Introduction
The American dream is a complex term that implies multiple values, ideologies, and social consciousness concepts. The American dream penetrated many people’s mindsets and became an unattainable aim to which individuals failed to strive. Indeed, this conception was mentioned in many pieces of literary, economic, and political texts, which makes the term significant to scrutinize. It is interesting to note that the perception of the American dream varies among different people, and therefore, there are several definitions of this term. Hence, it is essential to examine the concept of the American dream and analyze its economic, social, and narrative constructs to grasp its accessibility for modern Americans.
Economic Reasons for the American Dream
Over time, the American dream has been interpreted by people differently depending on their experiences and expectations. It is shaped by collective consciousness rather than determined by religious, political, or other beliefs and values. It is vital to understand which qualities the American dream charges to grasp the mythology of this term. For instance, the American dream is rooted in individualism, self-actualization, and independence; these properties became one of the most important terms for those who appreciate the American dream. A severe premise for American people to start dreaming about a better future was the Great Depression of 1929-1931 (Bergeijk). This event became a crucial point for millions of people in America; it caused one of the hugest world economic crises. Although the 1920-s seemed prosperous for the American population with the implementation of technologies and industrialization, the economic collapse happened. For example, many suggested that the government reached its highest peak of prosperity through innovations and continuous development.
Many individuals received career advancement opportunities as the labor market extended and more employees were required. Indeed, there were multiple regressive processes, such as falsifying securities, overproduction, financial machinations, and overall confusion in the labor market. It caused severe decay of the American economy and led to thrilling outcomes; the Great Depression gave birth to unemployment, famine, and poverty. Workers attempted to prove their human rights via public strikes, but there was no governmental aid; the hugest companies went bankrupt and left no chance for ordinary people to continue their everyday lifestyle. Moreover, the Financial Crisis of 2008 became “a world trade collapse” and undermined financial security and confidence (Bergeijk 11). Therefore, creating the American dream became a specific relief for people who experienced the abovementioned events.
The Social Construct of the American Dream
The term was first mentioned in the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This document claimed people possess liberty, happiness, and freedom, which became the basis for the American dream conception. As mentioned before, the American dream is based on concepts of self-actualization, independence, and individualism. It has specific reasons; for instance, people wanted to realize themselves free of economic shifts and downfalls. There was a need to protect oneself from sudden dismissal and, thus, to be independent of companies or organizations. Individualism was an opportunity to create self-made life and rely on freedom of political, economic, and social choices.
Moreover, these conceptions are linked to overall independence, which penetrated the shared social consciousness after the Great Depression. Individuals desire to create a perfect life and ensure their future is determined in a positive key. Accordingly, the American dream suggests that individuals have perfect houses, families, and friends and perceive high social status. It became a particular driver for people to earn more, contributing to the capitalist system’s development.
American Dream in Literature
Numerous writers witnessed the events of 1929-1931, which forced them to capture their memories. For example, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece ‘The Great Gatsby’ denotes social and mental issues of the American dream construct (Verma 63). It explores the theme of dreaming and failing people’s expectations, linking back to the vulnerability of the American dream. Jay Gatsby is a ‘perfect example of an American dreamer’; intentionally, Fitzgerald makes his dream break, showing the obsoleteness of financial views (Verma 62). The author narrates the American dream as a highly materialistic concept requiring people to show off their social status, possessions, and financial well-being. Indeed, Fitzgerald criticizes it for depriving people of human happiness, which is impossible to achieve through numerous material possessions.
Furthermore, it is essential to mention other texts to understand the definition of the American dream. James Truslow Adams, an American writer, proclaimed the following idea in The Epic of America: he denoted that the dream is a mechanism that provides people with happiness (Verma 63). Moreover, for Adams, the dream is a specific vehicle generated to improve individuals’ well-being and guarantee them a content life. Accordingly, he said that the American dream is an opportunity for every person to become independent, successful, and capable (Verma 63). It is interesting to note that Adams, like many writers of consequent depressive events, endowed the dream with hopes for a better future. Thinking about a prosperous future was a particular placebo for those who suffered traumatic episodes of the Great Depression. Indeed, it is essential to note that Adams emphasized mental and personal fulfillment rather than material well-being. For the author, the individual free of class and financial prejudices is more pleased than people who blindly believe in the idea of wealth.
Another author, Jim Cullen, in his work, specified the importance of individual advancement and prosperity. He explains why expansive pools of Americans think that money is a key to happiness – financial prosperity is an uncomplicated possession that seems to fulfill inner insufficiencies (Rana). The author explains: “dream is typically understood in terms of economic and/or social advancement” (Rana 10). Hence, the essentials of the American dream are united by the limitless desire for personal freedom, self-reliance, and confidence. It becomes apparent when compared to the narratives of the Great Depression; people were exhausted by constant invasion into their lives. Accordingly, many individuals depended on external circumstances and wanted to finish with them.
Another literary work by Judith Ortiz Cofer depicts American citizens’ stereotypical vision of Latin inhabitants. ‘The myth of the Latin woman: I just met a girl named Maria’ narrates the author feeling uncomfortable and sometimes anxious. Furthermore, her experience as a Latina woman was humiliating; she stated that every time she visited American teenagers’ parties, it was embarrassing to wear clothes different from other people’s (Cofer 371). American dressing style reminded the author of wearing “everything at once” – multiple jewelry and accessories (Cofer 372). In her culture, showing off was inappropriate, and Cofer reported feeling confused about the American style. Cofer claims about sexual harassment, which Hispanic women have to suffer; at the workplace, bosses allowed themselves to speak with Latina women with “sexual innuendo” (Cofer 372). Another struggle happened to the author when an American woman mistook her for a waitress. It shows how stereotypical the representation of Latina females is; it can be offensive and improper.
Although the American dream has become a landmark for many American citizens, the life of multiple inhabitants in the United States can be complicated. Experiences connected by burdens of living unite people and provide valuable insight into private life. For example, neighborhoods determine the life path of newborn children; nearly 40 percent of Brownsville citizens live “below the poverty rate” (Garsd para 4). The considerable gap between the poor and the rich detects who will live better; people who happen to be born into low-income families have to survive. Many individuals suffered from “AIDS and crack cocaine epidemics” during childhood, attempting to approach a more affluent life (Garsd para 6). The level of income, social status, and domestic conditions determine happiness. The American dream united millions of Americans over the United States; however, it endlessly remained a dream for many individuals.
Conclusion
Overall, the concept of the American dream is complicated; it is determined and interpreted differently depending on individuals. The American dream is derived from harsh social and economic experiences after the Great Depression and the Financial Crisis. The desire for independence, individualism, and confidence in the future underlies the concept of the American dream. Indeed, linking back to the examined issue, it becomes apparent that accessibility to the American dream is predetermined by domestic conditions, social status, and income. There are fewer opportunities to find oneself in the perfect house with numerous financial possessions if the conditions do not allow it. Therefore, many American citizens strive for a better life in pursuit of the American dream; indeed, the desire remains unattainable for many individuals.
Works Cited
Bergeijk, Peter. Deglobalization 2.0: Trade and Openness During the Great Depression and the Great Recession. Cheltenham, United Kingdom, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019.
Cofer, Judith. The Myth of the Latin Woman: I just Met a Girl Named Maria. London: The Longman Reader, 2007.
Garsd, Jasmine. “The American Dream: One Block Can Make All the Difference.” NPR.org, 2018, Web.
Rana, Purna Kumar. Failure of American Dream in Christina Henriquez’s The Book of Unknown Americans. 2020. Tribhuvan University, Master’s thesis. ELibrary, Web.
Verma, Renuka. “The Evolving American Dream and the Dilemma of Choices in the Select Works of Mitch Albom.” Journal of Rajasthan Association for Studies in English, vol. 15, no. 1, 2019, pp. 62-70. ResearchGate, Web.