Is The American Dream Only A Myth Essay - 1254 Words

Deya Gueye Ms. Fisher-Bellman English 10AA – Bell 4 19 September 2016 Is the American Dream Only a Myth? America is known as a country full of opportunity and freedom, where anybody can come and have a fair chance at achieving the desired goal commonly referred to as â€Å"The American Dream.† James Truslow Adams describes The American Dream as a â€Å"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 214-215). Certain people, however, more easily achieve this Dream than others, even though America prides itself on being the land of â€Å"freedom† and â€Å"equality.† The truth about how American society is as diverse and wonderful as many others see it is false. According to the United States Census Bureau, people of color are twice as likely to be poor compared to the white population and eight times as likely to be imprisoned not to mention how people of color on average make less money than whites beca use they are less likely to get good jobs. One’s race, sexual orientation, social status, gender and even health all determine the chance a person has to achieve this American Dream. This is not to say that the dream of success and money is unattainable for certain people within these minority groups, but that it is just incredibly difficult to achieve when one is faced with certain obstacles that privileged Americans do not have to overcome. This struggle is very apparent in JohnShow MoreRelatedThe Myth of Individualism1209 Words   |  5 PagesThe Myth of Individualism America is famous for the reputation of being the land of opportunity, and for generations immigrants have fled to the United States to experience the freedom and equality our government lays claim to. The fundamental of this reputation is the American Dream, the belief that life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each by hard working regardless of social class or circumstances of birth(by James Truslow Adams). The American DreamRead MoreThe Idea of the â€Å"American Dream†1101 Words   |  5 PagesThe American Dream Final Exam By: Uday Govindswamy Period 2 The idea of the â€Å"American Dream† was first used in the book The Epic of America, written by James Truslow Adams, in 1931. Adams stated that the American Dream is, â€Å"the 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†¦(31) â€Å". The key elements of the American Dream include: access to a college education, owning a home, enjoying politicalRead MoreMoney And Success : The Myth Of Individual Opportunity By Gary Colombo Essay1661 Words   |  7 Pagesstruggle to get their dream job and live an American dream but due to the fact that everyone is applying to the exact same job they cannot accomplish the dream they have always dreamt of. This means that there is plenty of competition between people chasing the same dream. In â€Å"Money and Success: The Myth of Individual Opportunity† Gary Colombo discusses how many people live in the myth of an American dream . 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It has gone from success, freedom, and happiness to having lots of money and the nicest possessions. In today’s society, we all hope and strive for this dream, but how many actually achieve the American Dream? Is it a reasonableRead MoreSteps to Becoming a Critical Thinker in the Textbook, Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths848 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to the â€Å"Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths† preface to the textbook ninth edition Rereading America is written by Bedford/St. Martin’s Press, is edited by Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle published in 2008. It introduces how to become a critical reader, and it challenges us to think critically. To understand well what critical thinking is, the introduction divides into different sections to comprehend how to be a critical thinker steps by steps. The author providesRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald947 Words   |  4 Pagessocial class superiority,happiness, etc. The main American Dreams that Fitzgerald writes about are love and money. He shows that through his character s hopes and dreams. For example, Gatsby’s dream of being with Daisy and Nick’s hope for becoming rich; even though to Fitzgerald they are only myths. The American Dreams are to find love and get rich, however Fitzgerald believes that The American Dream can not be achieved. One of the American Dreams that Fitzgerald talks about is love. â€Å"He knew thatRead MoreThe Myth of the American Dream1269 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿THE MYTH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM A Raisin in the Sun is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry in the period following the Second World War. It is divided into three acts and explores the circumstances of the Younger family, a colored family living in the ghettos of southern Chicago. In particular, the play deals with the efforts of Walter Lee, the scion of the family to bring his family out of poverty and into riches by entering into a business venture. The play highlights the psychological and societalRead MoreThe Myth of the American Dream Exposed in Death of a Salesman1218 Words   |  5 Pagestotalitarianism and the American Dream. Throughout the piece, Miller uses his voice of conscience and passion for the purpose of exposing the truth about the concepts. Using the perspective of Willy, a fictional, working class citizen, Miller picks apart the myth of the American Dream, exploring topics such as abandonment, betrayal, family dynamics, and using interesting symbolism along the way. With reckless abandon, Willy believes in the idea of the American Dream. In fact, thats a bitRead MoreThe Importance Of The American Dream1732 Words   |  7 Pagesachieve the American Dream, one must work hard and have the dedication to be successful. There are myths relating to this dream leaving lower class members to wonder if the dream exists for them. People in lower class are told if they want to be successful they must put in hard work and true effort. Once they do, they see that they are remaining in the same position they started in. In â€Å"Class of America-2012,† Gregory Mantsios states the ideas of class in the US and explains them. One myth addressed