"The American Dream"

                                      This Is America 

    The American Dream is an inspirational belief in the U.S. that all individuals are enabled to the opportunity of success and upward social status through hard work. Work hard and you’ll get what you want.  But with success and social status comes an influx of wealth.  Nowadays, people strive to have high paying jobs only to be wealthy instead of being passionate about their work.  Materialism is America.  

    Great Gatsby is a perfect example of the American Dream as it shines a spotlight on Gatsby and his luxurious life.  The green light is mentioned frequently in Gatsby, “I glanced seaward--and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock.” (P152) The green light is represented as many things in Gatsby such as wealth, new beginnings, and hope.  That someone from a lower class can achieve the same things as the privileged.    

    Gatsby is known for throwing extravagant parties every weekend at his lavish mansion.  He has it all, “at least once a fortnight a corps of caterers comes down with several hundred feet of canvas and enough colored lights to make a Christmas tree of Gatsby’s enormous garden. On buffet tables, garnished with glistening hors d’oeuvre, spiced baked hams crowded against salads of harlequin designs and pastry pigs and turkeys”(P40). Gatsby’s parties were filled with glamor, wealth and materialism.  Most guests weren’t invited.  They used Gatsby to enjoy his luxury of the American Dream.  

In Star Food by Ethan Canin, Dade is pulled in opposite directions by his mother and father.  Dade's mom wants him to be a dreamer but his father believes in hard work.  Dade's father is also a symbol of the american dream as he tries to push Dade in the direction of success, "for years my father had been trying to teach me competence and industry." (P137)  Dade’s father is a realist. He is a determined worker who tries to find success in everything he does and most of all wants to see Dade achieve. He doesn’t want Dade to end up poor and unhappy. but he doesn’t want Dade to dream either.  

Lastly, Gatsby is a great example of the American dream in the 1920’s, but has the dream changed? It’s become more materialistic, a nation of shopping and buying unnecessary things.  People who strive to have high paying jobs only to be wealthy instead of being passionate about their work.   A survey by market researcher Harris Interactive found “the majority of U.S children were materialistic with 71 percent of people aged between eight and 18 saying they would be happier if they had more money to spend on themselves.”  The American dream is meant to be about more than designer shoes and expensive cars.  Consumer products should not be the pursuit of happiness.  This is why materialism has taken over America and the dream.