Traditionally, Americans have sought to realise the American dream of success, fame and wealth through thrift and hard work. However, the industrialisation of the 19th and 20th centuries began to erode the dream, replacing it with a philosophy of “get rich quick”. A variety of seductive but elusive strategies have evolved, and today the three leading ways to instant wealth are large-prize television game shows, big-jackpot state lotteries and compensation lawsuits. In this article, Matthew Warshauer, Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University, examines why so many Americans are persuaded to seek these easy ways to their dream.
|How does one achieve the American Dream? The answer undoubtedly depends upon one’s definition of the |
|Dream, and there are many from which to choose. John Winthrop envisioned a religious paradise in a |
|”City upon a Hill.” Martin Luther King, Jr. dreamed of racial equality. [1] Both men yearned for what|
|they perceived as perfection. Scholars have recognized widely varying conceptions of these quests for |
|American excellence.[2] One component of the American Dream seems, however, to be fairly consistent: |
|the quest for money. Few will deny that Americans are intently focused on the “almighty dollar.” In a |
|society dedicated to capitalism and the maxim that, “the one who dies with the most toys wins,” the |
|ability to purchase a big house and a nice car separates those who are considered successful from those |
The Essay on The Death Of The American Dream Full Oral
... life, but with one simple aspiration- to reach one's dream. American Literae Thomas Wolfe said, "to every man, regardless of ... should take towards life and indeed the American dream. The death of the American Dream Through the narrator's dealings with high ... sentiment be considered the foundation of the American Dream? Some say, that the American Dream has become the pursuit of material prosperity ...
|who are not.[3] Yet the question remains, how does one achieve this success? How is the Dream |
|realized? For many Americans the formula is one of instant, albeit elusive, gratification. Rather than|
|adhering to a traditional work ethic, far too many Americans are pinning their hopes on what they |
|perceive as “easy” money. This article focuses on three phenomena in contemporary American society that|
|have successfully captured the quest for the American Dream. Savvy marketers have convinced their |
|audiences that a new wave of television game shows, lottery luck, and lucrative lawsuits are the way to |
|wealth. |
|Rags to riches the traditional way: through thrift and hard work |Instant wealth has not|
| |always been a major |
| |component of the |
| |Dream. Americans have|
| |traditionally centered|
| |their efforts on |
| |thrift and hard work. |
| |During the Colonial |
| |Period, Benjamin |
| |Franklin counseled |
The Essay on Asian American Americans In The Early 1900
The American Community in the 1900's to the 1920's was in fact a totally different generation than its successor not only because of cultural and economic reasons but also because of world events and the rise of technology. Americans in the early 1900's were a closely knit generation with a sense of community, morals, and obligations. They had an 'instilled's et of ideals and values and their ...
| |people on the “The Way|
| |to Wealth.” Poor |
| |Richard’s Almanac |
| |advised that “Early to|
| |Bed, and early to |
| |rise, makes a Man |
| |healthy, wealthy, and |
| |wise.” The key to |
| |wealth was industry: |
| |”Industry pays debts,”|
| |insisted Poor |
| |Richard.[4] Americans|
| |of the Early Republic |
| |expanded Franklin’s |
| |notion of industry |
| |into a labor |
| |ideology. For many |
The Essay on Liberation In Early African American Literature
Liberation a word directly correlated with freedom defines in Webster's Dictionary as a movement seeking equal rights and status for a particular group. Thus, with freedom comes liberation that distinguishes itself through out the history of Afro American Literature especially in early periods. Activists such as David Walker, Sojourner Truth, and George Moses Horton all had one hope and prayer ...
| |the goal was not |
| |extravagant wealth, |
| |but, rather, economic |
| |independence and the |
| |opportunity for social|
| |advancement through |
| |financial gain. |
| |Abraham Lincoln |
| |insisted that the |
| |greatness of the |
| |American North was |
| |that industry allowed |
| |all men to prosper: |
| |”The prudent, |
| |penniless beginner in |
| |the world, labors for |
The Essay on how samuel slater changed american industry
American Industry in undoubtedly one of the strongest in the world. Numerous nations are recipients of many of our plethora of exports. From cars, to books, to corn, and everything in between. But where did this amazing system come from? Was it some aspiring urban businessman? Or maybe a tired housewife. It could have even been a son of a farmer. The system itself did not come from one person, but ...
| |wages awhile, saves a |
| |surplus with which to |
| |buy tools or land, for|
| |himself; then labors |
| |on his own account |
| |another while, and at |
| |length hires another |
| |new beginner to help |
| |him. This…is free |
| |labor–the just and |
| |generous, and |
| |prosperous system, |
| |which opens the way |
| |for all.”[5] |
| |In the midst of |
| |industrialization |
| |following the Civil |
The Essay on american ethics
William J. Bennett once wrote, ?My friend had observed that while the world still regards the United States as the leading economic and military power on earth, this same world no longer beholds us with the moral respect it once did, as a ?shinning city on a hill? Instead, it sees a society in decline.? This statement is very true of America?s ethics today. The problems with ethics in America are ...
| |War, many Americans |
| |experienced profound |
| |hardship in the |
| |changing economic |
| |landscape. They found|
| |solace in the tales of|
| |Horatio Alger, whose |
| |characters overcame |
| |adversity through |
| |industry, |
| |perseverance, |
| |self-reliance, and |
| |self-discipline. The |
| |ubiquitous “rags to |
| |riches” legend became |
| |a cornerstone of |
| |American society; |
| |anyone could succeed |
The Term Paper on Japanese Work Ethics Vs American Work Ethics
Japanese Work Ethics vs American Ethics "For an American to consider the Japanese from any viewpoint for any reason, it is important for us to remember that they are products of a unique civilization, that their standards and values are the results of several thousand years of powerful religious and metaphysical conditioning that were entirely different from those that molded the character, ...
| |and achieve wealth if |
| |they worked hard.[6] |
| |The commitment to |
| |industry illustrated |
| |by Alger’s characters,|
| |Lincoln’s ideals of |
| |free labor, and |
| |Franklin’s practical |
| |maxims were further |
| |solidified in the |
| |American mind by the |
| |addition of a |
| |religiously based, |
| |Protestant “work |
| |ethic.”[7] Many |
| |believed that hard |
| |work allowed one to |
| |not only achieve |
| |financial success, |
| |but, through that |
| |success, revealed |
| |God’s grace. |
| |Numerous scholars note|
| |that the shift away |
| |from the traditional |
| |American work ethic |
| |corresponded directly |
| |with the rise of |
| |industry. Work values|
| |changed dramatically |
| |when the assembly line|
| |production and machine|
| |driven atmosphere of |
| |industrial America |
| |swallowed up skilled |
| |workers.[8] The |
| |aftermath of World War|
| |II exacerbated the |
| |ethical shift as a |
| |consumer culture |
| |blossomed and |
| |Americans became |
| |preoccupied with |
| |material goods. As |
| |one critic noted, |
| |“consumed by desires |
| |for status, material |
| |goods, and acceptance,|
| |Americans apparently |
| |had lost the sense of |
| |individuality, thrift,|
| |hard work, and |
| |craftsmanship that had|
| |characterized the |
| |nation.”[9] |
| |The result of this |
| |shift in work ethic |
| |has actually spurred |
| |rather than lessened |
| |the people’s desire to|
| |achieve the American |
| |Dream. Yet the real |
| |difference is that the|
| |Dream has become more |
| |of an entitlement than|
| |something to work |
| |towards. Many |
| |Americans no longer |
| |entertain a vision for|
| |the future that |
| |includes time, sweat, |
| |and ultimate success. |
| |Rather, they covet the|
| |shortcut to wealth. |
| |Many who are engaged |
| |in work view it more |
| |as a necessary evil |
| |until striking it |
| |rich. This idea has |
| |been perpetuated by a |
| |massive marketing |
| |effort that |
| |legitimizes the |
| |message that wealth |
| |can be obtained |
| |quickly and easily. |
| |Whether through the |
| |television |
| |entertainment |
| |industry, state-based |
| |lottery marketing |
| |drives, or legal |
| |advertisements, |
| |Americans are told |
| |again and again that |
| |the road to the |
| |financial success of |
| |the American Dream is |
| |more a matter of luck |
| |than hard work. |
| | |
The book ‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald was an ‘icon of its time.’ The book discusses topics that were important, controversial and interesting back in 1920’s America. The novel is ‘an exploration of the American Dream as it exists in a corrupt period of history.’ The main themes in the book are the decay of morals and values and the frustration of a ‘modern’ society. The Great Gatsby describes the decay of the American Dream and the want for money and materialism. This novel also describes the gap between the rich and the poor (Gatsby and the Wilsons, West Egg and the Valley of the Ashes) by comparing the differences between the Western United States (traditional western culture) and the Eastern United States (money obsessed values).
On a smaller scale this could be seen as the difference between the West Egg (the ‘new, money) and the East egg (the ‘old’ money).
The 1920’s were a time of corruption and the degradation of moral values for the United States and many other countries. World War One had just ended and people were reveling in the materialism that came with the end of it, new mass produced commodities such as motor cars and radios were filling people’s driveways and houses, money was more accessible (before the Great Depression).
Cars were becoming a social symbol in the 1920s as we can see with Gatsby’s five cars, one of which he gives to Nick and one of which kills Myrtle Wilson later on in the novel. Herbert Hoover (an American President) said in 1925 “We will root out poverty and put two cars in every garage.” The parties that Gatsby held every week in the summer were a symbol of the carelessness of the time. Gatsby would hide in the house while the ‘guests’, most of whom were not even invited, would party, eat and drink until the early hours of the morning without even meeting the guest or even knowing who he was. People would turn up just to be seen or reported in the local newspapers “In his blue garden people came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne.” This shows the carelessness of the guests. Another quote about the parties refers to the way the guests devour the endless supply of food and never give a thought as to who gave it to them. “Every Friday five crates of oranges and Lemons arrived from a fruiterer In New York- Every Monday these same oranges and lemons left his backdoor in a pyramid of pulpless halves.” This is also a symbol; it relates the ‘pulpless halves’ to the rather ’empty’ guests, soulless people obsessed by image and wealth, a corruption of the American Dream. Another sign of the fall of the American Dream in The Great Gatsby is the way Gatsby makes his money. Gatsby gets his fortune through the illegal sale of alcohol (‘bootlegging’).
The sale of alcohol was prohibited in the United States in the 1920s. Gatsby came from the western United States where there was ‘old money.’ There he met Dan Cody who taught him how to ‘bootleg.’ As Gatsby became richer he moved to West Egg in New York. Gatsby’s house is a rather artificial place, the house was originally built to impress Daisy with his so-called wealth, and this is a sign of a corrupt way of ‘winning’ love through money and wealth. Gatsby’s house is furnished well with old looking ornaments and (probably) second hand antiques, Gatsby’s house also has a library which is full of ‘uncut’ literature. The conversation between Jordan and an unnamed man at one of Gatsby’s parties talks about the books: “Absolutely real – have real pages and everything. I’d thought they’d be a nice durable cardboard.” These books and antiques are just Gatsby’s way of showing off his wealth to others, however Gatsby doesn’t really care for materialism, we can tell this because his bedroom, the only room he really ever uses, is empty compared to the rest of the house. Gatsby’s love life is also a sign of declining morals, and also a sign of further corruption of the American Dream. Daisy has an affair with Gatsby; Gatsby then gets concerned that Daisy does not tell Tom about her affair with him in chapter six. Eventually Daisy tells Tom about her affair with Jay Gatsby. The climax of the story comes when Gatsby tells Tom that Daisy never loved him. The fall of the American Dream and corruption is also evident in the position and treatment of children in the story, Daisy and Tom’s daughter, Pammy, is treated as an object to show off rather than a child to love. “The child, relinquished by the nurse, rushed across the room and rooted shyly into her mother’s dress.” The child does not know her mother very well and is still very shy to go near her. Gatsby had never really known of the existence of Daisy’s child, as Daisy was probably afraid to tell him about her. “Afterward he kept looking at the child in surprise. I don’t think he had ever really believed it it’s existence before.” The word it instead of her also denotes the child’s position as nil. Daisy uses the child as a show item: “I got dressed before luncheon” said the child, turning eagerly towards Daisy. “That’s because your mother wanted to show you off” replies Daisy. When the child speaks to Daisy, Daisy never answers or replies to her. Daisy always changes the subject as if she doesn’t even notice the child is there. For example, when the girl comments Jordan’s dress, Daisy ignores her and asks her what she thinks about her friends: “Aunt Jordan’s got on a white dress too” (said the child).
“How do you like mother’s friends?” (Replies Daisy).
Also: “Where’s daddy?” (Said the child) “She doesn’t look like her father” explained Daisy. ‘Daddy’ (Tom) is also never around, he was not there when his child was born. Daisy thinks that Tom is ‘brutish’ and she has never really liked him. The Great Gatsby is a great portrayal of the corruption of society and the fall of the American Dream. The Great Gatsby shows us the way people will fall into the hands of money, greed and power and get involved in illegal activities to get where they want and what they want. This book is a perfect example of the fall of the American Dream in the 1920s.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is much like an onion. On the surface there is the hard outer layer, but to really understand it, one has to dig into the fresh insides. On the surface of The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald portrays a romantic love between a man and a woman, but inside the real meaning is much deeper. Fitzgerald depicts the 1920’s as a time of decay social and moral values, evidence of this is the greed and the pursuit of pleasure. Jay Gatsby’s constant parties epitomized the corruption of the American Dream as the desire for money and worldly pleasures overshadowed the true values of the American Dream. After WWI ended in 1918, veterans found that life was not as rosy as it had been before. The war led to an economic boom as more and more people were buying materialistic items that they would have never bought. With this economic boom it became apparent that any person of any social status could become wealthy. This created the social rift between the families that had just found new money and the old wealthy industrialists. 1919, the women’s suffrage movement, running strong, were quick to establish prohibition in the United states with their influence. This consequently led to an increase in crime and illegal smuggling of alcohol; Al Capone is the prime example of what came out of that era of prohibition.
Fitzgerald intricately places characters in these social trends. Meyer Wolfshiem, a man that is the epitome of the underground mafia. WWI vets Nick and Gatsby’s new found cynicism. Also, Jay Gatsby’s need to climb the “social ladder” shows the need of wealth of the individuals in this era. If one reads the passage in which Fitzgerald characterizes Gatsby’s house as an “amusement park” (41), it is also said that there are guests that attend without even meeting the host. This shows the need for “new money” people to socialize with others to climb this “social ladder”. Also the rift between “old money” and “new money” is quite evident with the geographical placement of the individual characters; East Egg, “old money” individuals, who have been wealthy for generations past, and West Egg, “new money” representing self-made individuals.
The original idea of the American Dream as described in chapter 9 is about moral values and the pursuit of happiness. It’s written in the American Constitution that every individual has the right to “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”. This right it seems has taken a twisted turn in the early 1920’s. The pursuit of happiness soon turned into the pursuit of wealth and ultimately to greed. This led to social rifts among the different classes and eventually corrupted the true American Dream. Throughout The Great Gatsby it is shown how social rift came between the love of two individuals, Daisy and Gatsby. This led to the eventual corruption of Gatsby himself, the pursuit of wealth, greed, and illegal deeds. T.J Eckleburg, the greatest symbol in the novel, represents more then just an advertisement, but like the onion, inside he represents everything that is corrupt in the new American Dream. After renouncing his parents, James Gatsby was said to be the “son of God” (98), the only thing Gatsby believes in is money. Wilson in chapter 8, mistakes the advertisement as an advertisement for God, this in turn means that the advertisement portrays money.
On the last page of the novel Nick compares the “green breast of the new world” (180) to the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock. The “green breast of the world” represents the dreams of the immigrants that came to the new world seeking religious freedom, opportunity, love, and democracy, along the way instilling universal family values. As they settled with these goals in mind, they strived and created what is America today. Fitzgerald describes the corruption as being the modernization of the beauties of what the settlers had seen before. Remember that accident which involved Daisy and Myrtle, Myrtle’s left breast had been torn off, this was regarded as Myrtle’s “greatest achievement”. This achievement was the realization of American society which has torn off the green breast of the new world and replaced it with a corrupted rendition of what the settlers brought along with them. Along with this, Fitzgerald adds in the Valley of Ashes, which is the opposite of the green breast; a valley in general is different in that the green breast of the new world represents a hill, opposite to this is a valley which is a concave piece of land. The green breast represents the true American Dream and the Valley of Ashes represents corruption, like that of Myrtle and her adultery or Wilson and his killing of Gatsby.
Fitzgerald uses an abundant amount symbols to fully satisfy the most rewarding symbol, the corruption of the American Dream. Settlers first came to America with one ambition, a better life. What came of this better life? The American Dream, a life in pursuit of opportunity, freedom, love, equality, family and wealth. These dreams soon diminished as materialistic values seemed to be above all else. These materialistic values consequently led the decay of the American Dream. The new American Dream described by Fitzgerald portrays a world where greed, the pursuit of money and pleasure are above all else. Fitzgerald portrays a world that has lost its way in the corruption of the American Dream.
Possibly one of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most astonishing work, The Great Gatsby is not just a magnificent story, but an insightful lesson of society’s flaws during the 1920’s. Fitzgerald’s novel creates an atmosphere of superficiality, dissatisfaction and dishonesty by the depictive
illustration of each character’s defect. With economical growth, the immoral society of the twenties ultimately brought corruption to the American Dream of achieving prosperity.
At the end of the first chapter, the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock is introduced, the symbol for hope and a promising future for the Great Gatsby. In the second chapter however, the reader is presented with the, “… valley of ashes… where ashes take the form of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally… of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air” . The valley of ashes can be interpreted as the superficial and dirt-filled materialistic world that the characters live in. The author’s great use of imagery helps accentuate the setting and the crumbling foundation of society.
In Fitzgerald’s novel, Gatsby is labeled as “new money”. Having come from no wealthy background, and building his fortunes early in life, Gatsby nearly fulfills all the aspects of the American Dream with hard work, courage and determination but comes short by not achieving satisfaction from prosperity. Money was the critical reagent to Gatsby’s corruption that unfolds when he describes Daisy. “Her voice is full of money” . Often identified as a symbol of wealth, Daisy was Gatsby’s main goal. Gatsby had an enormous need to impress Daisy with his riches; his tainted mind could only offer what he had acquired all these years, money.
The 1920’s was a time of great spending and with the massive amounts of money in circulation, dishonesty flowed with ease. ” Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the Cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known” . Nick Carraway’s sincere comment reflects the high amount of dishonesty of the “Roaring Twenties.” Because Carraway had come from the Midwest and moved to New York, his statement of knowing few honest people proves that during the 1920’s corruption was widespread.
Murders, affairs and disregard of the law in which the characters of Fitzgerald’s novel chose to take, confirm the diversion of the American Dream and insignificance that money brings to fulfilling satisfaction. Gatsby’s unquenchable thirst of winning Daisy was infected with monetary motivation. In the end, Fitzgerald’s purpose of writing The Great Gatsby was to show how the American Dream became corrupted in the 1920s and striped away of ambition and left with the pursuit of pleasure.
