The Death of the American Dream -- full oral
Uploaded by arianHelpsU on Aug 21, 2001
Copyright Arian DHandout this first...The America Dream holds a greater significance than that of higher wages or greater motorcars. It signifies the inner dream that all men aspire to regardless of how trivial it may seem.
The U.S.A... Bound by its motto as being a free-for-all nation; it has been labelled since the dawn of its colonial era as being a land of opportunity- giving us the understanding of the real "American Dream".
In the United States' Declaration of Independence the founding fathers stated: "…held certain truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."
Through the course of change in the world- either through prosperity, capitalism or greed- people have lost focus with the real meaning of 'the American dream'. It is no longer the gamely aspirations of living life to the fullest, providing a better life for yourself and or others; instead, a pursuit for those materialistic aspects in life.
American Literae Thomas Wolfe said, "… to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him."
This is the essence of the pure idealistic approach one should take towards life and indeed the American dream.
The death of the American DreamThrough the narrator's dealings with high society, Nick Carraway shows how modern values have transformed the American Dream's pure ideals into a scheme for materialistic power and further, how the world of high society lacks any sense of morals or consequence.
The novel represents the American Dream within two facets; with it once being a pure ideal, but now false and corrupted hope that is forever lost to the American people.
Gatsby at an early age aspired to greater things; he wanted to 'better' himself. This is a true representative of the former 'dream'.
"Jimmy was bound to get ahead. He always had some resolves like this or something. Do you notice what he's got about improving his mind? He was always great for that." (Pg. 175)
"With his hands in his pockets… out to determine what share was his of our local heavens." While Nick continues to watch Gatsby's comments: "-he [Gatsby] stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I...