American Dream Research Paper
1.Introduction to the American Dream
The American Dream has influenced the hopes and future of many Americans. One person’s dream will not be the same as another, because dreams are like snowflakes, there’s never two that are exactly alike. “… each person has the right to pursue happiness- not a self-indulgence, but as fair ambition and creative drive” (American RadioWorks- A Better Life). Many people may have a harder path to achieve their dream, but with hard work and their ability to freely pursue opportunity they will make a better life for themselves. In previous years there has been economic problems that may have impacted many people lives, for example the civil rights act, women’s rights, and gender equality. Many people still question if this concept is still available for everybody, if it was even real, and if it is will it exist for future generations. In this paper, it will help you understand the history and how it originated, American Dream in literature, complications and the interference that it may have, and the recurring question, is the American Dream dead or alive?
2. The American Dream in U.S. History
The American Dream has changed and grown from 1776 to present day in many ways. In the United States, we believe that people should freely pursue opportunity. With hard work and dedication they will make a better life for themselves and their family. The American Dream began as something so plain but would revolutionize into something greater. The American Dream can contain of personal components, like upward mobility and home ownership, to global visions. The Royal Governor of Virginia said in 1774, the Americans "for ever imagine the Lands further off are still better than those upon which they are already settled… If they attained Paradise, they would move on if they heard of a better place farther west.” (American Dream Wikipedia)
In the 19th century, The American Dream not only applied to the U.S. citizens but also immigrants from around the world like Germany. Numerous German scholars were looking for freedom in politics along with an improved society. Along with Germany, the discovery of gold in California caused thousands of men to try to fulfill their need for fortune. A few of these men were successful enough to find this remarkable mineral which would give them instant wealth, but for this to be obtained they would have to work very hard for it.
In the 20th century The American Dream shifted towards equal rights and opportunities for all citizens. One of the major groups were the African-American people. Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the major representatives for the African-American people and in his “Letter From A Birmingham Jail” he requested the African-Americans get their American Dream.
“We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands … when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters they were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judeo-Christian heritage, thereby bringing our nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in their formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.” He believed every African-American man, woman, and child deserved to have their own American Dream, just like every other person.
3. The American Dream in Literature
The American Dream is a common theme of much American literature. From “Of Mice And Men” readers learn the American Dream doesn’t always come true, despite your hardest efforts. In this book, George and Lennie are two friends who dreamed of owning a couple of acres of land to build their own little farm on. George and Lennie traveled to California to raise money to buy the land. During their time working on the ranch, George realized that their dream was unachievable. He finally realized this when Lennie accidentally killed Curley’s wife and he knew he would be killed. All the men on the farm were very upset with Lennie and went searching for him. Beforehand, George told Lennie, “…if you jus’ happen to get in trouble like you always done before, I want you to come here an’ hide in that bush.” (Steinback 15) He knew exactly where he was going to be, so he found him and explained the dream they were going to have together. At that moment George shot Lennie, so he wouldn’t have to see the other men do it to him. George knew that with having Lennie by his side would be hard for him to get the farm, since he always had to closely watch Lennie like a child and that Lennie always got in trouble for something and they would have to run and hide.
The next story “A Raisin In The Sun”, shows us that the American Dream takes sacrifice. In this play, Lena Younger’s, or Mama in the play, husband died and she was given an insurance check for $10,000. Everyone in the family wants the money to go towards different things. Mama, Walter Lee, his wife Ruth Younger, son Travis Younger, and sister Bennie Younger all live in a two room apartment together. Mama wants the money to go towards a house that
everyone will be able to live comfortably in and it has been a dream of hers since her husband was alive. Walter Lee wants to invest the money into a liquor store which he believes will solve all of his financial problems and his wife agrees with Mama on buying a house. Walter Lee says, “Sometimes it’s like I can see the future stretched out in front of me – just plain as day. The future, Mama. Hanging over there at the edge of my days. Just waiting for me – a big, looming blank space – full of nothing. Just waiting for me. But it don’t have to be.” (Hansberry ) Walter Lee is trying to make a better life for his wife, son, and his expecting child. Mama gave him $6,000 to use for whatever he desired. He invested the money in the liquor store and his friend Bobo ran off with all of the money. He had to sacrifice his money to try to make more for his family, but it didn’t work out like he wanted it to. Mama put a down payment on a house in a white neighborhood since it was a much cheaper than any of the other houses she has looked at. She sacrificed moving into an all white neighborhood and being discriminated for the happiness of her family.
4. Problems With The Promise of the American Dream
Even though the American Dream seems like a very simplistic concept there are many complications with it. For some it can be immensely hard to obtain their own American Dream. At times it may even see as though the system is working against these people. Often times these people are our African American citizens that are less fortunate. They primarily live in ghettos and tend to be very poor. There are government funded programs that are in place to help these families but it often is not enough. (MeLCat) The money that they receive is usually only enough to get them by as far as rent and food. Now it has become very clear that education is becoming key in our country if you want to be successful. Well in ghettos and such poor places it can be very hard to get a good education.(MeLCat) Teachers have such a hard time doing their jobs that they see giving up as the only reasonable option. So the situation here is that there are a bunch of poor students in a classroom and there are a few that want to really learn while the rest are content with their poor lifestyle that they are so used to. The kids who truly want to learn have no opportunity to do so because the teacher gave up. Since education is so important to success and chasing the American Dream it does seem as though the system is working against these few unprivileged students.
5. Conclusion about the American Dream
Based on my research, I do believe that the American Dream is still alive even though there is problems like in “Of Mice and Men” and “A Raisin In The Sun”. I believe this because, the thought of people’s future is very important to them. Even if they believe their dream has been taken away from them events that have happened it will always still be there, because it’s human nature to dream. As in “A Raisin In The Sun” it was hard for the Younger family to decide to move into the white neighborhood since they would be discriminated, but it was a risk that they had to take to get one step closer to their dream. It may have been difficult for the family to adjust to since it was around the time of the Civil Rights. The American Dream is still alive but it is changing right in front of our eyes. The opportunities for education and new technology allows people to change their view on their dream and adjust it if they please. I believe that if you work hard enough towards what you want you will achieve it, but the right path isn’t always the easiest. Many people may not come close to their dream but it doesn’t mean that they will not succeed one way or another. Some of the men that went to California for the Gold Rush ended up empty handed, while others got everything they wanted or more. Let other peoples’ dreams inspire you to keep on trying to achieve your American Dream and you might just inspire others to do the same