the play talks about the confusion that comes with it. It condemns how people start to see material success as their way towards happiness and elevate it above everything else. Want to learn more? Feel free to read our summary of Death of a Salesman .

American Dream Quotes: Death of a Salesman

Here are quotations that reflect the idea of the American Dream in Miller’s play:

Work a lifetime to pay off a house. You finally own it, and there’s nobody to live in it. Death of a Salesman, Act 1

Biff Loman is lost. In the greatest country in the world a young man with such—personal attractiveness, gets lost. And such a hard worker. There’s one thing about Biff—he’s not lazy. Death of a Salesman, Act 1

It’s who you know and the smile on your face! It’s contacts, Ben, contacts! The whole wealth of Alaska passes over the lunch table at the Commodore Hotel, and that’s the wonder, the wonder of this country, that a man can end with diamonds here on the basis of being liked! Death of a Salesman, Act 2

American Dream in Of Mice and Men

John Steinbeck’s novella tells the story of two migrant ranch workers who search for new job opportunities. The narrative takes place during the Great Depression. It touches on various topics such as friendship, loneliness, race, gender, and economic class.

The main characters, George and Lennie, wish to own a farm. They hope that they will eventually buy land and fulfill their dream if they work hard. George and Lennie’s dream farm is the representation of the American Dream and its fragility.

In his book, Steinbeck argues that the American Dream of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is an illusion and can’t be achieved. The author shows the reality of poor workers trying to make it in America.

Through the book’s characters, it becomes evident that such things as skin color, social status, and gender still affect our position in society. It also reflects how lonely people become while trying to pursue their American Dream.

Of Mice and Men: American Dream Quotes

Here are some interesting quotations that illustrate how the American Dream is portrayed in Steinbeck’s novella:

And these shelves were loaded with little articles, soap and talcum powder, razors and those Western magazines ranch men love to read and scoff at and secretly believe. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 2

I seen too many guys with land in their head. They never get none under their hand. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 4

Then – it’s all off?” Candy asked sulkily. George didn’t answer his question. George said, “I’ll work my month an’ I’ll take my fifty bucks an’ I’ll stay all night in some lousy cat house. Or I’ll set in some poolroom til ever’body goes home. An’ then I’ll come back an’ work another month an’ I’ll have fifty bucks more. Of Mice and Men, Chapter 5

📝 American Dream Essay Topics

In this part of the article, we introduce a list of topics on the American Dream. You can use them for inspiration in your essay:

Describe a character that you think exemplifies the American Dream.
Write about an author who criticizes the American Dream in his books.
Analyze a poem that depicts the American Dream as a positive phenomenon.
Do you think the American Dream is achievable?
Describe how the American Dream has changed over time .
Which historical events affect the emergence of the American Dream?
Describe the American Dream of today.
Does the American Dream influence world literature?
How is the American Dream reflected in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s works?
The Lost Generation and the American Dream.
The representation of the American Dream in Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath .
Describe Langston Hughes’ version of the American Dream.
Depiction of the American Dream in movies .
What is the original meaning of the American Dream?
Allegory in Edward Albee’s The American Dream .
The failure of the American Dream.
Martin Luther King’s version of the American Dream.
Describe Jack Kerouac’s vision of the American Dream in On the Road .
Do you think in The Sun Also Rises Hemingway is skeptical about the American Dream?
Did Benjamin Franklin’s definition of the American Dream get lost?

We hope that you found this article helpful and learned something new. If you liked it, feel free to share it with your friends.

How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time: Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
The Colonial American Dream: Encyclopedia.com
American Dream: Corporate Finance Institute
The American Dream, Equal Opportunity, and Obtaining the Vote: The University of Maine
Of Mice and Men: Key Terms and Concepts: San José State University
The American Dream and Literature: De Paul University
How the American Dream Turned into Greed and Inequality: World Economic Forum
Fitzgerald’s Critique of the American Dream: Bridgewater State University
Defining the Dream: The Institute on the American Dream: Penn State University
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Ellis Island: Gateway to the American Dream

This essay about Ellis Island recounts its significance as the primary immigration inspection center in the United States from 1892 to 1954. It discusses the rigorous inspection process, the diverse array of immigrants processed there, and the evolving role of Ellis Island over time. Despite occasional challenges and changes in immigration policies, Ellis Island remains a symbol of American pluralism and the immigrant experience, commemorated today through the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

How it works

Nestled in the expanse of New York Harbor, Ellis Island emerges as a pivotal locus in the annals of the United States, serving as the nation’s preeminent immigration inspection bastion from 1892 to 1954. This iconic threshold, traversed by over 12 million migrants in pursuit of fresh horizons, stands not only as a testament to American pluralism but also as a reflection of the nation’s intricate immigration ethos.

The narrative of Ellis Island commences on January 1, 1892, ushering in a tide of humanity yearning for ingress into the United States.

Annie Moore, a youthful Irish immigrant accompanied by her siblings, clinches the distinction of being the inaugural entrant into its confines. Ellis Island supplanted the Castle Garden Immigration Depot in lower Manhattan, its predecessor since 1855, adjudged insufficient to accommodate the burgeoning influx of migrants.

The selection of Ellis Island as the site for the novel immigration hub was strategic, owing to its adjacency to the Statue of Liberty, an emblem of liberty and opportunity. Nevertheless, the initial iteration of Ellis Island lacked the capacity to accommodate the burgeoning throngs. Fabricated from wood, the original edifice met its demise in a catastrophic conflagration in 1897. Swift reconstruction ensued, with the revamped facilities, crafted from fire-resistant materials, unveiled in 1900. This reconstituted framework was engineered to process up to 5,000 migrants daily.

Scrutiny at Ellis Island was exacting, marked by an exhaustive inspection regimen devised to preempt potential health hazards or fiscal liabilities. Immigrants underwent meticulous medical and legal assessments, a process that, for some, proved protracted and daunting, stretching across hours or even days. Notwithstanding these tribulations, the overwhelming majority of migrants received approval, typically within a brief span. Merely a scant 2 percent of arrivals encountered rejection at Ellis Island’s gates.

Existence on Ellis Island oscillated between optimism and trepidation, embodying the culmination of an arduous odyssey for many. The Grand Hall, the epicenter of processing, resonated with a cacophony of tongues and a kaleidoscope of ethnic attire. Anxiously, migrants awaited their summons, teetering on the precipice between ingress into America or, in rare instances, repatriation to their countries of origin.

The function of Ellis Island morphed over time in tandem with evolving immigration paradigms. The Immigration Act of 1924 precipitated a seismic reduction in migration, instituting quotas that delimited the influx from each nation. Consequently, Ellis Island’s purview transitioned primarily to detention and expulsion processing, alongside its service as a locus for the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II.

The denouement arrived on November 12, 1954, signifying the cessation of operations as the final detainee, Arne Peterssen, a Norwegian mariner, secured liberation. Subsequent to closure, dilapidation beset the edifices until restoration initiatives took flight in the 1980s. Restoration culminated in the public reopening of Ellis Island in 1990, enshrined within the Statue of Liberty National Monument and administered by the National Park Service. Presently, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration stands as a testament to the influx of migrants who indelibly shaped America’s social and cultural tapestry.

Ellis Island endures as an emblematic microcosm of the American mosaic, encapsulating the nation’s embrace of diverse peoples alongside intermittent bouts of xenophobic resistance to newcomers. The chronicles of those who traversed Ellis Island illuminate the manifold travails and triumphs of those questing for a brighter future in a foreign land. It stands as an indelible homage to the resolute spirit of those who dared to dream of liberty and opportunity, instrumental in fashioning the vibrant and variegated America of today.

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'Why is it so hard to make it in America?' Here's the true cost of the American Dream

How much does it cost to live the American Dream? More than most of us can afford, according to two recent studies.

A household would have to spend more than $150,000 a year to live the dream in 29 of the 50 states, according to an analysis published in April by the personal finance site GOBankingRates.

According to the report, the optimal American lifestyle would cost $137,842 a year in Ohio, $147,535 in Texas, $159,932 in Florida, $194,067 in New York and $245,723 in California.

And how, exactly, does one quantify the American Dream?

GOBankingRates defines the dream as getting married, raising two children and owning a home, a car and a pet. (You can almost imagine them tooling around in one of those little plastic cars from the Game of Life.)

The site ran the numbers for every state, factoring in a mortgage, annual health care costs, utilities, education, groceries, pets and child care. After tallying the expenses, researchers doubled them, to account for discretionary spending and savings.

In Hawaii, the American Dream will cost you

Hawaii ranks as the costliest state, at $260,734 per year. Mississippi is the least expensive, at $109,516.

Here’s a breakdown of costs in Illinois, a midpriced American state, ranked as 26 th -least-expensive among the 50:

◾ Median home price: $255,278

◾ Annual child care: $24,174

◾ Annual mortgage: $21,401

◾ Car: $8,709

◾ Grocery: $8,143

◾ Health care: $7,021

◾ Utilities: $5,278

◾ Education: $2,475

◾ Pet: $1,170

◾ Annual total: $78,369

◾ Full cost of the American Dream: $156,739

That total, $156,739, is more than most of us earn in a year. Median household income was $74,580 in 2022, according to the Census Bureau.

“Ultimately, this study highlights just how high of a hill Americans have to climb if they want to comfortably afford to live as a family of four,” said Andrew Murray , lead data content researcher at GOBankingRates.

What does living the American Dream cost in a lifetime?

Another report, released in December by the financial media site Investopedia, estimates what the American Dream costs across an entire lifetime: $3.4 million .

That is a staggering sum, Investopedia observes, considering what the average American earns in a lifetime: about $2.3 million.

Here’s how Investopedia breaks down the itemized costs of the American Dream:

◾ Lifetime of health insurance: $934,752

◾ Average home, plus mortgage interest: $796,998

◾ Raising two children: $576,896

◾ Lifetime owning a car: $271,330

◾ Lifetime of pet care: $67,935

◾ College: $42,070

◾ Wedding and engagement: $35,800

◾ Two baby deliveries: $5,708

◾ Retirement: $715,968

◾ Funeral: $7,848

And many of those figures are low-ball estimates, said Caleb Silver , editor-in-chief of Investopedia.

The tab for lifetime car costs, for example, assumes you can live the American Dream while driving only used vehicles. The college costs figure covers only one year at a public, in-state institution for each of the two children.

“These are what we think are reasonable expectations for having a household in America today,” Silver said.

Investopedia prepared the report partly to feed reader interest: Many site visitors wanted to know what Investopedia had to say about financing the American Dream.

“The reason that the American Dream was one of our most-searched terms last year,” Silver said, “is that people thought it was further and further away from them.”

Runaway housing costs put the American Dream out of reach

If rising prices are pushing the American Dream out of reach for many Americans, perhaps nothing emblemizes that trend quite like the runaway costs of owning an American home.

The median sale price for an existing home rose more than 40% between early 2020 and mid-2022, topping out at a seasonal peak of just over $400,000, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Home prices are still rising, albeit more slowly: Prices on existing homes rose 4.8% from March 2023 to March 2024.

And mortgage rates are twice as high now as in early 2022: 7.2%, as of May 2, compared to just over 3% at the start of 2022.

Mortgage rates rose in response to a campaign of dramatic interest-rate hikes by the Federal Reserve to tamp down inflation.

High rates and high prices have hobbled homebuyers. In one recent survey , published last month by BMO Financial Group, 71% of prospective buyers said they would wait until the Fed cuts rates before they enter the market.

“When you think of the American Dream, you think of, 'How do people become a part of this wonderful middle class?' They purchase a home,” said Kurt Carlton , president of New Western, a marketplace for investors to find houses to rehab or remodel, based in Irving, Texas.

Retirement costs are a red flag for many Americans

One red flag in the Investopedia report, Silver said, is the high cost of retirement. The estimated tab, $715,968, assumes a household will need 80% of the income earned from work for a 12-year retirement.

“By and large, people are not saving nearly enough for having that money when they stop earning a regular paycheck,” Silver said.

According to the Survey of Consumer Finances, the median household held $87,000 in retirement savings in 2022. Nearly half of households had no retirement savings.

Inflation has pushed up the costs of other components of the American Dream, including child care , groceries and even pet care .

'Child care desert': In this state, parents pay one-third of their income on child care

According to a Bankrate analysis of labor statistics, overall consumer prices have risen 20% since February 2020, a time before the recent inflation crisis.

The GOBankingRates study notes that annual grocery costs now top $9,000 in five states: Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon. Child care costs exceed $20,000 in many states, and they top $30,000 in Massachusetts.

Young Americans aren't buying into the American Dream

Dwindling hopes of achieving the American Dream may be hitting younger Americans the hardest. They are struggling with the rising costs of college, childcare and especially buying a first home, a milestone many older Americans have already reached.

Two-thirds of Americans believe younger people face hardships that earlier generations didn’t, according to an online survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults done for USA TODAY by The Harris Poll in 2023.

"Many younger generations have given up on the American Dream," said Grant Gallagher, head of financial well-being at Affinity Federal Credit Union in New Jersey. "With all of these headwinds, the American Dream is being redefined by the 30-and-under crowd as focusing on living their best life with what they have."

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American Dream Essay Topics by Chloe H
113 American Dream Essay Titles & Research Topics
American Dream Essay Conclusion Best Of the American Dream the Great
30 American Dream Examples (2024)
⇉The American Dream Argumentative Essay Example
American Dream Essay

COMMENTS

103 American Dream Essay Topics & Samples
The objective of this paper, therefore, is to discuss the topic of the American dream and how both Franklin and Douglass, each exemplify this dream. The American Dream and Success. One of the most pertinent topics associated with the American Dream is taking the courage to act and seize the opportunity.
124 American Dream Essay Topic Ideas & Examples
124 American Dream Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. The American Dream is a concept deeply rooted in the American ethos, representing the belief that anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination. This idea has been a source of inspiration for countless individuals ...
American Dream Essay Examples
The topic of the American Dream is of great significance when it comes to understanding the ideals, values, and aspirations deeply ingrained in American society. Writing an essay on the American Dream allows for a critical examination of its historical origins, cultural impact, and evolving interpretations over time.
113 American Dream Essay Titles & Research Topics
These essay examples and topics on American Dream were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you're using them to write your assignment.
American Dream Essay Sample: Guide, Outline and Example
10 Successful American Dream Essay Topics. A Sum of Cultures and Common Strengths. Speak of how different cultures and people make America strong and united. Success is Always Hard Work. Focus on personal achievements, your family or friends who work hard to live successful lives. Living Martin Luther King Way.
Essays About The American Dream: 7 Interesting Topics to Discuss
4. The American Dream In Literature. Many pieces of classic American literature work to show what the American Dream means to various groups of people. In writing an essay about the American Dream in literature, you'll want to discuss several different classic works, including The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Grapes of Wrath by ...
The American Dream Essay: Best Topics and Controversies to Consider
The American Dream Essay Topics. Although the American Dream essay seems to have a clear topic to write about, you may choose between six different approaches to it, that is ways to develop the topic. It is important to choose one clear focus that will define your essay's structure and thesis stament. 1. Historical Perspective of the American ...
American Dream Essay: Structure, Outline, Sample, and Topics
A structured essay is analyzed with a focus on the introduction, main body, and conclusion of the five-paragraph essay. The process of topic selection, outline development, and structured writing is exemplified using an essay titled, "The Promise of the American Dream.". Recommendations for narrow scoped topics for exploring the concept are ...
American Dream Essay: a Guide with Topics, Tips, and Examples
American Dream Essay Topics. If you don't have a clear prompt and have the freedom of choosing the topic of your American dream essay yourself, this list is perfect for your inspiration: Martin Luther King's Idea of the American Dream. The Modern Concept of the American Dream. Arthur Miller's American Dream Ideology.
American Dream Essay Topics
The American dream is a sociological concept with far-reaching implications for many students. This lesson offers essay topics designed to help students think about the American dream and its roots.
The American Dream Essay Topics
Get unlimited access to SuperSummaryfor only $0.70/week. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "The American Dream" by Jim Cullen. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
How to Write an Inspiring American Dream Essay
The key to writing a strong history essay. Keep the scope of your paper in check. History (even the history of the American Dream) is a long time. Unless you want to write a 10-volume collection of books rather than an essay, you'll need to select a specific subject and focus. If you're having trouble figuring out how to select a narrowed ...
American Dream
American Dream, ideal that the United States is a land of opportunity that allows the possibility of upward mobility, freedom, and equality for people of all classes who work hard and have the will to succeed.. The roots of the American Dream lie in the goals and aspirations of the first European settlers and colonizers.Most of these people came to the North American continent to escape ...
American Dream Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas
114 essay samples found. The American Dream, a widely held cultural ideal in the United States, suggests that through hard work and determination, individuals can achieve a prosperous and fulfilling life. Essays on this topic might discuss its evolution, its representation in literature and media, and its relevance and attainability in modern ...
The American Dream Argumentative: [Essay Example], 565 words
In this essay, I will argue that the American Dream is increasingly becoming an illusion rather than a reality, as evidenced by the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the decline of social mobility, and the persistence of systemic barriers to success. ... Paper Topic. Deadline: in 10 days. Number of pages. Email Invalid email.
American Dream Essays: Examples, Topics, & Outlines
American Dream The Awakening" and "Thelma and Louise" Although written and filmed a century apart, Kate Chopin's novel, "The Awakening," and the movie "Thelma and Louis" possess the same core theme of feminism at odds with the norms of society. Chopin's character Edna, has had the social upbringing of any proper female of her day. Chopin describes her as "an American woman, with a small ...
Synthesizing the American Dream: [Essay Example], 629 words
The American Dream is a dynamic and multifaceted concept that has evolved over time. It reflects the aspirations and values of individuals and society as a whole. While historical roots tie it to notions of opportunity and freedom, contemporary interpretations emphasize a broader range of goals and desires. Keep in mind:
Best Analysis: The American Dream in The Great Gatsby
Book Guides. The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story on the surface, but it's most commonly understood as a pessimistic critique of the American Dream. In the novel, Jay Gatsby overcomes his poor past to gain an incredible amount of money and a limited amount of social cache in 1920s NYC, only to be rejected by the "old money" crowd.
Theme of the American Dream in Literature: Guide & Topics
📝 American Dream Essay Topics . In this part of the article, we introduce a list of topics on the American Dream. You can use them for inspiration in your essay: Describe a character that you think exemplifies the American Dream. Write about an author who criticizes the American Dream in his books.
American Dream Essay: Secrets of Successful Writing
How to Compose a Proper American Dream Essay. Select the best American dream topic. Generate a solid thesis statement which must be brand new. Compose a section with terms and definitions. Choose the appropriate quotes to make the essay about the American dream alive. Restate the thesis and analyze the detail in a concluding paragraph.
Ellis Island: Gateway to the American Dream
Essay Example: Nestled in the expanse of New York Harbor, Ellis Island emerges as a pivotal locus in the annals of the United States, serving as the nation's preeminent immigration inspection bastion from 1892 to 1954. This iconic threshold, traversed by over 12 million migrants in pursuit of
What does it cost to live the 'American Dream'? A lot, it turns out
In Hawaii, the American Dream will cost you. Hawaii ranks as the costliest state, at $260,734 per year. Mississippi is the least expensive, at $109,516.

103 American Dream Essay Topics & Examples

📃 10 Tips for Writing American Dream Essays

113 American Dream Essay Topics

Essays About The American Dream: 7 Interesting Topics to Discuss

1. Is The American Dream Still Alive?

FAQs About Essays About The American Dream

American Dream Essay: Structure, Outline, Sample, and Topics

What Is the American Dream Essay?

2. Unique Experiences

3. Belief Systems

Topic Selection for American Dream Essays

2. Solution

3. Example of a Simple Brainstorming Template

American Dream Essay Outline

Main Body (Approximately 80% of the Word Count)

Conclusion (Approximately 10% of the Word Count)

Five-Paragraph American Dream Essay Outline Sample

Sample of Five-Paragraph American Dream Essay

Introduction

Social Mobility

Opportunity

Equality Policies

American Dream Essay Topics

Summing up on the American Dream Essay

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What Exactly Is "The American Dream"?

The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

Key American Dream Quotes

Analyzing Characters Through the American Dream

George and Myrtle Wilson

Tom and Daisy as Antagonists to the American Dream

Daisy as a Personification of the American Dream

Can Female Characters Achieve the American Dream?

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Theme of the American Dream in Literature: Guide & Topics

🔍 References

Core American Values & The American Dream

The American Dream in Literature

📚 Examples of the American Dream in Literature

The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

How does the Great Gatsby Represent the American Dream?

The Great Gatsby: American Dream Quotes

American Dream: Death of a Salesman

American Dream Quotes: Death of a Salesman

American Dream in Of Mice and Men

Of Mice and Men: American Dream Quotes

📝 American Dream Essay Topics

Ellis Island: Gateway to the American Dream

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Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

'Why is it so hard to make it in America?' Here's the true cost of the American Dream

In Hawaii, the American Dream will cost you

What does living the American Dream cost in a lifetime?

Runaway housing costs put the American Dream out of reach

Retirement costs are a red flag for many Americans

Young Americans aren't buying into the American Dream