The quote provided at the top of this essay is from The House on Mango Street, it simply deals with a young girl living in a corrupt part of town. Esperanza including her family have moved countless times, in fact , even mentions that she forgot how many, “We didn't always live on Mango Street. Before that we lived on Loomis on the third floor, and before that we lived on Keeler. Before Keeler it was Paulina, and before that I can't remember.” (Sandra Cisneros, pg. 1) At such a young age and having to relocate multiple times takes a toll on the family, but additional for the children. The meaning behind her “American Dream”, is that she wants a house to herself along with the tiny details in there such as books, maybe even shoes next to her …show more content…
“To me the " the American Dream" is the ability to fully express yourself. The way you dress, talk, and believe in are all things that I associate " the American Dream" with. I feel as if " the American Dream" is a subject tossed around and manipulated by different races or ethnic groups, and in today's society I think it's something that is personal based rather than the umbrella.” This definition still holds some truth however, me being in the class has changed my definition. I would change my definition to “The “American Dream” is the ability to fully express your dreams, thoughts, and morals. There is not right or wrong when it comes to “the American Dream” as you encounter different hardships through life that spark up your “American Dream”. I also think “the American Dream” has a little bit of grit to it, by this I mean it has a little adverse to it, and what you choose to do with it is another version of you “American Dream”. J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur in What is an American says “He must greatly rejoice that he lived at a time to see this fair country discovered and settled; he must necessarily feel a share of national pride, when he views the chain of settlements which embellishes these extended shores.” (Crevecoeur pg. 1). He believes that “the American Dream” is this great country that was settled on. He goes on to write about how living in America is purely an “American Dream”. Essential living with very …show more content…
I think this class opened my eyes in the fact that this world isn’t just about people's dreams, but rather what they want to do in life. However, in order to have these dreams you occasionally need to be an American, as this is one of the only countries that has freedom of speech, freedom to marry whoever, right to bear arms, etc. Me being Hispanic and living the life that I live is honestly an “American Dream” looking at some of the reading over the course of this class. In particular the House on Mango street applies so much to my life as I do not come from a great area as well so I can relate to Esperanza on a completely similar level. I too had dreams to leave the place I graduated high school from and I ended up doing it. I speak a little bit of Spanish along with it being my first language so I know exactly how she feels. Along with this my name in Spanish mean shrimp, and in English it means crooked nose. If there is any text I could relate to it’s The House on Mango Street. Another writing that has to deal with the “American Dream” is Dreams and Goals written by Alfred Ferguson. He writes how American is not what it is, rather it be identical Europe with a few changes, which is kind of like America today with all the rules and regulations today. The “American Dream” is not for everyone and even Mr. Ferguson says so himself, “Life in the New
Esperanza was a cowardly child who transformed into a brave woman. Alicia and Esperanza had a conversation about Mango Street and Alicia says, “Like it or not you are Mango Street, and one day you’ll come back too,” (Cisneros 107). Esperanza replies with, “Not me. Not until somebody makes it better,” (Cisneros 107). Alicia tells Esperanza that even though she does not like Mango Street, she will still come back, but Esperanza says she will not until someone makes it better. Esperanza does not want to go back to Mango Street even though she is a part of it. Esperanza wants to leave Mango Street for good. Although Esperanza knows she is a part of Mango Street, she does not want to be. The ignorant child believed she could leave Mango behind and forget about where she came from, but little does she know that someone will. When Esperanza decides to leave Mango Street, she says, “They will not know I have gone away to come back. For the ones I left behind. For the ones who cannot out,” (Cisneros 110). Esperanza will leave Mango Street to come back and help those who cannot escape. Esperanza is leaving not for herself, but for others. She grasped the understanding that nobody would do anything to help Mango Street, or care about what happens to it, and decides to take matters into her own hands. Esperanza realizes that she has to be the one to change Mango Street. Throughout the story
Esperanza ponders how she inherited her grandmother’s name, but does not wish to inherit her experiences with marriage. When speaking of how her grandmother was married, Esperanza remarks, “my great-grandfather threw a sack over her head and carried her off. Just like that, as if she were a fancy chandelier” (Cisneros, 11). Through a simile, Cisneros exemplifies that women allow themselves to be objectified and trapped, which removes their freedom and hinders their progress towards their dreams. This is also identified when Alicia’s father finds her studying late at night and speaks with her about her duties as the woman of the house. Alicia’s father alludes to her that, “a woman’s place is sleeping so she can wake up early with the tortilla star” (31). Through this metaphor, Cisneros indicates that in Hispanic culture, women let themselves be pressured into putting duties at home
The argument that is presented is that not everyone can accomplish the dream even if they were dedicated, and worked hard. The ideal dream for Americans to achieve was to be successful and provide for their family, but for some people dreams are affected by their environment or by not having the proper material to get to where they need to be in life. For instance, someone who is oppressed in society won’t have the resources as someone who lives in a healthy environment or comes from a wealthy family. They instead will face being in-depth and having the struggle of trying their best so they can provide for their family once they graduate. The dream itself doesn’t take into consideration of these factors, it instead upholds one image of who actually is able to achieve the dream. Which would be someone who is able-bodied, Caucasian, of Middle or High
"The American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret
The sad thing is that he never does,and he ends up dyingwithout it ever happening. There is one truth about the idea of the American Dream,wether it’s a better life for one’s children,acceptance,or merely survival;everyone wants something out of life and everyone,in their own way,tries to get it.
The American Dream still lives today in society in which people strive to the top and accomplish their goals in life. James Truslow Adams coined the term in 1931 in his book called “American Dream”. He stated in the book "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement". The importance of this quote in Adams’ novel is that the American Dream can be achieved by anyone (Warshauer 3). There are no limits and bounds to these emotions and people from any social class can seek their dreams and desires in life. Over the years the definition of the American Dream has changed, but the underlying fundamental meaning had stayed the same. The American mentality is basically participation in the economy and society in order to gain a better social standard and be prosperous. The United States Declaration of Independence also had some influence in the definition of the American Dream. In the Declaration of Independence it states all men are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" includi...
The concept of the American Dream has always been that everyone wants something in life, no matter if it is wealth, education, financial stability, safety, or a decent standard of living. In addition, everyone will try to strive to get what they want. The American Dream, is said to be that everyone should try and get what they hope they can get in life. In the play A Raisin in the Sun the author Hansberry tells us about a family where each has an American Dream, and Hughes in the poem “ Let America be America Again “is telling us to let America be the America that was free for us to obtain The American Dream. Hansberry and Langston see America like as a place to find the dream desired, although they also see limitation to obtain the American Dream, such as poverty, freedom, inequality, racism and discrimination.
First, what is the American dream? According to David Wallechinsky, “the traditional American Dream is based on the belief that hardworking citizens can improve their lives, pay their monthly bills without worry, give their children a start to an even better life, and still save enough to live comfortably after they retire” (1). “The American Dream” states, “It has always represented the possibility for individuals to succeed and live a life of wealth and comfort, made possible by both the political and economic attitudes in the USA and the individual’s own hard work” (1). Daniella Nicole adds that “in years past, chasing the American Dream meant the sky was the limit. . .” (1).
Up until now, the term American Dream is still a popular concept on how Americans or people who come to America should live their lives and in a way it becomes a kind of life goal. However, the definitions of the term itself is somehow absurd and everyone has their own definition of it. The historian James Tuslow defines American Dream as written in his book titled “The Epic of America” in 1931 as “...dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” The root of the term American Dream is actually can be traced from the Declaration of Independence in 1776 which stated “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that
The American Dream is something that anyone no matter their background, social standings, or ethnicity can improve their life through hard work.
The American dream can be realized by anyone who puts their mind to it. Some people shoot for what they can afford and some turn for the stars. The House On Mango Street really gives people a good example of how a poor American family can achieve the American Dream. Esperanza and her family proves that anyone with a strong will and a lot of hope can make a worthwhile struggle for what they need to get ever closer to the fulfilling and completing their extension of the American Dream so maybe, it would not be an extension anymore. So they do achieve their own version while Esperanza must now go off and achieve hers.
Although Esperanza is constantly reaffirming that she wants to move away from Mango Street, we know by the end novel that she will one day return to help those who will not have the opportunities Esperanza has had in her life. Indeed, in the closing pages Esperanza admits that she cannot escape Mango Street. She can never again call it home, but it has influenced her dreams, formed her personality, and she has learned valuable life lessons from its inhabitants. That is why, explains Esperanza, she tells stories about the house on Mango Street, revealing the beauty amidst dirty streets and unveiling her true inner self, the peace of knowing that her “home is where her heart is.”
The American Dream can obliterate any prospect of satisfaction and does not show its own unfeasibility. The American dream is combine and intensely implanted in every structure of American life. During the previous years, a very significant number of immigrants had crossed the frontier of the United States of America to hunt the most useful thing in life, the dream, which every American human being thinks about the American dream. Many of those immigrants sacrificed their employments, their associations and connections, their educational levels, and their languages at their homelands to start their new life in America and prosper in reaching their dream.
For those who live outside of the United States, the American dream is a indistinct term that is hard to define. This may be partially due to the cultural differences that exist throughout the world. It should not matter what country you come from, anyone has the ability to make their life more valuable and
John Steinbeck, in his essay America and Americans, uses many contradictions to explain his views on the American Dream. I have witnessed and experienced many of these contradictions in my life. Through my experiences, I have learned to believe that the American dream is no more than just a dream.