Interpreting the American Dream
Professor Wasserberger
English A, 9324
3 October 2013
“The American Dream” Today, many people immigrate to the United States of America hoping for a better life; searching for the American Dream, equality, freedom, and trying to achieve goals. The American Dream is the pursuit of prosperity and an inspiration for people to push their limits and achieve something higher. Everyone in the United States has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream no matter what. The American Dream has five interpretations that really defined its meaning, it is was also described as an achievement where time and hard work is needed; it encourages people to try their hardest in what they want to do whether they want to have a good paying job, or something more serious like a career.
The term “The American Dream” has a very popular interpretation “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” which is the dream that most Americans strive for. In Horatio Alger’s novel, “Struggling Upward”, he identifies the goals of the American Dream and what it takes to achieve that dream. He talks about a boy named Luke Larkin, which has struggled upward from a boyhood of self-denial into a youth and manhood of prosperity and honor. In short, Luke “rises from rags to riches” because of his virtues, his good qualities such as determination, honesty, and a positive outlook, and a bit of luck. He is saying that everyone no matter of the prejudices they may face, has the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Another interpretation of “The American Dream” is the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. James Truslow Adams gives a definition of “the American Dream” in 1931, he says, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement, regardless of ethnicity, social class, or circumstances of birth.” This Definition made many people immigrate to the
English A, 9324
3 October 2013
“The American Dream” Today, many people immigrate to the United States of America hoping for a better life; searching for the American Dream, equality, freedom, and trying to achieve goals. The American Dream is the pursuit of prosperity and an inspiration for people to push their limits and achieve something higher. Everyone in the United States has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream no matter what. The American Dream has five interpretations that really defined its meaning, it is was also described as an achievement where time and hard work is needed; it encourages people to try their hardest in what they want to do whether they want to have a good paying job, or something more serious like a career.
The term “The American Dream” has a very popular interpretation “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” which is the dream that most Americans strive for. In Horatio Alger’s novel, “Struggling Upward”, he identifies the goals of the American Dream and what it takes to achieve that dream. He talks about a boy named Luke Larkin, which has struggled upward from a boyhood of self-denial into a youth and manhood of prosperity and honor. In short, Luke “rises from rags to riches” because of his virtues, his good qualities such as determination, honesty, and a positive outlook, and a bit of luck. He is saying that everyone no matter of the prejudices they may face, has the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Another interpretation of “The American Dream” is the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. James Truslow Adams gives a definition of “the American Dream” in 1931, he says, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement, regardless of ethnicity, social class, or circumstances of birth.” This Definition made many people immigrate to the