The American Dream Is Overrated Essay - 1093 Words

The â€Å"American Dream† is overrated. Let’s just face it, it is dead. Not only is this a dream that is almost lusted after by many Americans, this is a widely desired illusion that is far out of reach for most working class people. The American Dream is more than the lifestyle of white picket fences that hold backyard barbecues with your neighbors. It’s earning a living wage that creates a comfortable quality of life, having the security of retirement, and giving your children the opportunity to live a successful life. The American Dream doesn’t run on magic and fairy dust, it is fueled by hard-earned American dollars, persistence, and hope. Most modern, working class families can’t expect to receive a reasonable income to cover things such as medical expenses and emergencies. With that said, the stay-at-home parent trying to reach the goal of a perfect oasis is even more taboo. It’s hard to achieve this â€Å"dream†, when youâ€℠¢re the only breadwinner in your household. Parents can no longer live comfortably, and in some cases even survive, on one person’s income. The costs of homes, transportation, and education combined with incredibly low wages often leaves families in a crippling financial situation, making it virtually impossible to, â€Å"keep up with the Jones’s.† Speaking realistically, most people live in the moment. We focus on things happening in our lives now. Life itself is a constant quest for happiness and security in a world that is very often uncertain, and evenShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1465 Words   |  6 PagesThe World of Imagination Dreams are an escape from reality to a world of imagination that is ideal for someone. However, we get overwhelmed with our fantasies, we lose touch with reality. In the text, â€Å"Is The Great Gatsby the Most Overrated Literary Novel of All Time,† Daniel Honan argues that the classic American novel, The Great Gatsby is an overrated novel in his opinion. Honan challenges his claim on the novel by questioning, should his book be considered an American classic? Author, F.ScottRead MoreJimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan Analysis1118 Words   |  5 Pagesassassination attempt only added to it. Hostages coming home The Iranian hostage situation happened on November 4, 1979; President Carter was still in office at the time. The day that Ronald Reagan was sworn into office on January 21, 1981 the American hostages were released. The terrorist or students released the hostages after President Carter was out of office they did not have any problem with releasing the hostages. They did it as a way to protest President Carter and after Ronald Reagan wasRead MoreThe Great Gatsby and the American Dream1401 Words   |  6 PagesThe Real American Dream Since its institution, the United States has been revered as the ultimate land of ceaseless opportunity. People all around the world immigrated to America to seek quick wealth, which was predominately seen in the new Modern era. Beginning in the late 1800s to the early 1900s, the period introduced progressive ideas into society and the arts. Accompanying these ideas was a loss of faith in the American Dream and the promise America once guaranteed, especially after WorldRead MoreCasestudy785 Words   |  4 PagesAmerica: Dream It. Build It. Drive It. | Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black. Henry Ford | | Sheju Sajan Koruth, REG NO: PA1227 | 9/20/2012 | | ABTRACT: BMW one of leading car manufacturing company at United States introduced a new market strategy in order to increase the sales of customized vehicles. But introducing of new marketing â€Å"Dream it. BuildRead MoreThe American Dream And The Mortgage Crisis Essay1743 Words   |  7 PagesProfessor Patricia Ard Critical Reading and Writing 102 9 November 2016 The American Dream and the Mortgage Nightmare Every country’s economy is greatly impacted by the beliefs and the attitudes of its citizens; conversely, the action of the people is affected by the country’s economy. In other words, economy of a nation and character of the citizens are correlated. For instance, in the United States, the â€Å"American Dream† to own a home had a huge influence on the mortgage crisis in 2008. HoweverRead MoreLiterary Research Paper: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott1100 Words   |  5 PagesLiterary Research Paper: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald is known as America’s great novel, â€Å"The Great Gatsby is a classic piece of American fiction. It is a novel of triumph and tragedy, noted for the remarkable way Fitzgerald captured a cross-section of American society.†(Cliffsnotes Editor) The novel is set in New York City, more specifically in long island; East Egg and West Egg, during the prohibition era in the 1920’s and was then publishedRead MoreUnknown Citizen1356 Words   |  6 Pagesin the Modern World Social Security Number? Birth date? Nine digit telephone number starting with area code? Mothers Maiden Name? In many ways, we are simply faceless numbers to modern society, not individuals with feelings and emotions and dreams. W.H. Auden, a well-known English poet and dramatist, discusses this important theme in his poem An Unknown Soldier. Auden, being a modernist, is concerned with this modern idea of people losing their identities in the face of the changing, technologicalRead MoreBeing Born Into A Social Class1203 Words   |  5 Pagesequipped to greater the economy is a falsehood. The average American will not jump economic classes, and the stories of those who do are very rare. The media focus on big business, salaries, extravagant celebrities, and multimillion-dollar payoffs implies that this â€Å"rags to riches† society offers the same opportunities to everyone. However the general population will not change their economic status tremendously. The major class divide in American society is between the ultra wealthy and then everyoneRead MoreHenrik Ibsen’ s A Doll’s House1433 Words   |  6 Pagesof the Victorian Era at its worse as Nora Helmers unrealistic marriage falls within her grasps, leading to rebellion. Arthur Miller, on the other hand, sets forth the tragedy of the common man through the tragic hero of Willy Loman and the â€Å"American Dream† in Death of a Salesman (Shmoop Editorial Team 4). In comparison, Nora and Willy follow the ethics society put forth, but in contrast, Nora’s will leads to rebellion, whereas Willy’s dramatizing deprivation leads to conformity. Read More Emerson and Thoreau Represent American Identity1511 Words   |  7 PagesCompare and contrast the way in which Emerson and Thoreau represent American Identity. â€Å"Identity means who a person is, or the qualities of a person or group which make them different from others,† (Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Third Edition). Every individual, group and country has their own identity which makes them different from others and it shows uniqueness of oneself. Reaction against the existing philosophy takes place when there is conflict in interest amongst the philosophers