The Ironic Dream

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From the birth of America, to American today, the driving force has always been the ultimate, “American Dream”. The notation of the American dream began in the New World. The horrific living conditions in Europe helped attract the population to the New World, where they hoped for better living standards. Also, the economic boom in the 20th century instigated the myth of, “rags to riches.” The philosophy of the American dream promotes the ability for everyone to achieve prosperity without any barriers. This includes education for each child and the ultimate opportunity to make individual choices regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or caste. This ethos began spreading, especially among immigrants who longed for such promise. However, it is yet to be determined whether this dream was an illusion which blinded people to leave everything they had and run towards the “land of opportunity” or a viable element which encouraged people to make use of the opportunities the New World had to offer. The question is in existence, certainly all dreams are an illusion however did this specific dream prove to be more than just that?

In 1931 James Truslow Adams defined the American dream in his book The Epic of America as, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” This idealized dream was certainly not an easy one to attain; it involved many hills to climb. Moreover, “Adams’s definition of the dream idealistically encompasses the elements of a functional democracy: social order, opportunity for everyone irrespective of the social rank, financial comfort, and public recognition” (Ştiuliuc, 1). A unitary definition of this ethos is non-existent. It hold...

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...s one person who will win and that too is not guaranteed but the temptation is truly irresistible.

The concept of the American dream in endless without any limits. There will always be a dream, rather a vision which stimulates Americans; a goal which will drive them to do anything and everything they can. Whether it is the 18th century or today Americans will always have a set vision of their future which drives them to work harder.

Works Cited

Alger, Horatio. “From Ragged Dick.” Rereading. Ed. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie

Lisle. 4th ed. Boston: Bedford, 1998

Bleckmann, Dominik. "AMERICAN DREAM: MYTH OR REALITY?" Fundus.org. Web. 28

Mar. 2012.

Ştiuliuc, Diana. "The American Dream As The Cultural Expression Of North American

Identity." Philologica Jassyensia 7.2 (2011): 363-370. Academic Search Complete. Web.

28 Mar. 2012.

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