What is the American Dream? Uses different books to support thesis, "to kill a mockingbird" "of mice & men" ect...

Essay by PinkKitten05High School, 10th gradeA+, November 2003

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The "American Dream"

The American Dream is a widespread idea. Depending on whose dream it is, it can also have many different definitions. The United States was founded on the idea of individual worth, and the ability of people being able to make their own choices to affect their own destiny. Being in a country which allows one to do these things is a privilege in and of itself. Culture and one's upbringing will affect their idea of the "American Dream". Most everyone is bound to have a different idea because of their unique personality.

Although all people can never have the exact same idea for the American Dream, there would be some definite similarities between all opinions. Living in a country that allows everyone to become anything they want to be, if they are willing to work to achieve it, is a very common dream.

Being happy, healthy, and wealthy is another widely known dream. In older movies a very typical sort of "American Dream" is shown. A big house, a loving spouse, two children, a dog, good jobs, plenty of money, a happy family, and of course the white picket fence. For the characters portrayed, these are the things that are important to them.

In Of Mice and Men, George and Lenny have a big plan of how their dream will look like. "'Well,' said George, 'we'll have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit hutch and chickens. And when it rains in the winter, we'll just say the hell with goin' to work, and we'll build up a fire in the stove and set around it an' listen to the rain comin' down on the roof...'" (14-15). "We could live offa the fatta the lan'." (57). These two men only...