to experience the freedom and equality our government lays claim to. At the root of this reputation is the American Dream‚ the belief that with hard work anyone can succeed based solely on his or her merits. While definitions of success vary‚ the American Dream defines it as the ability to become a "self-made man‚" thereby rising to a more-than-comfortable state of living. The American Dream is believed to be blind to race‚ sex‚ or socio-economic status and at a first glance‚ seems to be almost Utopian
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Many American writers have been successful in shattering what they consider to be the myth of “The American Dream”. Discuss this in relation to the texts you have studied. “…It ’s absolutely stupid to spend your time doing things you don ’t like in order to go on doing things you don ’t like…we ’re bringing up children‚ and educating them to live the same sort of lives we ’re living…that they may justify themselves and find satisfaction in life by bringing up their children to bring up their children
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Myth of the American Dream Was the “American Dream” a myth or reality for Americans living from 1865-1900s? The “American Dream” was not a reality for African-Americans‚ immigrants‚ and Native Americans. For example‚ for Native Americans (Indians)‚ life was not a dream at all because they lost their lands and freedom. After the Civil War‚ African-Americans were given their freedom and no longer slaves. They were given the right to vote with the 15th Amendment stating the that United
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English 11 February 13‚ 2015 The American Dream The American Dream can be defined as a national ethos of the United States in which people strive towards prosperity‚ success‚ and up the social ladder through hard work (American Dream). People who believe in this ideal essentially believe that every American has a potential to build themselves up from nothing and achieve prosperity if they work hard enough towards it. There are many that believe in this functional myth. On the other hand‚ there are also many who
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Is the American dream just a myth? Anyone who does not live in America imagines his greatest ambitions and the best place to meet them America. For everyone the American dream means something else. In this term I imagine pretty house with swimming pool in the suburb of any American town‚ beautiful wife‚ nice cars‚ a lot of money. Almost as much as we see in movies. American dream I would define as a life goal. We all want to achieve something and everyone says it differently but we always mean the
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The American dream is‚ has been‚ and always will be a myth. In the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald‚ we follow Nick Carraway as he narrates Jay Gatsby’s attempt to achieve his own perception of the American dream. The Great Gatsby is considered “the great American novel” because it is a self-made success story‚ it will always remain relevant‚ and it is a love story. Americans have admiration for the self-made success story‚ because we root for the mysterious nobody who rises from poverty
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Braelyn Hamilton Mr. McCormick English (4-B) 26 September 2014 American Dream: The Role Myth Plays Every culture‚ race‚ and nation have their own unique myths‚ though all are untrue‚ they help explain why a certain group of people are what they are‚ or hope that they are. The American culture is filled with myths that we use to mythologize our ancestors by idealizing them‚ or endowing them with heroic qualities. We believe that
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of the ’American Dream’ and also of the ’agrarian myth’ - a powerful demonstration of their invalidity for Americans of Fitzgerald’s generation and after." Fitzgerald defiantly breaks down the societal boundaries of the 1920’s and creates a new societal example. Although the country was rooted in the American Dream‚ or what they thought was the American Dream‚ Fitzgerald rubs the gilding off of the sides. At a first look into the book it seems as if Fitzgerald appreciates the American dream. He shows
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working class‚ middle class‚ upper-middle class and upper class classify men and women into certain stereotypes. In T.C. Boyle’s The Tortilla Curtain we see the story of two men and how one man struggles to do everything he possibly can to survive and provide for his family and another man with everything to satisfy his wants and needs. T.C. Boyle’s The Tortilla Curtain can be read as a story about class relations. Class similarities and differences between the Rincons and the Mossbachers will be discussed
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American Myth American Myth Louis Armstrong: American Myth‚ American Master L ouis Armstrong was the greatest jazz musician of all time. He dazzled audiences with his stunning high notes‚ gorgeous melodies and soul-stirring rhythms. Ground-breaking recordings such as “West End Blues” changed the face of music. But by all accounts‚ his live performances were even more amazing. Both as a trumpet player and a singer‚ Armstrong routinely performed musical feats that no other musician could match
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