can the american dream be achieved essay

The American dream still possible, but more difficult to achieve, students discover

WUSTL students in an interdisciplinary course this semester called “Economic Realities of the American Dream” were urged to consider the meaning of the American Dream and explored pathways to achieving it, including overall economic growth and rising standards of living, equality of opportunity, economic mobility and the availability and creation of jobs that will adequately provide for individuals and families.

In 1931, James Truslow Adams first defined the “American Dream” by writing that “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement” regardless of social status or birth circumstance.

In a modern society struggling to loose the grip of a lengthy economic recession, is this dream really attainable?

The dream may still be possible, though much more difficult to achieve, say a renowned macroeconomist and one of America’s foremost experts on poverty, co-teachers of a course on the American Dream this semester at Washington University in St. Louis.

“The American Dream is really at the heart and soul of this country,” says Mark R. Rank, PhD , the Herbert S. Hadley Professor of Social Welfare at the Brown School and author of One Nation, Underprivileged: Why American Poverty Affects Us All.

“It’s the idea of what we stand for and what we represent — the idea of being able to pursue what you are really passionate about and to have a good life,” he says.

The interdisciplinary course, “Economic Realities of the American Dream,” came out of a long friendship between Rank and his co-teacher Steven Fazzari.

“I’ve read Mark’s books and being an economist they really got me thinking about perspectives on the realities of economic life in this country and how we formulate those ideas into this concept of an American Dream,” says Fazzari, PhD , professor of economics in Arts & Sciences.

He says the class has focused on three main components — the freedom to pursue what people want to do to reach their potential, the ability to have a secure and comfortable life and a sense of hope and optimism about the future.

“Many people think the American Dream is owning a home,” Fazzari says. “That may be one way to reach economic security and a sense of hope for the future but maybe it’s more of a pathway to the dream than a component of the dream itself.”

Students in the course examined the meaning of the American Dream and explored pathways to achieving it, including overall economic growth and rising standards of living, equality of opportunity, economic mobility and the availability and creation of jobs that will adequately provide for individuals and families.

“I decided to take this course because I wanted to experience the interdisciplinary approach that both professors provide,” says Doug Griesenauer, second-year master’s of social work student. “My view of the American Dream changed dramatically throughout the course. When it began, I understood it as more of an ephemeral idea, a concept that everyone really knew but you couldn’t pin down.

“Through discussions with both professors, we have been able to give substance to that idea and really understand what made the American Dream such an aspiring thing.”

Students participated in group projects and discussions from a variety of perspectives, including economics, sociology, social work and others.

“I’ve worked a lot with Professor Fazarri on Keynesian macroeconomics but living in St. Louis has gotten me really interested in issues of poverty and social justice,” says Madeleine Dapp, a junior mathematics and economics major in Arts & Sciences.

“I saw this course as a good opportunity to combine those two perspectives,” she says. “After I graduate, I’m hoping to work in agricultural policy. I think this class has really allowed me to more closely examine the problems that prevent people from accessing the American Dream, whether it’s problems with nutrition or something more economic.”

The interdisciplinary nature of the course has been its strong suit, Rank says.

“We have students from economics, social work and several other social sciences,” he says. “Having that mix in the classroom is really dynamic and provides a lot of interesting feedback, questions and discussions that help advance all of our thinking.”

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Is the American Dream still achievable?

Is it still possible to pursue a happy life with a stable job, a family, and wealth or success in life?

 “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.” ― James Truslow Adams, The Epic of America. The American dream, to some families, might mean pursuing a happy life with a stable job, a family, and wealth or success in life. The American dream is made possible due to equal opportunity to all. To some people, this dream isn’t possible, it is just a dream. Although it’s not easy to achieve the American dream, with passion, hard work and dedication, it is very possible to achieve.

The American dream is the ideal that every us citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. The term was first used in 1932 by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America, but even before the 1930’s, the mindset of the American dream was active. The Declaration of Independence only extended the American dream to white property owners. After time, laws were added to extend these rights to women, non property owners, and slaves. In this way, the American Dream changed the course of America itself. In the 1920s, the American Dream started morphing from the right to create a better life to the desire to acquire material things. From that point, the American dream adapted throughout time, making the next generation better than the one before.

There are a lot of Americans that do not believe in the American dream, or believe that it became unachievable. These people lacking faith, believe that factors such as discrimination and unequal opportunities provide barriers to one's chance of reaching this "American dream". While others believe anything is possible with determination and overcoming obstacles. Some believe that coming from nothing and becoming insanely successful is only a myth, many have lived it, one of them is Oprah Winfrey, one of the richest women in the world. Winfrey was an orphan raised by her grandma with little money. She has overcome child abuse, rape, weight gain, depression, failed romance, and other hardships to attain her success. Oprah Winfrey symbolizes the individual who by such means rises above the torment to become one of the wealthiest and most recognized public figures in the world.

Far fewer Americans say “becoming wealthy” is essential to the American dream than say the same about personal freedom and a good family life. Overall, 36% of U.S. adults say their family has achieved the American dream, while another 46% say they are “on their way” to achieving it, according to an August survey by Pew Research Center. People who say they have already achieved the American dream are generally older, and better-educated than those who say they are on their way to achieving the American dream and those who say it’s out of reach.

Whites (41%) are more likely than blacks (17%) or Hispanics (32%) to say they have achieved the American dream. But more blacks (62%) and Hispanics (51%) than whites (42%) say they are on their way to achieving it. Notably, there are no significant racial or ethnic differences in the shares who say the American dream is out of reach for their families. Millennials are wrong about the American dream, it’s not dead. Though fate, chance, and luck have a lot to do with one's success, so does willpower, the control of one’s behavior. It is in one's hands to shape life, seize opportunities, get an education, resist failure, set goals and ultimately become somebody.

The American dream is a dream made possible due to equal opportunity to all. If kids once living in poverty and in slums can becomes lawyers or doctors, if an immigrant can become California's governor, if handicapped kids can play basketball, if ordinary people can become extraordinary people, then the American Dream is possible.  

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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!

#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.

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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What Is the American Dream?

Understanding the american dream.

• Advantages and Disadvantages

How to Measure the American Dream

Special considerations.

• American Dream FAQs

The Bottom Line

What is the american dream examples and how to measure it.

The American dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society in which upward mobility is possible for everyone.

The American dream is believed to be achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, rather than by chance.

Key Takeaways

• The term "American dream" was coined in a best-selling book in 1931 titled Epic of America.  
• James Truslow Adams described it as "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement."
• The American dream was aided by a number of factors that gave the United States a competitive advantage over other countries.
• Homeownership and education are often seen as paths to achieving the American dream.
• Though the definition of the American Dream has changed to mean different things to different generations, it's undoubtedly part of the American ethos, and likely always will be.

Investopedia / Alex Dos Diaz

The term was coined by writer and historian James Truslow Adams in his best-selling 1931 book Epic of America . He described it as "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement."

Adams went on to explain, "It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motorcars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."

The idea of the American dream has much deeper roots. Its tenets can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

In a society based on these principles, an individual can live life to its fullest as they define it. America also grew mostly as a nation of immigrants who created a nation where becoming an American—and passing that citizenship to your children—didn't require being the child of an American.

The American Dream now costs $3,455,305 —that's the estimated lifetime cost of common milestones including marriage, two children, homes, health care, cars, and education.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the American Dream

Achieving the American dream requires political and economic freedom, as well as rules of law and private property rights . Without them, individuals cannot make the choices that will permit them to attain success, nor can they have confidence that their achievements will not be taken away from them through arbitrary force.

The American dream promises freedom and equality. It offers the freedom to make both the large and small decisions that affect one’s life, the freedom to aspire to bigger and better things and the possibility of achieving them, the freedom to accumulate wealth, the opportunity to lead a dignified life, and the freedom to live in accordance with one’s values—even if those values are not widely held or accepted.

The books of post-Civil War writer Horatio Alger, in which impoverished but hardworking teenage boys rise to success through pluck, determination, and good fortune , came to personify realizing the Dream.

The American dream also offers the promise that the circumstances of someone's birth—including whether they were born American citizens or immigrants—do not completely determine their future.

Disadvantages

Terming it a "dream" also carries with it the notion that these ideals aren't necessarily what has played out in the lives of many actual Americans and those who hope to become Americans. The criticism that reality falls short of the American dream is at least as old as the idea itself. The spread of settlers into Native American lands, slavery, the limitation of the vote (originally) to white male landowners, and a long list of other injustices and challenges have undermined the realization of the dream for many who live in the United States.

As income inequality has increased substantially since the 1970s, the American dream has begun to seem less attainable for those who aren't already affluent or born into affluence. According to U.S. Census family income data, real family income began to grow much more among the top income group than among other segments of American society.

These realities, however, do not diminish the luster of the American dream as an ideal and a beacon to all nations.

The American dream promises freedom and equality.

The ideals of the American dream are motivating, including the freedom to be in charge of one's own life.

The reality of the American dream often falls short of the idea itself.

As income inequality has increased, the American dream has seemed less attainable.

Today, homeownership is frequently cited as an example of attaining the American dream. It is a symbol of financial success and independence, and it means the ability to control one’s own dwelling place instead of being subject to the whims of a landlord. Owning a business and being one’s own boss also represents the American dream fulfillment. In addition, access to education and healthcare have been cited as elements of the Dream.

Homeownership has steadily increased over time in the U.S., reflecting a key aspect of owning your own property as a sign of achieving the American Dream. For example, the homeownership rate at the end of the third quarter 2023 was 66%, same as the previous year. Entrepreneurship has always been important to the U.S. economy too. From 1995 to 2021, small businesses created 17.3 million net jobs alone.

Owning property, one's own business, and carving a life of one's own making is all part of the American dream, and the U.S. as a first-world country also offers the benefits of pursuing these passions, without having to worry about basics such as accessing good education and healthcare.

In her book Spreading the American Dream: American Economic and Cultural Expansion, 1890-1945 , sociologist Emily S. Rosenberg identifies five components of the American dream that have shown up in countries around the world. These include the following:

• The belief that other nations should replicate America's development
• Faith in a free market economy
• Support for free trade agreements and foreign direct investment
• Promotion of a free flow of information and culture
• Acceptance of government protection of private enterprise

The American dream was aided by a number of factors that gave the United States a competitive advantage over other countries. For starters, it is relatively isolated geographically, compared to many other countries, and enjoys a temperate climate. It has a culturally diverse population that businesses use to foster innovation in a global landscape. Abundant natural resources—including oil, arable land, and long coastlines—generate food and income for the country and its residents.

“The American Dream” has always been about the prospect of success, but 100 years ago, the phrase meant the opposite of what it does now. The original “American Dream” was not a dream of individual wealth; it was a dream of equality, justice, and democracy for the nation used in the early 1900s The phrase was repurposed by each generation, until the Cold War, when it became an argument for a consumer capitalist version of democracy. Our ideas about the “American Dream” froze in the 1950s. Today, it doesn’t occur to anybody that it could mean anything else.

What Is the Original American Dream?

The phrase “American dream” was often used by Progressive-era reformers of the 1900s. Rather than exalting the pursuit of wealth, they sought to tame monopoly capitalism and protect workers and communities from robber barons. This concept was popularized by writer and historian James Truslow Adams in his best-selling 1931 book Epic of America.  He described it as "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement."

What Are Examples of the American Dream?

Examples of the American Dream include owning your own house, starting a family, and having a stable job or owning your own business.

Is the American Dream Still Achievable?

It's widely debated if the American Dream is still achievable, and what that achievement even entails. Indeed, today, many people wonder if they can keep up with rising housing costs and interest payments on loans needed to purchase things like homes and cars. Moreover, American's need to save for their own retirement and pay large out-of-pocket costs for healthcare and higher education, which can leave families saddled with high-interest debt that is hard to crawl back from.

What Is the American Dream in Dr. Martin Luther King's Speech?

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous speech referenced the concept of the American dream by stating: "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.'" Since the early 1960s, Dr. King had pondered and preached about how African Americans didn't get a chance to access the reality of the American dream because they were not truly equal to white men and women. Ultimately, Dr. King's "American dream" was equality.

How Has the American Dream Changed?

Over time, the American dream has shifted from an ethos of equality and solidarity to one of individualistic competition to succeed materialistically, fueled by consumption. In the 1990s and early 2000s, mortgage company Fannie Mae began promulgating the notion that buying a home was a cornerstone of the American Dream, and use the term prominently in ads selling home loans. This ideology led to the housing boom and ultimate bubble that popped ultimately, leading to the 2008-09 financial crisis.

The concept of the American dream is still one of the most uniquely "American" ideals—the ultimate idea that any individual should be able to pursue their dreams and build the life they want if they put in the hard work. This motivating drive influences the economy with entrepreneurship and individual ambition, infusing a romantic notion to anyone trying to be successful in the United States. Though the definition of the American Dream has changed to mean different things to different generations , it's undoubtedly part of the American ethos, and always will be.

James Truslow Adams. " The Epic of America ." Page 404. Taylor & Francis Group, 2017.

National Archives. " Declaration of Independence: A Transcription ."

Constitution Annotated. " Amdt14.S1.1.2 Citizenship Clause Doctrine ."

United States Census Bureau. " Real Household Income at Selected Percentiles: 1967 - 2014 ."

U.S. Census Bureau. " Quarterly Residential Vacancies and Homeownership, Fourth Quarter 2023 ." Page 5.

U.S. Small Business Administration. " Frequently Asked Questions About Small Business 2023 ."

Emily S. Rosenberg. " Spreading the American Dream, American Economic and Cultural Expansion, 1890-1945 ." Chapter 1: Introduction to the American Dream. Hill & Wang, 2011.

Greene, Maxine. " On the American Dream: Equality, Ambiguity, and The Persistence of Rage ."  Curriculum Inquiry, vol. 13, no. 2, Summer 1983, pp. 179-193.

Sarah Churchwell. " Behold, America, The Entangled History of 'America First' and 'the American Dream' ." Hachette Book Group, 2018.

Ad Forum. " Fannie Mae - 'American Dream' ."

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What is the American Dream in 2020 … if there is one?

Plus, startups are at the highest rate in 13 years, watch the rising international covid-19 numbers, gaming has grown during the pandemic, and more..

As the presidential candidates debate tonight, you may be watching through the filter of who most closely matches your idea of what the American Dream looks like today.

This essay by Governing Magazine senior editor Alan Ehrenhalt gives us something to consider — and maybe even report about — between now and Election Day. He writes:

The phrase “American Dream” was first used in 1931 by the historian James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America. It meant, he wrote, “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone.” Better and richer and fuller in what way? He didn’t say. Maybe in the middle of the Depression it seemed obvious. It doesn’t seem quite so obvious now. What’s clearly true is that the American Dream has meant vastly different things to people in different times and places — if it has any sort of genuine meaning at all.

As a boomer, my understanding of the American Dream had something to do with owning a home with clean drinking water and maybe even air conditioning and being more financially secure than my parents were in rural Kentucky.

Photojournalist Ian Brown traveled 80,000 miles in a pickup truck to visit all 50 states over 12 years and documented that our dreams are as varied as we are. Some people dream grand dreams, others dare to dream to live to adulthood and be spared from the violence around them.

There is some data on this issue. Gallup regularly asks about that dream and whether it is attainable. Women generally see such a “dream” as unattainable, while men say it is.

YouGov heard from 14,000 people in their poll that asked about whether people believe in the American Dream, which it defined this way:

The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone. The American Dream is generally thought to be achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, rather than by chance.

YouGov’s polling this year still showed a majority of the 14,000 people who participated said it is possible to attain the “American Dream.” Young Americans and Black Americans are far less likely to think such a dream is attainable. One in six Black Americans say they don’t believe there is such a dream.

Business startups are at the highest rate in 13 years

Perhaps another version of the American Dream is to own your own business. Even in a pandemic, and even as thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of businesses will not survive over the next year, the Census Bureau says there have been 3.2 million requests for employer identification numbers, which is what a business needs to get started. Compare that to 2.7 million in the same period in 2019.

(From Census.gov )

And you will notice from this map that some of the states that had the highest COVID-19 rates also have the biggest growth in new business applications. You can get individual state data here .

Watch the rising international COVID-19 numbers

Spain, France, the United Kingdom , Israel , Germany and several South American countries are all seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, a trend that foretells what the U.S. may see soon. France just imposed new restrictions in 12 cities including Paris. The bans include big wedding gatherings and festivals, and museums have strict limits on crowd size. Some medical groups are pressing for “drastic measures” to avoid a second wave.

Gaming has grown during COVID

People shop near a Super Mario figure on display at Nintendo’s official store in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

If there is a growth industry during this pandemic, besides toilet paper and hand sanitizer, it is the gaming industry. Just as an example, Axios points out:

Nintendo reported a whopping 428% increase in profits last quarter, driven largely by monster sales of its Nintendo Switch hardware product and its hit game “Animal Crossing. ” The Japanese company made $1.37 billion in profit for the second quarter, smashing analyst estimates.

Electronic Arts and others also reported great earnings reports this summer.

NBCLX produced a story about how games like “Animal Crossing,” which unfolds over weeks and even months of play, is perfect for a pandemic. It not only helps players pass time but connects players with others.

The NPD Group , which monitors marketing, says the increase in gaming runs across all platforms. Its research (involving a survey of 5,000 gamers) shows at least a third of all game players are playing more than they did before the pandemic. And, mostly, they are still using the same devices that they did before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Three out of every four, or 244 million, people in the U.S. play video games, an increase of 32 million people since 2018; and multi-device usage has increased, with 65% of gamers using more than one device vs. 59% in 2018, according to 2020 Gamer Segmentation Report, the most recent study from The NPD Group . According to the report, gamers average 14 hours per week playing video games, up from the 12 hours per week in 2018, when NPD issued its last gamer segmentation report. Thirty-nine percent of U.S. gamers are Light Players who play less than five hours per week, a decline of 8% from 2018. Moderate Players, gamers who play between five and 15 hours per week, make up 32% of the gaming community in the U.S., a 2% increase over 2018. Heavy Players play more than 15 hours per week and make up 29% of U.S. gamers, a 6% increase over 2018.

Nielsen research pegs the increase in gaming even higher and the demand seems to be strong enough to sustain even as pro sports and college sports are coming back to life.

Did you READ that tweet before you retweeted?

Twitter is trying to encourage people to read before retweeting. How’s that for a new concept. I often find that I will post some big thumbsucker of a story and within seconds it is being retweeted or bashed when it is not possible for anybody to have read it that fast.

Twitter tested out a prompt that asked people if they read the story and found that prompt encouraged a 40% increase in people reading before tweeting.

Mashable explains what’s next with this experiment to fight fake news on Twitter.

Young people were the most-infected age group this summer

Seniors who are infected by COVID-19 get most of our attention, but new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data says , this summer, young people made up the single biggest age group of COVID-infected Americans.

Early in the pandemic, COVID-19 incidence was highest among older adults. But then the demographics shifted. The CDC says :

During June–August 2020, COVID-19 incidence was highest in persons aged 20–29 years, who accounted for more than 20% of all confirmed cases. Younger adults likely contribute to community transmission of COVID-19.

The study found that as the COVID-19 cases among young people increased, especially in Southern states, they likely spread the virus to older people. The same localities that saw an increase in coronavirus cases in younger populations measured an increase of cases in people over age 60 a week or two later. The young people seemed to be the source.

The CDC says this does not necessarily point out to reckless youthful behavior. Younger people may work at jobs that expose them to more vulnerability such as restaurants, bars, grocery stores and delivery services. And, the CDC says, it is also probably true that younger people are more likely to be less careful to keep socially distanced. Younger people are also less likely to show symptoms so they may unknowingly be spreading the virus.

Conspiracy rumors find an audience

A study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that COVID-19 conspiracy theories have found significant audiences. The just-published study found that conspiracy rumors are so widely believed that they get in the way of controlling the coronavirus. The study found:

More than 1 in 4 people (28%) in March reported believing that the Chinese government created the coronavirus as a bioweapon, a proportion that increased to 37% in July. Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) believed in March that some in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, are exaggerating the danger posed by the virus in order to damage Donald Trump’s presidency, which increased to 32% in July. Nearly 1 in 7 (15%) believed that the pharma industry created the virus to increase sales of drugs and vaccines, which edged up to 17% in July. In July, among those who were most likely to believe in the COVID-19 conspiracies, 62% reported wearing a mask every day that they went outside of the home and had exposure to others — compared with 95% of those who did not believe in the conspiracies. In other words, those who did not believe in the conspiracies were 1.5 times more likely to wear a mask every day outside of the home when they were in contact with others than the people who most strongly believed in the conspiracies.

Poynter’s PolitiFact team is constantly fact-checking COVID-19 claims . We have all of those fact checks in one place.

(Screenshot, PolitiFact)

Fact-checkers of all sorts have joined forces through the International Fact-Checking Network’s #CoronaVirusFacts Alliance to share and translate their reporting to try to address the public’s confusion. IFCN shares some interesting international science and health fact-checking projects:

SciCheck focuses on science and health claims, generally made by U.S. politicians, that have the potential to affect policy decisions.

Le Détecteur de Rumeurs (The Rumor Detector) comes from Quebec-based news agency Agence Science-Presse.

Science Vs makes dense studies fun and easy to consume.

Metafact uses crowdsourcing to fact check. 10,000 people have contributed observations so far.

Comprueba (Verify), a project of Peruvian health news site Salud con Lupa (Health With a Magnifying Glass), is one of the most recent additions to the science and health fact-checking space.

Another COVID-19 outbreak is linked to a choir practice

I thought we had already made it clear that choir practice in this pandemic is a bad idea. But it seems that a choir in Spain didn’t get the message. 30 members of a 41-member gospel choir just got infected after they came together to practice before a local festival.

You know that saying “Once in a Blue Moon?” It is going to happen.

This is one of those “so 2020” things. October will see not just one full moon, but two in one month, something that is referred to as a “blue moon.” It happens about every two and a half years because the lunar cycle and our calendar do not sync up perfectly. The cool part is the blue moon/full moon will happen on Halloween, which should produce plenty of 2020 weirdness.

The way we live now

CNN correspondent Ed Lavandera spotted this Dallas duplex that may be symbolic of America on the day of the first presidential debate.

Seen in Dallas. A Duplex Divided. Not sure the old adage “Good fences make good neighbors” applies here. #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/QACZywz5T9 — ed lavandera (@edlavaCNN) September 25, 2020

We’ll be back tomorrow with a new edition of Covering COVID-19. Sign up here  to get it delivered right to your inbox.

Al Tompkins is senior faculty at Poynter. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter, @atompkins.

Why it’s unlikely that Trump will lose his voting rights if convicted of a felony in New York

Former President Donald Trump is expected to soon face a jury verdict on felony falsifying business record charges

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The Washington Post lays out an optimistic new strategy after grim financial numbers

The Post lost $77 million over the last year, and had a 50% drop off in audience since 2020. Leaders unveiled plans to solve those issues.

Was the upside down flag at Samuel Alito’s house illegal?

Hanging the flag upside down is technically against US law. But legal experts say Alito likely did not act illegally.

Opinion | Israel seizes and then returns Associated Press broadcasting equipment

Though the Israeli government reversed its brazen display of media suppression after worldwide pressure, the controversy remains.

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Most think the ‘American dream’ is within reach for them

Despite persistently low levels of public satisfaction with the state of the nation, most Americans say they have achieved the “American dream” or are on their way to achieving it. Only about one-in-five (17%) say the American dream is “out of reach” for their family.

The American dream means different things to different people, however. Far fewer Americans say “becoming wealthy” is essential to the American dream than say the same about personal freedom and a good family life.

Overall, 36% of U.S. adults say their family has achieved the American dream, while another 46% say they are “on their way” to achieving it, according to an August survey by Pew Research Center . (The survey asked people about the “American dream,” as they define it.) People who say they have already achieved the American dream are generally older, more affluent and better-educated than those who say they are on their way to achieving the American dream and those who say it’s out of reach.

Whites (41%) are more likely than blacks (17%) or Hispanics (32%) to say they have achieved the American dream. But more blacks (62%) and Hispanics (51%) than whites (42%) say they are on their way to achieving it. Notably, there are no significant racial or ethnic differences in the shares who say the American dream is out of reach for their families.

The partisan differences in impressions of whether people have reached the American dream are relatively modest: 41% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say they have achieved it, compared with 32% of Democrats and Democratic leaners.

Freedom of choice, family widely viewed as essential elements of American dream

While people differ on the meaning of the American dream, very few – just 11% of the public – say “being wealthy” is essential to their own view of it.

By contrast, majorities say “freedom of choice in how to live” (77%), having a good family life (70%) and retiring comfortably (60%) are essential to their view of the American dream.

Smaller shares say making valuable community contributions (48%), owning a home (43%) and having a successful career (also 43%) are essential to their view of the American dream, but relatively few (no more than 9%) say these are not important to the American dream.

However, 40% say being wealthy is not important in their vision of the American dream, by far the highest share among the seven items asked about.

There are modest educational differences in attitudes about what is essential to the American dream. For example, 87% of those with at least a four-year college degree say freedom of choice in how to live is essential, as do 82% of those with some college experience. By comparison, a smaller majority (65%) of those with no more than a high school diploma say this.

And while 15% of those with a high school education or less say becoming wealthy is essential to the American dream, fewer of those with college experience say the same (8% of college graduates and 9% of those with some college experience).

Partisanship is not a major factor in these views. Across all items, there are modest or no partisan differences in views of what is essential to the American dream.

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Home — Essay Samples — Economics — American Dream

Argumentative Essays on American Dream

Hook examples for essays about american dream, rags to riches hook.

Explore the timeless appeal of the American Dream by examining stories of individuals who started with nothing and achieved remarkable success. From Andrew Carnegie to Oprah Winfrey, these stories inspire and symbolize the dream's possibility.

The Immigrant's Dream Hook

Take a closer look at the American Dream through the lens of immigration. Analyze the experiences of immigrants who came to America in pursuit of a better life and the challenges they faced while chasing their dreams.

The Illusion of the Dream Hook

Discuss the idea that the American Dream may sometimes be more of an illusion than a reality. Explore how societal barriers, economic inequalities, and systemic challenges can obstruct the path to achieving one's dreams.

Generational Perspectives Hook

Examine how the concept of the American Dream has evolved over generations. Compare the dreams and aspirations of different eras, from the post-World War II boom to the challenges faced by millennials and Gen Z today.

The Dream in Literature and Film Hook

Explore the portrayal of the American Dream in literature and cinema. Analyze iconic works like "The Great Gatsby" and "Death of a Salesman" to uncover the themes of ambition, success, and disillusionment.

Financial Prosperity Hook

Delve into the financial aspects of the American Dream. Discuss the pursuit of homeownership, financial stability, and economic success as core components of this dream, and how they have evolved over time.

Freedom and Independence Hook

Consider the role of freedom and independence in the American Dream. Explore how the dream encompasses not only financial success but also the pursuit of personal liberty, self-expression, and self-reliance.

The Dream Deferred Hook

Reflect on Langston Hughes' question, "What happens to a dream deferred?" Analyze the consequences of unfulfilled dreams and how they impact individuals and communities, shedding light on the complexities of the American Dream.

The Dream and Social Justice Hook

Examine the relationship between the American Dream and social justice. Discuss how unequal access to opportunities and systemic discrimination have influenced who can pursue and achieve the dream.

The American Dream in a Raisin in The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

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Analysis of The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

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The Possibility to Achieve The American Dream

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Equal Opportunity and The American Dream: a Critical Appraisal

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The concept of the American Dream centers around the notion that individuals, irrespective of their place of birth or social status, have the potential to achieve their personal definition of success within a society that offers upward mobility opportunities for all its members.

In 1931, James Truslow Adams introduced the phrase "American Dream" in his book, emphasizing the belief that every individual, irrespective of their social class or background, should have the opportunity to lead a fulfilling and prosperous life. Adams articulated that the American Dream entails the pursuit of a better, more abundant existence, where individuals can thrive based on their abilities and accomplishments.

The origin of the American Dream can be traced back to the founding principles of the United States of America. It emerged as a belief system that reflected the ideals of freedom, equality, and opportunity that were integral to the nation's formation. The concept gained prominence during the early years of the country's history, as immigrants sought a better life and economic prosperity in the New World. The term "American Dream" was popularized in the 20th century, particularly during the post-World War II era when the United States experienced significant economic growth and social mobility. It became synonymous with the idea that hard work, determination, and meritocracy could lead to upward social and economic mobility, allowing individuals to achieve their goals and aspirations. Over time, the American Dream has evolved and been interpreted differently by various generations and cultural groups. It continues to serve as a symbol of hope and opportunity, representing the aspirations and dreams of individuals striving for success and a better future in the United States.

Public opinion on the American Dream is varied and complex. While the concept has traditionally been revered as a symbol of hope and opportunity, there are differing perspectives on its attainability and relevance in contemporary society. Some individuals view the American Dream as a fundamental pillar of the nation's identity, representing the ideals of hard work, meritocracy, and upward mobility. They believe that with determination and perseverance, anyone can overcome obstacles and achieve success, regardless of their background or circumstances. This optimistic view holds the American Dream as a source of motivation and inspiration. However, there are those who critique the American Dream, arguing that systemic barriers and inequalities hinder equal access to opportunities. They highlight issues such as income inequality, limited social mobility, and structural disadvantages that make it challenging for individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, to achieve their aspirations. The public opinion on the American Dream also reflects generational and cultural differences. Younger generations, in particular, express skepticism and question the viability of the traditional American Dream, seeking a more inclusive and equitable vision of success.

The representation of the American Dream in media and literature has been a recurring theme, capturing the aspirations, challenges, and complexities of American society. One notable example is F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," which delves into the pursuit of the American Dream during the Roaring Twenties. The protagonist, Jay Gatsby, embodies the relentless pursuit of wealth and social status as he tries to win back his lost love. The novel critiques the shallow and elusive nature of the American Dream, exposing the dark underbelly of materialism and the illusion of happiness. Another representation can be found in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman." The character of Willy Loman personifies the American Dream as he strives for success in the sales industry. However, the play highlights the disillusionment and personal tragedy that can accompany the pursuit of this ideal, shedding light on the sacrifices and compromises made in the name of success. In contemporary media, films like "The Pursuit of Happyness" and "American Beauty" tackle the American Dream in different ways. "The Pursuit of Happyness" portrays the struggles of a man determined to provide a better life for his son, emphasizing the resilience and determination required to overcome adversity. "American Beauty" explores the hollowness and superficiality of the American Dream through a satirical lens, challenging societal norms and materialistic values.

“When we make college more affordable, we make the American Dream more achievable.” — William J. Clinton “I am the epitome of what the American Dream basically said. It said you could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country.” — Whoopi Goldberg, “The American Dream is a phrase we’ll have to wrestle with all our lives. It means a lot of things to different people. I think we’re redefining it now.” – Rita Dove

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. It provides a platform to explore the promises and challenges associated with this concept, shedding light on its complexities and contradictions. Examining the American Dream allows us to delve into issues of social mobility, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. It prompts discussions on the role of opportunity, hard work, and meritocracy in achieving success, while also addressing systemic barriers and inequalities that hinder progress. Moreover, analyzing the American Dream invites reflection on the changing dynamics of the nation, the influence of consumerism, and the impact of globalization on individual and collective aspirations.

1. Adams, J. T. (1931). The Epic of America. Little, Brown, and Company. 2. Bellah, R. N., Madsen, R., Sullivan, W. M., Swidler, A., & Tipton, S. M. (2008). Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life. University of California Press. 3. Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribner's Sons. 4. Hochschild, J. L. (1995). Facing Up to the American Dream: Race, Class, and the Soul of the Nation. Princeton University Press. 5. Jackson, K. T. (1985). Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States. Oxford University Press. 6. Levine, L. W. (2005). Highbrow/Lowbrow: The Emergence of Cultural Hierarchy in America. Harvard University Press. 7. Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster. 8. Riesman, D., Glazer, N., & Denney, R. (1950). The Lonely Crowd: A Study of the Changing American Character. Yale University Press. 9. Turner, F. J. (1893). The Significance of the Frontier in American History. American Historical Association. 10. Wilson, W. J. (1987). The Truly Disadvantaged: The Inner City, the Underclass, and Public Policy. University of Chicago Press.

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In 2020, do people see the American Dream as attainable?  

The American Dream can be broadly defined as the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone. It’s generally thought to be achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, rather than by chance.

In 2020, do US adults see the American Dream as attainable? A poll of more than 14,000 people finds that just over half (54%) of US adults think the American Dream is attainable for them. About three in 10 (28%) believe it’s unattainable for them personally, while 9 percent reject the idea of the American Dream entirely.

There are some generational divides when it comes to perceptions about who can access the American Dream.

Millennials (46%) are less likely than both older and younger generations to say that they think the American Dream is within reach for them personally. Roughly half of Gen Z (52%) and Gen X (53%) thinks they can attain the American Dream. Baby Boomers (60%) are especially likely to view the American Dream as attainable.

Almost two in five (37%) people in the United States believe that the American Dream is less attainable today than it was for previous generations. Fewer (29%) believe it’s more attainable today than it was for prior generations, while 16 percent say it’s no more or less attainable now.

With regards to race, some groups are more likely to believe the American Dream is within their grasp.

Most Native Americans (57%), white Americans (56%), and Hispanic Americans (53%) see the American Dream as attainable. Half (50%) of Asian Americans say the same, while fewer (45%) Black Americans agree. Roughly one in six (17%) Black Americans say that there is no such thing as the American Dream.

Roughly half (51%) of US adults overall say that the American Dream is attainable for most people living in America. White Americans (56%) are 13 percentage points more likely than Black Americans (43%) to believe this to be true.

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Related: How America feels about the death penalty today

Methodology: Total sample size for question “How attainable is the American Dream for you personally?” was 14,078 US adults 18 and older, including 390 members of Generation Z (Born in 2000 or later), 4,019 Millennials (Born 1982-1999), 3,552 members of Generation X (Born 1965-1981), 5,240 Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964), 10,217 White Americans, 1,271 Black Americans, 1,463 Hispanic Americans, 420 Asian Americans, and 154 Native Americans. Total sample size for the question “How attainable is the American Dream for most people living in the US?” was 14,234 US adults 18 and older. Total sample size for the question “Is the American Dream more or less attainable today than for prior generations?” was 14,028 US adults 18 and older. Respondents were provided a definition of the American Dream within the question text, which read, “The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone. The American Dream is generally thought to be achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking, and hard work, rather than by chance.” Results are weighted to be representative. For questions or crosstabs, please email [email protected] .

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A good education is important to achieving the American Dream

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Aei-brookings working group on poverty and opportunity awgopao aei-brookings working group on poverty and opportunity.

December 3, 2015

For much of the 20 th century, a cornerstone of the American Dream has been the belief that, with hard work, all adults should be able to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

But over the last several decades, it has become clear that achieving the American Dream now takes both hard work and good education—good enough to command a job that pays a non-poverty wage.

The education level of adult heads of households has been increasingly associated with their income as the income gap between the well-educated and the less-educated has grown steadily over the last four decades.

In Chapter 5 of a new report from the AEI-Brookings Working Group on Poverty and Opportunity , the Working Group recommends policies that:

• Increase public investment in two underfunded stages of education: preschool and postsecondary;
• Educate the whole child to promote social-emotional as well as academic skills;
• Modernize the organization and accountability of the educational system; and
• Close resource gaps to reduce education gaps.

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The Psychology of the American Dream

Why do we believe so fervently in the american dream.

Posted October 7, 2016 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

What does it mean to you? Having written a book on the topic, I have a habit of asking anyone and everyone, joining a long line of others who have tried to get a better understanding of the American Dream.

The usual answers—financial stability or, more specifically, making enough money to be able to retire (still often $1 million, despite inflation), “the good life” (usually a nice house in the suburbs with all the consumer trappings), to work for oneself, to have (at least) 15 minutes of fame, the “pursuit of happiness ” or, once in a while, the Statue of Liberty—come back, an interesting but somewhat frustrating exercise, as all the others found in their own formal or informal surveys. Besides reaching no real consensus, the responses do not come close to capturing the undeniable power of the American Dream, making it seem more like a wish list than what I believe to be is the guiding mythology of the most powerful civilization in history.

The problem, of course, is that it does not exist. The Dream is just that, a product of our imagination , and a complex one at that. That it is not real, however, ultimately turns out to be the most significant finding about the American Dream. The fact that many of us have assumed the Dream to be real makes it even more compelling.

Much of this naturally has to do with how central the Dream has been and continues to be to the American idea and experience. Rather than just a powerful philosophy or ideology, the American Dream (the D is sometimes capitalized, sometimes not, but my preference is the former) is thoroughly woven into the fabric of everyday life. It plays a vital, active role in who we are, what we do, and why we do it. No other idea or mythology—even religion, I believe—has as much influence on our individual and collective lives, with the Dream one of the precious few things in this country that we all share. You name it—economics, politics , law, work, business, education —and the American Dream is there, the nation at some level a marketplace of competing interpretations and visions of what it means and should mean. A search of “American Dream” on Google in October 2016 turned up over 36 million hits, a crude but still impressive measure of its ubiquity.

Part and parcel of the American Dream is the notion of upward mobility, the idea that one can, through dedication and with a can-do spirit, climb the ladder of success and reach a higher social and economic position. For many in both the working class and the middle class, upward mobility has served as the heart and soul of the American Dream, the prospect of “betterment” and to “improve one’s lot” for oneself and/or one’s children much of what this country is all about. Work hard, save a little, send the kids to college so they can do better than you did, and retire happily to a warmer climate has been the script we have all been handed, with any major deviation from that a cause for concern if not an outright assault to our national creed.

While in recent years, study after study has shown upward mobility to be even a greater myth than the Dream itself, most Americans refuse to believe such a thing, as the concept of class fluidity is so engrained in our national ethos. This feeling of entitlement, that if one plays by the rules one will in time reap his or her just rewards, had led many an American astray, our mythology mistaken for a promise.

The loss of faith in both their country and themselves that millions have no doubt experienced is the saddest part of the American Dream; every bit as tragic as the heroic stories of success that we love to celebrate. Besides having a happy ending, the latter reminds us that we are a land of opportunity offering all citizens an even playing field and, on a grander level, that we are a chosen people assigned a unique and special purpose.

Regardless of the reality, the American Dream plays an important role in our psychic well-being on both a collective and individual level. Anything is possible, the Dream tells us, a comforting belief that counters the many obstacles and limitations we all face on a daily basis. The idea that each of us can realize whatever it is we hope to in our lives is reason enough to get up in the morning and do whatever we have to in order to try to make that happen. The American Dream is an optimistic , motivating force that propels people to achieve and accomplish things that we might otherwise not strive for. Its elusiveness makes it that much more compelling as, for many, one’s dream always seems to be out of reach, but still very much worth pursuing.

Lawrence R. Samuel, Ph.D. , is an American cultural historian who holds a Ph.D. in American Studies and was a Smithsonian Institution Fellow.

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The American Dream: is it Achievable

This essay will examine the concept of the American Dream and its attainability in contemporary society. It will discuss the historical roots of the idea, its evolution, and how factors like economic inequality and social mobility affect its realization. The piece will analyze whether the American Dream remains a realistic and relevant goal. At PapersOwl, you’ll also come across free essay samples that pertain to American Dream.

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For the past ninety years, the accomplishment of the American Dream has been one of the most controversial subjects in history. The idea of people pursuing a content life with a steady job, a family, and wealth or success in life is not an achievable dream for everyone. The people unable to achieve this dream do not have the money, are incapable of leaving their home country, or do not want to put in the work to achieve the dream.

The books Outliers and The Great Gatsby do a great job of displaying these ideas and how they make the American Dream unattainable.

The book Outliers, written by Malcolm Gladwell, makes the point that no amount of dedication, hard work, or knowledge will make someone successful. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, presents the fact that money is not everything in life and can not buy anyone the happiness they want. The desire for wealth in The Great Gatsby makes the characters become people they are not and that will never be helpful when it comes to achieving this dream.

The lack of money is one reason the attainment of the American Dream is impossible for certain people around the world. As said by Martin Hart-Landsberg regarding the lack of money, “Not surprisingly, . . . , average global wealth varies considerably across countries and regions” (1). This proves that many countries, and those living within, are statistically poorer than larger countries such as the U.S., China, and Great Britain. In the same article, Hart-Landsberg also mentions that the U.S. has a high margin between the wealthy and the poor, showing great differences in the wealth between just those already living in America. These stats alone prove that there are people who are unable to obtain income for a number of reasons, leaving them out of the first quest towards the American Dream.

In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby makes the comment to Nick “Why, I thought—why, look here, old sport, you don’t make much money, do you?” (Fitzgerald 88). This comment from Gatsby backs up the fact that there are people around the world that are unable to earn a high salary to help them achieve the American Dream. The American Dream is not an achievable dream without having money or wealth. Along with the various average wealth of countries, there is also the issue of how citizens from less wealthy countries can immigrate to America. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers he states, “ Like so many other immigrants to America in those years, theirs was a leap of faith” (59). This quote shows that many people from other countries have trouble immigrating to America and it is a leap of faith to travel here.

Also, there are places like Cuba and North Korea that have placed laws that it is forbidden to leave their country. The article The People’s Challenges states, “It is illegal for the North Korean people to leave their country without the regime’s permission, and the regime attempts to restrict the people’s movement even inside their own country”(1). This quote states that the North Korean government has placed a law specifically to keep its people from leaving. Even if the North Korean people file for the regime’s permission, the regime still tries to limit the people who leave the country. Furthermore, this proves the point that not all people are able to leave their country to fulfill this dream. In addition to people lacking money and their inability to come to America, you also have the people who are not willing to work hard enough to make the dream happen.

The people not willing to work hard are faced with a lack of job opportunities and money. A quote from Outliers says “You can’t be poor, because if you have to hold down a part-time job on the side to help make ends meet, there won’t be time left in the day to practice enough”(Gladwell 17). Gladwell is saying that it is not possible for someone to be poor because there is always a way for someone to make enough money to have a stable lifestyle, but they have to be willing to work extra hours to accomplish their dream. In the book Outliers, it also says, “No one rises to the top of the New York legal profession unless he or she is smart and ambitious and hardworking…” (Gladwell 67). This quote from Gladwell’s book shows that most aspirations are not achievable unless someone puts the work in to making it happen. Achieving the American Dream is not an easy task to complete, but with hard work and dedication many are able to achieve it.

In a perfect world, everyone would be able to achieve the American Dream, but in reality only so many can. Both, Outliers and The Great Gatsby, do a remarkable job of explaining why the American Dream can not be achieved by everyone. The American Dream is unachievable for many because of the lack of money, the inability to leave their home country, and some do not want to put in the work. For the ones willing and able to put in the hard work that is required to become successful the American Dream can easily be accomplished.

Even though the American Dream has become widespread around the world it has also become much harder to obtain. This dream is not completely unachievable for all, but many do not have the key points to making this dream a reality. 

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Current Events Conversation

What Students Are Saying About: The American Dream, Mindfulness in Schools and How to Define ‘Family’

By The Learning Network

• Feb. 14, 2019

We know we tell you every week how much we love reading your responses to our writing prompts , but some weeks are special.

Maybe it was the questions we asked, but all of us at The Learning Network agree that you posted especially moving descriptions of your lives and experiences this time around. We loved, too, how you responded to each other, respectfully acknowledging differences and seeking out common ground. If only all discussions on the Internet could be like this.

On the day we acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the Parkland shooting , we hope that what Amira from Northbrook wrote in response to our question about family is true: “I feel that as a society we’re starting to become more caring towards one another.”

So a warm welcome and thank you to some of the newer classes who joined us — Chicago ; East View Academy ; Glen Ellyn, Ill. ; Horsham, Penn. ; Lathrop, Calif. ; Media, Penn. ; Patino High School in Fresno, Calif. ; San Jose, Calif. ; and Sarasota, Fla., — and gratitude to the classes who keep the conversation going week after week: Bryant, Ark .; Danvers, Mass. ; Hoggard High School in Wilmington, N.C. ; Julia R. Masterman Secondary School in Philadelphia ; Northbrook, Ill. ; and Providence, R.I.

Though we won’t be publishing our Current Events Conversation roundup next week as many schools in the U.S. are off, we’ll be back on Feb. 28 with an edition that includes two week’s-worth of comments. See you then!

Please note: All student comments have been lightly edited for length, but otherwise appear exactly as they were originally submitted.

Do You Think the American Dream Is Real?

According to a recent survey , the definition of the American dream is changing — from the opportunity for material success and social mobility to the “freedom of choice in how to live” — and many believe that they are living it.

We asked students : What does the American dream mean to you? Some shared intimate stories of their parents and grandparents immigrating to the United States and achieving success through hard work and sacrifice. Others dared to imagine lives that were about more than status and wealth.

In the United States, the opportunity for a better life

The American dream has always been the motto that has pushed my mother and father everyday of their lives. My mom, a village girl from India growing up never gave a thought to come to America because usually it was impossible. Even though my dad had a good life growing up, in India usually the people who had a lot of money were only able to go to America. While my mother was in college she read through so many textbooks about American doctors and watched the news late at night to learn English dreaming one day to go to America. When my parents got married and came to America all they had with them was a suitcase filled with some clothes and a picture of their family. While settling in they were on their own to find an apartment, job, money and other necessities because they had n family or friends in California. There were also instances were my parents went into debt they had decided 1 time to go back to India and they have cried many nights as well. Thanks to my parents believing in the American dream I was able to become a US citizen and now live a happy life in Philadelphia.

— Eleena John, Philly, PA

I have witnessed the American dream in action. My father was born in Hungary to a mother and father that were both survivors of the holocaust. His father was liberated from Auschwitz and his mother from Bergen Belsen. My father came to America with nothing but a pair of black pants and a white shirt. He stayed with his uncle for 3 years and eventually put himself through college and medical school. He has created a successful practice and makes enough money to support my family everyday. That is the American dream. To build yourself up from absolutely nothing, to grind for every last penny in order to make your dreams a reality. I witnessed the American dream first hand. I watched a man battle from one of the deepest holes imaginable in order to give his children the opportunity to have a better life than he did.

— Tibor K, Glenbrook North Highschool

I think that the American dream can happen, but only if you work hard and try to reach that goal. My grandmother was originally from Lithuania and lived on a farm. When she was about 15, her family decided to come to America because of her country getting overrun with communists. She took a huge steamship crowded with thousands of people just to make it to New York. She then started working in a factory and living off food stamps. Her life might have been difficult but in the end, she moved to Philadelphia and met my grandfather who had my mom and aunts and uncles. This is an example of the American dream actually happening to someone just like me or you. My grandmother had to work her way to achieve this experience, she did not sit around on the couch and binge watch Netflix all day. To achieve the American dream, you have to try to achieve what you want in life and want to achieve it, you can’t sit around and wait for things to happen to you, you have to make those things happen to you.

— Ona Stocovaz, J.R Masterman

Opportunity isn’t available to everyone

I used to believe in the American dream; I used to believe that living in American meant that you could make something of yourself with ease. The American dream does not exist in my eyes, it’s a concept used to motivate people in a volatile economy and favored society. It used to exist, though … My grandfather came to the United States from Greece with not even a dollar to his name. He came to the “land of opportunity” in 1969, hoping to support his family and give them a life which was unavailable in 20th century Grecian poverty. Within a decade he created a family run pizzeria chain, bringing success to his life, his family’s, and the community. But, all of this came from tremendous hard work and determination, something I believe our newer generations lack. But what can one do in an era where cost of living is the highest it’s ever been? How much motivation can one hold when a living wage job is rare without a college degree, which leaves one in debt for years? The American dream existed in a time where it was realistic to live a balanced, successful life. Now, we’re in an age of economic bias with little social mobility; making it big is increasingly unachievable.

— Alexandra Pechlivanidis, Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC

… Depending on your identity and background, it could be more difficult to achieve the American dream. As a woman, it might be harder for me to achieve the same American dream as a man. In theory, the American dream is attainable for everyone, but I’m not sure everyone can achieve the same version of the American dream.

— Colleen, Northbrook IL

The American dream of 2019

When I was younger, the American Dream consisted of a few things: wealth, possessions, and power, all things similar to what was mentioned in the article. But as I’m getting older, and as our world is changing, my perspective is changing along with it. Of course it’s nice to have nice things. Who wouldn’t want to be able to buy whatever they wanted whenever they wanted for whoever they wanted? But today, as I see people in our world facing violence and injustice everyday, my idea of the American Dream is a little different.

To me, the American Dream is having the ability to be safe and healthy, to not have to fear for my life everyday, to have access to the basic resources I need to survive. When I see people across the world, people in the same country as me, even people in my own community faced with violence and injustice, I start to notice how privileged I am compared to others. Maybe I don’t have all the nicest things or all the money in the world, maybe I don’t even have a little bit of it. But, I have access to the resources I need, I have a family, and I have a stable home. And that’s enough for me.

— Libby Roth, Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC

Now that I am older and can understand what is going on in the world, I know that the idea of the “American Dream” is different for everyone. People that come to America to live the “Dream” don’t have the mindset of a white picketed fence, these people are coming here for more opportunities. The “Dream” for some people is to come here for a more prosperous life, that includes having more jobs for that require many different skills, or maybe to leave a warring country. The more modernized “American Dream” does not depict images of becoming wealthy, but more likely of having a happy, fun, and enjoyable life, which is also a healthier and more reachable goal of living than the expectation of living up to the classic “American Dream.” I believe that whatever someone wants there “American Dream” to be, that’s what it is to them. Everyone does not need to have the same dream.

— Jenny Braswell, Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC

This article definitely made me reconsider my views on the American dream. Now I picture the American dream as equality and safety for all, with loving family and friends that are supportive of all endeavors. My current definition of the American dream seems attainable. I have loving, supportive parents and friends that care about me deeply. People of different ethnicities, religions, and sexualities are climbing the social/political/economic ladder and beginning to reap the same benefits as others. As we progress in our efforts for true equality and lack of prejudices, I have hope that my generation will be able to make this not only the American dream, but the American reality.

— Caitlyn Pellerin, Danvers, MA

I think the American dream has evolved throughout every generation and that it’s a relative concept. My definition of the American dream is different from my parents because when I think about my mom and my grandparents, their dream was to get to America and have a better life. They achieved their American dream. My parents have managed to give my brother and me a better life than they had, not just financially, but a different way of growing up. When I think about what I believe is my American dream, I picture myself fulfilled in whatever I choose to be doing in my future. Whether it’s having a successful career or a family, as long as I am independent and thriving I’ll achieve my American dream. I think the American dream is something worth striving for, but I also believe that it’s something people have to create their own definitions for; everyone is different, and people have different dreams.

— Sarah G, Northbrook, IL

We have grown up having crazy imaginations. These imaginations were never destined to be our reality. We grew up dreaming of unicorns and princesses, luxury and wealth. Money and gold became our everything and that’s all we thought about when we were younger as if these dreams could arise. My sister, for example, loves to sing. Her whole life she dreamed about going on American Idol or The Voice. To pursue her dream of becoming famous and filling the world with her amazing voice. But once we are truly able to dissect the lives of those that are famous, surrounded by luxury, I feel very bad for them. Like a grotesque dream. The Kardashians for example. Their whole life has been on camera, all the bad displayed to the world the second it happens. Constantly changing their bodies with procedures. Constantly fitting the world and all of its desires. But imagine a world where you were with the person you love most, holding hands, never letting go. The touch and warmth of them making you feel like home. Like nothing in this world can ever inhibit your goals. The real American dream is to enjoy the luxuries together. To inhabit the most love that your body can handle and to relish in it.

— Elona K, Glenbrook North High School

Should Schools Teach Mindfulness?

On Feb. 4, the British government announced that, alongside mathematics, science and history, students in England would now be learning mindfulness in school . We asked students if they would want to take a such a class and if they thought all schools should do more to improve students’ well-being.

They overwhelmingly said yes — taking a break during the day, having a moment for self-reflection, gaining skills to manage stress and learning how to talk about mental health would all be immensely beneficial for their overall well-being. But a few cautioned against viewing mindfulness classes as the be-all-end-all solution to mental illness.

A class on mindfulness? Sign me up!

Yes! As a high school student, I know that so many teenagers suffer from some form of mental illness and are not getting the help they need. My neighbor recently was hospitalized for depression and was taken out of school for a least three weeks. She, like too many others, reach this breaking point because we aren’t taught how to take care of ourselves mentally …

The question isn’t “should” schools have a mindfulness class; it’s “why” we don’t have one already. To be honest, if schools really cared about their student’s overall wellbeing, then a mindfulness class is a no-brainer. We are not just learning sponges that suck up information all day. We are humans too. Just as schools teach us about the world around us, they must also teach us about ourselves. It’s time to actually take action and find solutions to this ongoing mental concern.

Time in the day to put my mind at ease, especially during the most chaotic seven hours of the day would make a huge impact on my mood, grades, energy, and desire to function in general. I feel that schools setting a time for mindfulness and meditation classes is a great idea, one that many students would appreciate and find helpful. The mental pause in between studying for tests and analyzing writing would help in countless ways some for me personally being; more energetic, happier, less stressed, and better management over my schoolwork and grades, all making this practice time an even better idea.

— Lilli Peluso, Massachusetts

Mental health is crucial to every living person. For our entire lives in school, we have taken Physical Education to equip ourselves with methods of staying physically healthy in the future. This class trains students to get up and be active for long-term continuation, but there is not significant attention being put toward mental health. Especially in high school, students (often) feel pressured to do their best, receive the best grades, be the most social, win the most competitions and maintain a happy persona. In reality, these pressures are incredibly detrimental to our mental health as we begin to focus our efforts on perfection over improvement. I believe that we should learn, early on in life, how to balance stress. A mental health class in high school can 1) help improve our mentalities in the present moment and 2) teach us how to cope with difficulties later on in life.

— Sami L., Northbrook

Teaching mindfulness is an essential addition to every school’s curriculum. Learning to reflect and understand one’s self is arguable more important than perhaps a physics lesson … Why learn chemistry equations when I could be spending my time pursuing and developing what I am actually passionate about. But a class in mindfulness has life-long benefits for all. Girls, guys, doctors, teachers, performers, lawyers, accountants, you, and me would benefit immensely, taking a pause during our crazy lives to live in the present and reflect upon the moment.

— Alexis, Northbrook

Instead of putting academic studies as first priority, schools should create a balance between mindfulness and academic studies. By creating a balance, school could be made into a happy environment where there is a change of behavior, concentration levels, and self-esteem. Not only will this benefit students but it will also benefit the entire school as well. Statistics have shown that schools that have included mindfulness sessions in a school day have a result of 50% fewer rule infractions, 38% fewer suspension days, 25% fewer absentee days, and better performance on attention tests like the ADD-H Teacher-Ratings scale.

— Alissa, PA

A five-minute mental check-in at the beginning of the day may not seem like much, but it could force a student to examine their own state. Are they hungry? Have they been neglecting breakfast? Did they sleep? With the amount of work, responsibilities, and social obligations most teens face, we often don’t get a moment of rest and self-reflection until our head hits the pillow at the end of the day. Mindfulness and the ability to take a second to be aware of our physical presence and mental state are important.

— Faye, Chicago

Breaking the taboo of mental illness

I believe if this program starts, then we can better express our emotions and be more open to ourselves and others about our mental health.My elementary school had a class similar to what the article was discussing. It was a weekly class were the teacher talks us through how to handle certain situations about bullying, being aware of others feelings and being able to talk about what’s affecting us. From these classes, a foundation was created to be mindful of others and to be comfortable about talking with them. With these skills, I became an aware and comforting person to chat with about mental health problems. Hopefully, others will see my efforts and learn to do the same.

— Kathryn Meehan, Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC

Mental health is a topic that many still find taboo or unimportant. Most students struggle with making sure they get all their work done, being social, and at the same time taking care of themselves. In my own experience, taking care of myself did not take priority and my mental health suffered because of that. My school had never taught me how to deal with all of the work they were giving me, they just assumed I’d be able to handle everything even though I’d never had to before. Schools should begin including mindfulness in education, maybe not as a core class, but as something to think about. Some of my teachers now have meditation at the beginning of class for a few minutes where we think about our breathing and just calm ourselves down before the day starts. Just a slight change like that can make a huge difference. Making sure that parents, teachers, and students are all educated on mental health and mindfulness is really the best way to help students with their stress and anxiety.

— Amelia, Northbrook, IL

Having a specific class dedicated to mindfulness would also bring up the subject on mental health in a more positive way. It would decrease the stigma around it and would help let students know that it’s okay to talk about and they would feel more open to talk about it. Overall, having a class about mindfulness would be really beneficial.

— Alyssa Rich, Danvers, MA

Breathing exercises don’t address the root of teenage stress

I’m not sure mindfulness is the solution we need to alleviate students’ stress. Yes, practicing mindfulness has its merits, and I think there is value in having a class dedicated for that, but there are limitations. My school has an ultracompetitive atmosphere, sometimes toxic and cutthroat. Mindfulness can help with symptoms of stress, but the root cause should be tackled as well. To be honest, practicing mindfulness doesn’t seem to be for me. I don’t find my stress levels to decrease or for my wellbeing to be, at the very least, okay. College, homework load, jobs, family obligations, and socializing — these things are not disappearing when I’m meditating.

— Eugene, Illinois

While I believe that learning mindfulness in school holds value, this type of meditation alone cannot suffice the complex stress and pressure that young adults face as they grow in adolescence. True, simple tactics of breathing exercises may benefit manageable cases like random sparks of nervosity, but complex struggles such as ongoing bullying, OCD, or internal phobias may require less independent exercises and more deep discussion with others from counseling to therapy.

— Tabitha Waite, Bryant High School, AR

As a high school student I don’t think schools should teach mindfulness, because I don’t think it can really help students with stress. Yes us students do suffer high stress levels, but personally mindfulness hasn’t given me positive results. I’ve found other ways to deal with stress that are more productive then mindfulness, such as exercising and sleeping enough. I can’t speak for everyone, but personally I believe schools should NOT teach mindfulness. And if they do some students will benefit while others won’t.

— Oscar, Florida

How Do You Define ‘Family’?

In her essay for The Edit, “ What’s a ‘Normal’ Family, Anyway? ” Claire Huag writes, “My family isn’t exactly traditional, and I’m better for it.” In this Student Opinion question , we asked students what they thought.

Below, we’ve included many of their comments to demonstrate the point so many of them sought to make: There is no single definition of family — who you count as your people and the role they play in your life is different for everyone and entirely up to you.

Many definitions of “family”

I believe that there are two kinds of family, the family your born with, and the family that you can choose. I think that these two things overlap frequently, but truly the only family that matters is the family and company that you choose to keep. You could be born to a family that neglects you, but while they would always be your biological family, your friends could form a more powerful closer family. While this is my interpretation of family, it is also my opinion that you are entitled to your own opinion, but so is everyone else. This basically means that what works for you works for you, but you can’t force it to work for others.

— Samuel Hamilton, Masterman

A family, in my opinion, is one or more people that you can connect to and act truly like yourself in front of.

— June Lee, Glenbrook High School

Family to me are the one who comfort me the ones who understand my struggles and who keep me company.

— Rebecca, Northbrook IL

I define the word family as people you would choose spend time with, take a bullet for and never get sick of.

— Phaelan, Northbrook

Someone who is “like family” to you can be defined as someone who you can rely on, someone who you can always trust, or ask for advice or support whenever need be. It is someone who you love, and someone who loves you, someone who is always willing to do anything for you, and is someone who you can move mountains for.

— Hanna Sh, J.R. Masterman, Philadelphia, PA

Family is an extension of you. A representation that no matter who you are or where you come from. A part of you.

— Claira, Illinois

Family should be shaped around what you need them to be for you. If you’re upset, they should be your shoulder to lean on. If you’re happy, they should be there to stretch the happiness out for as long as them. Family is love, and that love should stick until the world ends.

— Lev, Chicago, IL

Family to me is someone who is willing to support you with what you are doing, but are also willing to correct your mistakes if you are making mistakes.

— Rachel Widjaja, Masterman, Philadelphia

… A family is the people who you can always turn to when you feel like there is nobody left in the world. They are the people who can always be there, whether that means that they are friends or related to you in a definitive way.

— Lily Chancey, Philadelphia, Masterman

I think that there are more important pieces to family than the gender, orientation, number of parents, and area of residence. Things like stability, interest, respect, involvement, and care. Any family, no matter the makeup, can fulfill (or fail to fulfill) these.

— Emma Johnson, Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC

People say that “blood is thicker than water” but I prefer the alternate version: “the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.” … Nobody should associate with people that hurt them over and over because of some gene-related societal obligation. Those who love and support you are your family, and not necessarily those who are related to you.

— Natasha A., Bryant, AR

What does your family look like?

In my eyes, family is defined as love. Not just any love, but unconditional love. Unconditional love means that no matter what happens, (people change, people move away, you spend years apart, someone does something horrible, etc.), you will still love one another.

I have spent the last ten years dancing with the same group of people. We have had many ups and downs, which is expected with a large group of 12 year old girls. To be honest, a lot of us would probably not be friends if we did not dance. Although we may not be the best of friends, we are all still connected. It is almost unsettling when you sacrifice for people you would not normally like. However, in my experience, you do not have to like someone to love them. To love someone means to respect them. Each of us have tremendous respect for one another. All of us try our best to understand one another and to appreciate the others values and opinions even if we disagree.

— Bella, Glen Ellyn, Il

My family is made up of two parents and four children, and I am the only biological kid from both of my parents. One of my siblings is adopted from Puerto Rico, and my other two siblings have a different mom than I do. But that doesn’t make our love or support any weaker. I never call my half siblings my “half siblings” and I never call my adopted brother my “adopted brother”. We are a family, regardless of blood, and we love and support each other no matter what.

— Jayne, Northbrook, IL

Because of the fact that I was never close with my dad, I often leaned on my uncle for support and continued to do so to this day. He was the one who always understood me, who listened to me, who made me feel important as a young girl growing up in a complex society. He taught me lessons about life that I could not be more grateful to have learned from him. My point is, my uncle, being like a father figure to me growing up taught me that family doesn’t always have to be a mother, a father, and a brother or sister.

— Maya, Northbrook

I have experienced family in many aspects. One example of family within my life could be my football team that I am a member of. During the season we are together for 3 to 5 hours a day at practice or a games. In the season we experienced an injury within the team. The injury was very sad moment because he was sent to the hospital mid game and was a cause for the people to work harder and play better in the game. It sucked seeing him leave, and directly after the game I felt a pain in my gut telling me I needed to go see him in the hospital. Thinking back on this now I realize that this feeling was caused by the fact that I thought of him as my brother on and off the field. We both worked out together, and pushed each other into being successful. Along with everybody else I felt like I would sacrifice anything for him at that point because there was nothing else but to hope for him to get better.

— Jacob Stone, United States

Family is about being there for each other when they are in need. I have not seen family in traditional sense for almost the entirety of my life. From struggles like divorce and adoption and only seeing my siblings and mother every other week and many others, we are still family. We still support and love one another even if hard times create a disconnect. I have also seen family in biological aspects. A few years ago I set my mind out to find my biological family. I feel as if they are an extension to my family. I feel a bond with my biological brothers and biological parents in a different sense then with my actual family that not many people will understand. Family is about a connection you feel, whether through love and support or biological.

— Taylor D, Northbrook, IL

Family. Family is the feeling of comfort with a person. Having trust in a person. Being able to go to your home and to know you can give your family a hug. That they love you and you love them. Family is the friends that are always there for you. I have a couple of those. One of them is named Maeve. She is a bundle of joy to my day. She’s my coffee every day. I know that we are like sisters. Like family. I have another friend and her name is Olivia. She is a kid in a candy shop. She has so much joy and happiness that she shares with everyone. She is a true friend. She is family that will always be in my heart.

— Jenesis Moreno, Masterman; Philadelphia, PA

My family at first glance would seem, by society’s standards, normal. As a kid I thought the same thing, two parents, grandparents on both sides of the family along with cousins, and a sibling. For years I grew up getting to know these people and how they related to me, however one day I was told that my grandmother wasn’t actually related to me … To me it didn’t matter if she was my ‘normal’ blood realized grandma, instead she was the person who only loved me, which made her my grandma.

— Benjamin Blankenship, Hoggard High, Wilmington, NC

In my life my step-dad is who I call “dad” and has been my best friend, biggest role model, and biggest supporter my entire life, but none of this is based on blood because it really doesn’t have to as long as you act as a family in your actions. My step-dad has never treated me any differently than his biological kids and in a way knowing that he cares so much about me even when I’m not his biological daughter makes the connection even more special.

— Paula, Northbrook

My dog is not blood related to me so does that mean I can’t call her family? I don’t see why not because I love her with all my heart and would be devastated if anything happened to her. Family is about love in my opinion.

— Alex Lee, Hoggard High School, Wilmington, NC

… My immediate family would include my mom, dad, sister, and I. I also have four grandparents, three uncles, one aunt, and two cousins related by blood. But instead of just blood related family, I have lots of family who aren’t blood related to me at all. One of my great-grandmothers had three husbands throughout her life, making my grandfather have a stepbrother. Another one of my grandmothers’ mother had died when she was very young, so she had a stepmother growing up and barely remembered her biological mother. I even have several uncles who aren’t uncles at all - they are just very close friends of my dad. All of these non-blood related relatives are connected by love - which is why I think a family does not have to be biological, it could just be made up of the people you love.

— Kaya Perelman, Masterman School, Philadelphia

What role does your family play in your life?

I think a family is similar to a tree. In life, you will go on countless journeys with experiences involving tons of different people from different backgrounds, gaining knowledge and perspective. But this life can be overwhelming, and having a system you can depend on is essential. Like a tree, a family is something you can lean on for its entire existence.

— Ethan, Northbrook, IL

My family is my foundation for my life, because if the world beats you down to nothing, you always have that foundation. I think that friends are a little less important than family, because family is always first. Whether it is your actual family or not, family is first.

— Joseph Foglietta, Danvers, MA

The family we create by choice are just as important as the people who we are directly related to by blood. Sometimes I can’t tell my family serious problems because most of them are a different generation so they just can’t understand your modern day problems. This is also why the family we meet and communicate to by choice is so much easier to connect with. They are living in the same world as you and you are most likely going through very similar problems as you. At the end of the day, whoever you consider being your family, will always show you this unconditional love and endless support that will keep you moving forward in life.

— Kristina Kitsul, Masterman Philadelphia

I think the definition of family is love, support, and constant forgiveness. I have a very conventional family, my mom, dad, brother, and two dogs. To me, a family isn’t defined as having blood-ties with someone. A family is made up of people, related or not, who will be there in your best, and worst times. My family has kept me moving forward in times when I just wanted to give up, and I honestly cannot tell you where I would be without them.

— Abby Bowker, Hoggard High School, Wilmington NC

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.
• 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 […]
• 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 […]
• 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 […]
• 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 […]
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 […]
• 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 […]
• 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 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.
• 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 […]
• 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?
• Success Ideas
• Social Security Paper Topics
• Wealth Research Topics
• Inequality Titles
• Materialism Topics
• Declaration of Independence Paper Topics
• Happiness Research Ideas
• US History Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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IvyPanda . "103 American Dream Essay Topics & Examples." February 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/american-dream-essay-examples/.