Poem The American Dream - 1037 Words

What is the American Dream?-- The idea that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. The American Dream is defined as someone starting low on the economic or social level, and working hard towards prosperity and or wealth and fame. It also represents that people, no matter who he or she is, can become successful in life by his or her own work. The desire to strive for what one wants can be accomplished if they work hard enough. The dream however is not realistically attainable by many. Some do achieve all that is know of the American dream, but sometimes factors such as discrimination and unequal opportunities provide barriers to ones chance of†¦show more content†¦A theme of them is that all the example of what happens after a discarded dream is that does not simply vanish, but undergoes an evolution. The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a novel that shows what happened to the American Dream in the 1920’s through the lives of Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan, Myrtle Wilson and others. The most significant theme relates to the American dream and the corruption of the American dream. In the novel, the American dream not only caused corruption but also caused destruction. Jay Gatsby was born to a poor farmer family and before going to war fell in love with a girl named Daisy Fay. After the war, Gatsby received a letter from Daisy telling him that she had married the wealthy Tom Buchanan. Gatsby then decided to commit his life to becoming a man of the kind of wealth and stature he believed would win Daisys love. The chase for the American dream and to be with Daisy destroyed Gatsby. The ambition for something threw Gatsby over the edge. His love and chase for Daisy took over his whole life. He felt that he had to live up to the American dr eam to accomplish what he truly dreamed for, Daisy. Daisy fell short of Gatsby’s expectations however and no matter how hard Gatsby tries to live his fantasy, he will never be able to achieve it. Gatsby looked up to the American dream and followed it so he can be the picture perfectShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem The American Dream 1071 Words   |  5 PagesThe American dream to me is a secure way of life for the future. Having a steady job, no struggles and financial securities. Living life to the absolute fullest while being successful by doing what you love. So my idea is supported by connecting to Sam Walton and Jay –Z profiles/interviews. The interview says no matter how hard you had it growing up, you can still conquer anything if you work hard enough and put your mind to it. This is the same as the visual image of the homeless person in theRead MoreThe Reality of the American Dream: The Poem Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson999 Words   |  4 Pages As Americans, many of us believe in this principle of the American Dream. The American Dream, in its simplicity, is the notion that anything, especially career wise, is achievable. We usually associate this concept with obtaining material things, such as cars or a fancy house. But, even if you achieve your American Dream, complete with a car and fancy house, does that really mean you achieved happiness? The poem â€Å"Richard Cory† by Edwin Arlington Robinson is a testament to this idea that althoughRead MoreLorraine Hansberry s A Raisin982 Words   |  4 Pagesa famous poem by Langston Hughes. It is difficult to really know why she choose Hughes’ poem but there are reasons to infer. Lorraine Hansberry choose to name her play after Langston Hughes’ poem because of what the poem meant and that poem closely related to the characters within the play. Langston Hughes was one of the most important writers and thinkers of the Harlem Renaissance. One of his most prominent work was a poem was a poem called Harlem. The speaker starts off in this poem by askingRead MoreAmerican Dream And Identity : The Legend By Garrett Hongo1176 Words   |  5 Pages American Dream and Identity â€Å"The Legend† by Garrett Hongo was written in 1951 and â€Å"Mexicans Begin Jogging† by Gary Soto was written in 1995. For a short background, in the 1950’s, America is at its peak. The economy is booming larger than ever before. This was the time where the American dream starts to grow for the American people, and also for immigrants that tries to make a better living in a great country. A few decades later, in the early 1990’s, America was starting to enter one of the greatestRead MoreHarlem And The Sun By Langston Hughes1091 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?† This poem, Harlem, created a whole play based on one line (Hughes, 1055-1056). Langston Hughes wrote the poem Harlem due to his major role in the Harlem Renaissance. A Raisin in the Sun was concocted by Hughes one line, this play tells the story of an African American family living in the slums during a time when racia l dilemmas were at an all time high. The family receives money from Mama’s husband passing away, but theRead MoreGiving A Voice : Langston Hughes, An American Poet And Social Activist967 Words   |  4 PagesGiving a Voice to the Voiceless Langston Hughes is an American poet and social activist. Hughes’ poems tend to resonate with the majority of his readers because he discusses topics that transcend time. Hughes wrote his poetry so eloquently that his poetry can be interpreted in many different ways depending on the reader’s personal background and what they bring to the reading. Even today his readers can connect to his poetry because he discusses subjects that we are faced with today, such as identityRead MoreEssay about Analysis of Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes615 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis of Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes Dreams are the driving force of America today. Every person has some sort of dreams and or goals. Although in life everyone has dreams and goals, there are obviously more struggles for some ethnic groups than for others. The poem, Dream Deferred, by Langston Hughes, is one mans expression of his dreams during a difficult time period. As a black man in a time period where African-Americans were considered an inferior group of peopleRead MoreA Brief Look at Langston Hughes1413 Words   |  6 Pageshis writing can be said to bring hope to the African Americans, his style can be frightening and daunting when taken the time to read his pieces. They may not seem real, but they are his way of interpreting and informing the future of what African Americans, like himself, had to go through and what they had to experience. Although some of his writing pieces tell about horrible and sad times of the African American people, throughout his poems he brings hope and peace for the culture. The pieces heRead MoreA Prize For Poetry, International Ibsen Award You Named. Langston Hughes1058 Words   |  5 Pages Nobel prize for literature, Pulitzer prize for poetry, International Ibsen award you named. Langston Hughes is a great poet, his poems are truly inspirational, persuasive. It s almost like he was talking directly to the reader. To begin with, have you ever wondered what impact Langston Hughes poems had on people lives. Well if so then you on the right place. James Mercer Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. His parents were Caroline Mercer Langston and JamesRead MoreEssay about Richard Cory: Comparing Paul Simon and Edwin Robinson623 Words   |  3 Pages Richard Cory poems are a traditional type of poetry found all throughout different time periods. The poems range from the original to song variations, all contributing their own perspectives on what Richard Cory symbolized, and each takes their own distinct form. Richard Cory poetry usual contains the distinct ending of Richard Cory taking his own life, but each poem adds its own variations to this repetitive theme. Throughout the poems, there are also many similar themes, which portray a consistent