Sources

Essay by kchibHigh School, 10th gradeB, April 2004

download word file, 3 pages 5.0

Having credible sources that help strengthen an argument in a paper is a must. The audience can not believe an argument if they do not see that other reliable sources either agree or disagree with your claim. These quotes help support my claim that you can achieve your own American dream if you choose to do it for yourself and no one else.

The first relevant quote is from F. Scott Fitzgerald's book The Great Gatsby. One of the main characters, Jay Gatsby, had grown up to be a very respectable and wealthy man even though he had come from a humble background. The financial success of Gatsby implies that he is well aware of the American Dream. Fitzgerald suggests that Gatsby understands the meaning of his accomplishments and the ways used to achieve his success - "Out of the corner of his eye Gatsby saw that the blocks of the sidewalk really formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees - he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder" (117).

The Dream offers Gatsby the chance to "suck on the pap of life," to experience completely and wholly, to ingest and therefore become a part of the "incomparable milk of wonder." But in order to experience such fantastic surprises, he must climb to a concealed place, isolated and alienated from the rest of society, completely alone. This is significant because it shows the reader's what not to do while pursuing the American Dream. Gatsby is not enjoying his accomplishments instead he is calculating, and conniving plans to build up wealth and power.

The poem America by Claude McKay, allows the readers to understand...