Examples Of The American Dream example essay topic

The American Dream in American Literature Working hard is the key to success. This struggle for success is most commonly called the "American Dream". The aspect of the American Dream has been around forever and is often the underlying theme in many pieces of American literature. The theme of the American is especially presented in Of Mice and Men written by John Steinbeck, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Two Kinds writer by Amy Tan, and in "Sophistication" by Sherwood Anderson. The theme of the American Dream is presented in Of Mice and Men.

The theme is particularly expressed through and around the characters of George and Lennie. Both of these characters have a belief, a dream of owning their own little place to call their own, or as George would say "We " re gonna have a little place and a couple of acres an's ome cows and some pigs... ". (Steinbeck, 14) This dream is mostly expressed through Lennie but George is the one who supports Lennie. Lennie is the most dedicated to the dream.

This dedication is shown when he said "An' live off the fatta the lan". (Steinbeck, 14) This proven b critics like Kevin Attell who said "This is the kind of life that George and Lennie dream of living". (Attell) Also, the theme of the American Dream is presented in Of Mice and Men through the character of Candy. Candy is an old farm hand who is becoming of not much use around the farm anymore.

Candy knows that desperate times call for desperate measures so he goes in on George and Lennie's plan to buy a little farm. This is shown when candy says "It " ll be our own place". (Steinbeck, 60) Candy shows great spirit throughout the book and really shows off the good aspects of the American Dream. It is only until the end of the book until the plan to go away starts to be questioned. He starts saying questions like "You an' me can get that little place cant we, George?" (Steinbeck, 94) This denial was once again recognized my Kevin Attell, who said "George and Lennie's dream is specifically necessitated by and responds to the limitations played on their lives". (Attell) By using Candy as a character striving for the American Dream, the fact that the dream is attainable to all is presented.

Furthermore, through the character of Curley's wife, the theme of the Dream is presented. The fact that Curley's wife hates her life makes a huge contrast between her bad life and the possibilities associated with the American Dream. This contrast is shown in the line "Coulda' been in the movies an' had nice clothes". (Steinbeck, 89) Curley's wife is presents the epitome of a person striving for the American Dream. She often says things like "I could a made something of myself... maybe I will yet". (Steinbeck, 88) By Steinbeck using this character, he intended to show the difference between a "fake" yearning for the dream and a true whole-hearted desire for it.

Curley's wife would give anything to be successful in the future. This view is also seen by Kevin Attell who said " To be sure, it is about dreaming of the future... ". (Attell) The opinion from this critic show that this opinion or view is also seen by others who read this book. In perspective, The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald also has many examples of the American Dream.

The main character, Gatsby, shows by far the most want for something better in his life. Gatsby often shows this yearning. For example, when he said "You should live in California", he was inferring that a better life awaits in California. (Fitzgerald, 18) Growing up, Gatsby had all that he needed, but from an early age he showed signs of wanting more in life. As he expressed this hi's father would remind him that he was very fortunate by saying "Just remember that all of the people in the world haven't had all of the advantages that you " ve had".

(Fitzgerald, 5) critics have also seemed to have seen the dream presented in Fitzgerald's writing. In particular, Kenneth Eble has seen in it, saying "The American Dream comes together in The Great Gatsby". (Eble) Also, the character of Daisy is and example of the American Dream. This is shown by Daisy yearning for something better in her life.

This is shown when she says "Sophisticated, God I'm so sophisticated". (Fitzgerald, 22) Daisy's dream is to move to Hollywood and become a famous movie star. Daisy also recognizes the other characters' dreams when she said "Gatsby bought that house so that he would be just across the bay". (Fitzgerald, 83) She recognizes this in the book and this is what brings Daisy and Gatsby together by the end of the book. This recognition of the dream is due to the big effect that it has on Nick, the narrator of the story.

Without this influence, many themes of the dream in the book would not be expressed so deeply. Kenneth Eble realized this also when he said so strong is Nick's reaction to the dream". (Eble) This is how the dream is expressed through the character of Daisy. Fitzgerald also uses the characters of Tom and Nick to present the dream. Tom's dream is corrupt is still an adequate dream none-the-less. Nick is fine with himself unlike Tom.

Nick often realizes other people's dreams in the novel and points them out. He does this once by saying "That's where all his money comes from (bootlegging)". (Fitzgerald, 57) When Nick says this he is referring to Gatsby becoming rich off bootlegging, of the illegal selling of alcohol due to prohibition. Nick also refers to Gatsby as a rich man, saying "It was Gatsby's mansion". (Fitzgerald.

9) Tom, on the other hand, goes strictly for money and good looks. He married Daisy for her good looks after he had already accomplished the money part. He thought that money would bring him happiness and he was wrong. Nick's point of view on Tom is best described in the comment made by Kenneth Eble.

Eble said "Nick sees him as a person of some undefined consequences". (Eble) The short story Two Kinds by Amy Tan also shows prime examples of the American dream in action. The main character, Jing-Mei, is struggling to see her mothers dream for her. She wants Jing-Mei to become a piano prodigy. This is shown by Tan saying "Of course you can be prodigy, too".

(Tan, 132) The mother persists by saying " you can be best anything". (Tan, 132) Amy Tan really pushes the concept of the dream throughout the story. She focuses on mainly the positive aspects of the dream and tries to steer clear of the negative aspects. The reason that this conflict is happening is because the daughter is not feeling the same thing as the mother is and they do not agree with one another. One critic proves the mother right by saying "Jing-Mei could be the girl on the television". (Piedmont-mart on) Two Kinds is truly a great piece of American literature that uses its characters as prime examples of the American Dream.

Finally, "Sophistication" by Sherwood Anderson is an example of the integration of the American Dream into American Literature. This Dream is expressed as the main character says that " I'm going to be a big man". (Anderson, 572) By using this, Anderson was trying to express his idea by using the character to say "I've been reading books and I've been thinking, I'm going to try to amount to something in life". (Anderson) Throughout this short story, the aspect of wandering and dreaming is a very big topic. Anderson did a great job in expressing this through the main character, who just happened to be hoping and dreaming himself.

Critics would say that "The shared feeling, indeed, is of seeking and wondering". (Walcutt) This feeling that is expressed in "Sophistication" is definitely a prime example of the American Dream. Throughout these stories and novels, the authors use characters as examples of the American Dream. By using these accounts of characters' experiences, it helps us to relate to and understand the aspect of this "Dream".

It helps us, as a reader, to visualize and think about how this dream has and will affect us and others around us. These authors, along with their works, pave a path for us in our dreaming and believing today and for years to come. Anderson, Sherwood. "Sophistication". Prentice Hall Literature: The American Experience. 4th Ed.

Upper Saddle River: Prentice, 1996.570-576 Attell, Kevin. "An Overview of Of Mice and Men in Exploring novels, Gale Group Databases. Father Ryan High School Library, Nashville 6 May 2004 web Kenneth. "F. Scott Fitzgerald. Chap 5, Sec 3. The Great Gatsby" in Twayne's United States Authors Series Online. New York: GK Hall, 1999.

Literature Resource Center. Gale Group Database. Father Ryan High School Library, Nashville TN. 6 May 2004 Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. Chatham: Wordsworth, 1993 Piedmont-Marton, Elizabeth.

Liz. Critical essay on "Two Kinds". Short Stories for Students. Ed. Kathleen Wilson. Vol. 9.

Detroit: Gale, 2000.293-296 Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin Books, 1993 Tan, Amy. "Two Kinds". The Joy Luck Club.

New York: Putnam, 1989.132-144 Walcutt, Charles Child. :" Sherwood Anderson: Impressionism and the buried life". The Sewanee Review. 60.1 (1952). 28-47. Excerpted and reprinted in Short Stories for Students.

Ed. Kathleen Wilson. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 2000.293-296.