the american dream and social and family life
《了不起的盖茨比》中的美国梦 the American dream in The Great Gatsby
《了不起的盖茨比》中所折射出的美国梦摘要《了不起的盖茨比》是菲茨杰拉德的一部名著。
作者通过描写盖茨比个人的困境与失败展现了那个时代的悲剧。
在小说中，盖茨比想要通过物质上的成功来赢得爱情,然而，他的梦想是建立于幻想，而不是现实，这是注定要失败的。
因为盖茨比是美国梦的代表，从某种意义上说,盖茨比的失败也预示了美国梦本身的破灭。
本论文首先介绍了作者与小说的主要情节，接着讲述了美国梦的根源与本质。
第三部分分析了盖茨比对财富梦及爱情梦的追求。
最后分析了盖茨比美国梦破碎的原因以及必然性。
关键词：美国梦；金钱；爱情；破灭AbstractThe Great Gatsby is on e of Fitzgerald’s masterpieces. The author presented the tragedy of that age by describing Gatsby’s personal dilemma and failure. In this novel, Gatsby wants to win love through material success. However, his dream is based on illusion rather than reality, which is doomed to fail. Gatsby is the representative of the American dream. In some senses, Gatsby’s failure also predicts the shattering of the American dream itself.This paper begins with an introduction about the author and the brief plot of the novel The Great Gatsby. Then it tells the origin and the essence of the American dream. After that, it gives an analysis of Gatsby’s pursuit of fortune and love dream. Finally, the paper points out the inevitable disillusion of Gatsby’s American dream and presents the factors of the tragedy.Keywords: the American dream; fortune; love; disillusionContents1. Introduction (1)2. The American Dream (2)2.1The Origin of the American Dream and its Development (3)2.2The essence of the American Dream and its Historical Background (4)3. The American Dream Reflected in Gatsby (5)3.1 Gatsby’s Pursuit of Fortune Dream (5)3.2 Gatsby’s Pursuit of Love Dream (6)4. D isillusion of Gatsby’s American Dream (7)4.1Gatsby’s American Dream and His Illegal Activities (8)4.2Gatsby’s American Dream and the Social Environment (9)4.3Gatsby’s American Dream and H is Innocence (10)5. Conclusion (11)References (13)1. IntroductionF. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) is one of the twentieth century’s greatest writers, whose works were the samples of the Jazz Age. He is widely regarded as the literary spokesman of the “Jazz Age”—an age between the end of the First World War and the outbreak of the Great Depression. In many ways, he expressed in his stories the disillusionment of the young generation with “the American dr eam”.Fitzgerald is also considered a member of the “Lost Generation” of the 1920s. He was born into a middle-class family in St. Paul, Minnesota in the American Midwest. In his short life, Fitzgerald experienced overnight fame and wealth in 1920s but suffered a lot in the 1930s. His first novel—This Side of Paradise was published in 1920 and became a best-seller, through which he got fame and commercial success. With a series of success of his writing, Fitzgerald had a high quality of life. In 1925, Fitzgerald managed to complete The Great Gatsby. This book brought him a critical comment and commercial failure. After that, with the pain of his personal life and the disappearance of the writing inspiration, he never wrote a well-known book any more. In 1940, he died of a heart attack when he was only forty-four.Different from other American writers who also had the American dream as the subject of their works, Fitzgerald impressed his readers from a new perspective.His works depicted the 1920s of America, the period of the high growth of America. With the richness of material, people’s spiritual life was corrupted, especially the life of the upper class. “Many critics have seen Fitzgerald’s artistic achievement in terms of his ability to depict the America n society, its history and its people.”(Tang Sooping, 1992:7)The Great Gatsby is a story told by Nick, a man from the Mid-West, going to New York to do business. He heard about his neighbor, a mysterious man called Jay Gatsby, who always held fabulous parties at his house. Gatsby was born in a poor family in the Middle West. During the time of serving in the army, Gatsby fell in love with Daisy, a wealthy girl. However, he was too poor to marryher. When the First World War broke out, Gatsby had to devote himself to the army. Daisy gave up waiting for him and got married with a rich young man Tom Buchanan. However, Daisy’s marriage was not that happy because Tom has betrayed their marriage. He had a mistress after their daughter was born. All these things inspired Gatsby’s desire to get married with Daisy. In order to win back his lost love, it took Gatsby just a few years to make a fortune through illegal business. He bought a mansion located on the opposite side of Daisy’s house with a river lying in between. Gatsby held parties every weekend, hoping that one day Daisy would come but she did not turn up even once. With the help of Nick, the cousin of Daisy, Gatsby met Daisy again five years after they broke away from each other. But now the lady in front of him was no longer the ideal lover in his dream. Instead, she became a selfish and vulgar woman. She refused to give up Tom but at the same time she did not refuse Gatsby.One day, Daisy drove Gatsby’s car after drinking and caused an accid ent in which T om’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson was killed. In order to protect Daisy, Gatsby decided to assume the responsibility. Finally Gatsby was shot by Myrtle’s husband. Only Gatsby’s poor father and Nick attended the funeral. Daisy did not feel any sadness and was on trip with Tom to Europe at that time.2. The American Dream and its Historical BackgroundThe American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals which includes freedom, the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. The term American Dream was first used by James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America. He states, “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature ofwhich they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.” (Adams,1931: 214)It means that everyone, no matter what class he is in, can be successful through his own efforts. This ideology is based on the principle that one should be responsible for himself and seize every opportunity to gain success with courage and through hard work.The American dream has its own particular history background. Since Columbus found “the new continent”, the Europeans went to America for exploitation and colonialism. People in Europe got many kinds of harsh sufferings. They moved to the North American continent because they wanted to get rid of the sufferings in Europe, to be rich, and put into practice their values and philosophies of life. They wanted to escape the religious persecution and rebuild the religious belief.Going to America gave them the aspiration of freedom, the opportunity to be rich. Besides, many unthinkable things in the Old World may turn into reality in this piece of land. From the view of Xing Yan(Xing Yan, 2004:49), “Opportunity follows one after another, and almost everyone will cause a national madness, the United States becomes a country of ‘milk and honey’. Therefore, a large number of people with an American dream swarmed here.”2.1 The Origin of the American Dream and its Development“The American Dream arose in the colonial period and developed in the nineteenth century, based on the assumption of each person, no matter what his origin was, could succeed in changing their social positions and making their dreams come true through their own efforts, and getting new, free and better life. It is what is often referred to as ‘Am erican dream’. ” (Zhao Hongwei, 2003: 2) The American dream is both a romantic expectation and a belief that with toil and devotion people will achieve what their desire. The American dream at its early stage was a Puritan desire for the freedom in religion and creation. However, it becomes broader in meaning along with the expansion to the American West. It includes the pursuit of happiness, the goal to be successful incareer, love and wealth. After the Civil War, the American dream has even more concrete meanings as people strongly believe that with hard work, they can create miracles such as from poor to rich.2.2 The essence of the American DreamAs for the American Dream, it is a belief that a better life could be achieved through hard work and strives. There are several notions behind the American Dream—equal opportunities provided for everyone; the success based on one’s own talents and efforts, and equal opportunity to achieve success.The dream has its constant element, but is ever-changing with the people and with the times. The American dream is seen as one for a better and richer life for everyone, a dream of having opportunities in terms of one’s ability. According to Li Hongwen (黎红雯, 2002:15), “For some, the American dream is a chance to build a successful business and become a millionaire. For others, the American dream is from the log cabin to the White House. For still other people, the American dream is the ladder from the rags to the riches. ”From Li’s view, people may have their own dreams, of which some are small ambitions and others could be great ones.For young students today, the dream might include getting higher education and devoting oneself to helping others. For the middle-aged people today, the dream may include a very high-paying job which one could retire at an early age and have a more satisfying lifestyle. “Everyone had a different idea for his or her American Dream; everyone’s American Dream may be t otally different from each other; that is what makes them all individuals. The dream may differ in that some people wanted to work hard and had financial success, or others might just want to have enough food and income to survive, and make their life simple, healthy and happy. ” (邓年刚，潭素钦, 1997:15)Almost every American has his own American Dream. Almost every American including immigrants and poor people has his desire for a better life. Such a life enables him to own a big house, have much money, delicious food and luxury cars, and enjoy freedom as well. Nomatter what his origin is, he could succeed in through his own efforts. With the success, he is able to get access to higher social position and better life.3. The American Dream Reflected in GatsbyIn the novel, Gatsby’s Amer ican dream was to win daisy’s love, and he spared no effort to do everything to regain the love of Daisy. In order to make his American Dream come true, Gatsby got money by doing illegal trade of alcohol. Also, in the pursuit of his love, he did whatever Daisy asked him to do even at the sacrifice of his precious life.3.1 Gatsby’s Pursuit of Fortune DreamOne part of Gatsby’s dream was to get rich. Gatsby was a man who lived in the lower class, he dreamed for getting recognition, he dreamed for social status, and the true love. But to improve his social status and gain recognition, he was in bad need of money. In his youth, he harbored the innocent wish to be successful by hard work. In order to succeed, he worked tirelessly to do many things and worked out a schedule, which bears the similarity of that of Benjamin Franklin. Gatsby’s schedule displayed his imagination or illusion of his own future, through which a link between his dream and the American dream can be perceived. Gatsby dreamed of becoming a great man. Even when he was a boy, he had his aspirations. He was not content with things as they are and he just wanted to work hard to change the situation.He forced him to get up early in the morning at 6:00 and began to study electricity at 7:15, worked from 8:30A.M. to 4:30 P.M.. “study needed inventions” (Fitzgerald,1993:176) in the evening. He also has a wonderful “general resolves”,(Fitzgerald ,1993:174) which set strict demands on himself, such as “no wasting time，no smoking, read one important book or magazine per week and save $500 per week” .(Fitzgerald, 1993: 174)In the novel, Gatsby was born in a poor family in the Midwest Court. On the contrary, Daisy, the girl that he loved always lived a luxuriant life since she wasborn, so it was her habit to live a life with high quality. To Daisy, it was hard to imagine how she could stand a difficult life without money. But Gatsby was just a poor soldier. If he had not pretended to be a man with great wealth to win Daisy’s love, Daisy would not have fallen in love with him at all five years ago. In Gatsby’s view, he believed money could buy him love and happiness. With such thought in mind, he did everything in order to make money. In just a few years, through illegal trade of alcohol and other dishonest businesses, he made a fortune.A poor young man turned into someone with wealth. Gatsby’s success in fortune was great.To show off his wealth, Gatsby built a house in the old aristocratic style. In the huge and brilliant house, Gatsby would hold fabulous parties at the weekend, which people of status would be happy to attend. They admired his property and wanted to be friends of him.It may seem as if Gatsby had made his fortune dream come true. However, he never succeeded in a real sense through his own hard work, courage, or his strong resolution. He just became rich by conducting illegal businesses, which defied the essence of the American dream.3.2 Gatsby’s Pursuit of Love DreamAnother part of Gatsby’s dream is his dream of love. When he was a soldier in the Army, he fell in love with a rich girl Daisy. But he understood that he was not able to marry such a girl from a wealthy family and of higher social status. Daisy married Tom who had money and status though she did not love the man at all. Gatsby never stopped his love for Daisy; instead, he could not help recalling her, his first love.The most significant to Gatsby was to repeat the past with Daisy day and night and to get the lost pure love. As soon as he had money, Gatsby started to be in chase of his love to repeat the past. To fulfill his love dream, the first thing he did was to buy a luxurious house in front of Daisy’s house across the bay. Then he held parties every weekend night to draw Daisy’s attention. He believed that Daisy may come over to his mansion one day. However, Daisy never turned up. So Gatsby asked Nick to invite Daisy to his house for a tea. At last he had achance to express his love to Daisy and got Daisy back from Tom.In the novel, his love to Daisy is true and pure. When he saw Daisy again, he was even speechless. After Gatsby reappeared with his wealth and his loyal love for her, she seemed to be touched and tried to resume her relationship with him, without any guilt to her husband. For Daisy, what she really wanted was not a romantic lover with no status, but a man who could give her a comfortable life and a respected social standing.Gatsby did not change his mind of marrying Daisy even when he became an adult. Daisy was the first and the only woman whom he loved in his life. His love for Daisy kept him away from other women and “he would never so much as look at a friend’s wife.”(Fitzgerald, 1993:47) That’s the reason why “no girls would swoon backward on Gatsby at his parties.” (Fitzgerald, 1993:33) Gatsby had been so devoted to her. He loved her so much that he was simply blind of her essential defect—Daisy gave more concern to status and luxury life..Gatsby’s dream of love was closely associated with his dream of money. He believed that the money could help him get everything, but he did not regard the pursuit of money as the ultimate goal. The reason that he was after money was just for his love dream. The dream of being rich and the dream of winning the love of Daisy are integrated. The former is a means and the latter is his ultimate goal, without which the former may never become true. Without money Gatsby and Daisy could never have the opportunity to rekindle old dreams. With a lot of money, Gatsby would be more confident in his pursuit of his love dream.4. Disillusion of Gatsby’s American DreamJay Gatsby, the embodiment of the American dream，was doomed to fail because the American political ideals contradicted the actual existing social system．In the novel, Fitzgerald described and contrasted the difference between East and West Egg, showed the separation between the upper class and the lower class, Gatsby spent his whole life making money and winning status so that hecould win Daisy back. That’s what motivated him to move to West Egg, and made money by any means. After that, he held extravagant parties every weekend, did what Daisy asked him to. Gatsby’s success in fortune was great. So was his strong will for love and to achieve his life goal. He finally became the upper class’s deputy. No matter how wonderful his parties were, he could not change his poor family background.Gatsby did not know clearly what kind of girl Daisy was. What Daisy wanted was not love but a guarantee of comfort and wealth in life. Owing to his unrealistic dream, Gatsby ended up with tragedy. As for Gatsby’s death, it may seem that he deserved the punishment for what he did. Yet he sacrificed himself for Daisy who did not even turn up at his funeral. And the saddest thing was that Daisy, did not feel any regret o r sorrow for Gatsby’s death, she went traveling with his husband Tom. There was nothing left for Gatsby. All the things he got have gone with his death, including his wealth and love. “Daisy goes together with her husband to another city happily while Gatsby is murdered mistakenly, improves that all his great characterize means nothing. In other words, Gatsby’s final American Dream, which is to win Daisy, is totally a failure.” (杨慧群, 2002:3)The shattering of his dream of love is a reflection of the breaking of American dream. Owing to his unrealistic dream, Gatsby ended up with tragedy.Living in that age, Gatsby had in his mind the value orientation. He thought the American dream embodied the personal success or self-fulfillment for those hard-working people. His idea of success was measured by money, which was misleading. In his view, success was the glamour brought about by huge wealth. The American dream in his time was somewhat hollow for people were mainly after money. In this sense, Gatsby’s dream, just as the American dream, is just an illusion4.1 Gatsby’s American Dream and His Illegal ActivitiesAmerican dream is essentially a spirit to inspire people to make progress and it has a positive meaning. In 1920s, after the World War I, the American dream were decadent, corrupt, and the original hard work, frugality, temperance andother values were weak. America society came into the stage of monopoly capitalism. The American society developed rapidly with its economy booming. As Americans became money worshippers, they became greedy. Money was the only goal which they were striving for. So 1920s was a time without any belief, a time for lost generation, and a time of tragedies.“America was going on the greatest, gaudiest spree in history and there was going to be plenty to tell about it. The whole golden boom was in the air—its splendid generosities, its outrageous corruptions and the tortuous death struggle of the old America in prohibition. In such a debauched social context, what the traditional American dream advocated to strive for success through hard work turned out to be futile. Gatsby was greatly influenced by the instruction of the traditional dream.”(陈卓, 2009:143)Yet, no matter how hard he worked to gain material success, Gatsby gained wealth through dishonest conduct. He involved himself in the illegal trade of wine, through which he made his fortune. In this sense, he did not follow the doctrines of American dream. He made his way into a world where nothing is more important than money, where moral integrity is sacrificed.Fitzgerald presented before his readers the disillusion of American dream, which is seen as the synonym for money. With money as an important ingredient of the dream, it is quite natural that people may become greedy and crazy for money. The novel—The Great Gatsby may seem to be shallow with much description of parties and jazz in 1920s. However, by probing into the novel, it can be seen that the story is a social commentary on the corruption and the disillusive effect of materialism on various people. Gatsby is a typical example who turned from rug into riches with corrupted morality. But money was not his final goal. His final goal was to win the love of Daisy with his wealth.4. 2 Gatsby’s American Dream and the Social EnvironmentThe darkness and emptiness of the capitalist society account for the shattering of Gatsby’s American dream. When Gatsby was serving in the army,Daisy, the girl whom he loved, promised to wait for him till he made his fortune so that they could be married. But when Gatsby came back, Daisy had married Tom Buchanan, a millionaire, whom she did not have an affection. Gatsby was seriously hurt and decided to win back his love.Gatsby’s motive to make a fortune was driven by his attempt to get a step closer to Daisy again. Gatsby believed that if he wanted to win Daisy’s heart, he needed to be more affluent in wealth and more successful than Tom.Tom Buchanan, a representative of the solid wealthy class，was corrupt，but not weak. He would not allow his authority to be challenged．In the eyes of Tom and Daisy, no matter how much money or power Gatsby may possess, he was still “nobody from nowhere” because he has “no comfortable family standing behind him.” (Fitzgerald, 1993:95) The competition between Tom and Gatsby was not only a battle between rivals for love, but also a battle between representatives of the two different social classes.In the novel, the difference between East and West Egg can be perceived as a dividing line between the upper and the lower class, the four geographical locations in the novel ranging from East and West Egg to New York City fit a special theme or a typical character. West Egg lived people like Gatsby, who were indulged in extravagant life. They were representatives of the newly emerged rich alongside the established aristocracy of the 1920s. East Egg was the place for people such as the Buchanan, who were enjoying great wealth and high status as well. They were the symbol of the old establishment and aristocracy with ongoing dominance in American society. Gatsby’s romantic idealism does not fit in with those in East Egg. He tried hard to climb up the social ladder but he could not get himself fit in or really accepted due to his shabby background. In such a society, it was rather hard for Gatsby, a man from East Egg to melt himself with those symbolizing the old establishment and the old aristocracy. From this perspective, his American dream in the pursuit of love was hard to come true. 4.3 Gatsby’s American Dream and His InnocenceThe disillusion of Gatsby’s American dream may be related to his personalfactor. Gatsby’s love for Daisy was to the extent of obsession. It was really touching, but he chose the wrong person to love for. In his heart, Daisy was beautiful and innocent, and she represented all the merits in the upper class of America. Gatsby had in his mind the perfect image of Daisy, and treated her as the avatar of dream. However, Daisy was not the perfect girl he imagined. Born in a rich family, Daisy was used to the extravagant life. Even “her voice is full of money”.(Fitzgerald, 1993: 119) In the eyes of Daisy, love, when confronted with money, retreated to an inferior position. She believed in materialism and wanted to live in comfort. However, out of his innocence, Gatsby failed to see through her even upon his death. In addition, he did not see clearly the gap between Daisy and him—the status or the two different classes. He was naïve enough to believe that with his effort, he could be materially rich and hence he could gain status afterwards. He was naive enough to believe that with wealth and status, he was able to make his American dream of love come true.His life ended up in tragedy which had it root in his blind pursuit of love and fantasy. Besides, the lack of clear understanding of the upper middle class society was factor for the shattering of his dream. Though he became rich, it was unlikely that he would get access to the upper society.5. ConclusionFitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is a significant novel in the history of the American literature．It is the mirror of an era, the Jazz Age. People of that time tend to believe in wealth, which corrupts the original belief of American Dream. They consider money as a simple method and a tool o n one’s way to success. Gatsby is just the miniature of the American society of that age reflecting the distortion of the American dream itself. Gatsby works hard for his dream and is ruined by his dream. It is his American Dream that makes him succeed, be destroyed and died pathetically in the end. Therefore, Gatsby’s tragedy is related to that age he was in, and Gatsby’s traged y also indicates the shattering of the American dream. American Dream affects generations of Americans. No matterhow it changes, its theme is the pursuit of freedom, equality, the realization of one’s own dream, and a high quality life.The Great Gatsby criticizes the society in which people are after money and low in morality. By taking a close look at the novel, Gatsby’s failure in the pursuit of his dream arises from mainly three factors. Firstly, Gatsby gained wealth from doing illegal businesses. Secondly, he naively thought he could enter the upper class in a society where equality between people was hard to realize. Finally, he was so innocent as to love a wrong person who was just selfish, and money-worshipping. In the corrupted American society at that time, Gatsby would not be able to make his dream come true since he would not be accepted by the upper society despite that he possessed great wealth. With no recognition by the upper society, he would not be able to win Daisy back. To a great extent, his failure in his pursuit of love dream is a sign of the shattering or the failure of the American dream.Reference[1] Adams, J.T. The Epic of America. New York: Greenwood Press, 1931.[2] Fitzgerald, F. S. The Great Gatsby. Ware: Wordsworth Editions Limited, 1993.[3]Tang soo ping. York Notes on the Great Gatsby. York: Longman York Press, 1992.[4]Xing Yan. An Outline of American Literature. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 2004.[5]Zhao Hongwei. Disillusionment of Gatsby’s“American Dream” From the Perspective of Society--Analysis of “The Great Gatsby”. Harbin :Journal of Harbin University, 2003( 6).[6]陈卓.《了不起的盖茨比中的美国梦》.魅力中国，2009(3).[7]黎红雯.《了不起的盖茨比,一部阐解美国梦的述作》.华南师范大学学报,2002(15).[8]邓年刚,谭素钦.《再论美国梦》.湖北民族学院学报,1997(1).[9]杨慧群.《菲兹杰拉德的小说<了不起的盖茨比>浅析》.江苏广播电视大学学报, 2002(2).。
关于美国梦的一些感想
I think that since the United States founded, it have been in the pursuit of the realization of equality, whether each concerned citizens have an equal opportunity to realize the dream, whether have equal rights to survival and development. And taking care of the sick and elderly, reduce the income gap. But because of the economic system and other factors of the limitations, there is a long way to go to realize this dream.
American Duths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they e endowed by their Creator with certain unaliena e Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and e pursuit of Happiness. --The Declaration of Independenc
Let America Be America Again Langston Hughes Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free.
美国人的梦想英语作文
美国人的梦想英语作文The American Dream。
The American Dream is a concept that has been deeply ingrained in the minds of Americans for generations. It is the belief that anyone, regardless of their background or circumstances, can achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and perseverance. The American Dream is often associated with the idea of upward mobility, where individuals can improve their social and economic status and provide a better life for themselves and their families.One of the key elements of the American Dream is the idea of opportunity. In the United States, there is a strong belief that everyone should have the chance to pursue their goals and aspirations, regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. This belief in equal opportunity has inspired countless individuals to pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles to achieve success.Another important aspect of the American Dream is the idea of freedom. In the United States, people are free to express themselves, pursue their own interests, and live their lives as they see fit. This freedom has led to a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, where individuals are encouraged to take risks and pursue their passions in the pursuit of success.The American Dream has been a powerful force in shaping the history and culture of the United States. It has inspired countless individuals to work hard, take risks, and pursue their dreams, leading to countless success stories and achievements. However, the American Dream is not without its critics, who argue that it is anunrealistic and unattainable ideal for many people.Despite these criticisms, the American Dream continues to be a powerful and enduring concept in American society. It continues to inspire individuals to work hard, take risks, and pursue their dreams, and it remains a symbol of hope and opportunity for millions of people.In conclusion, the American Dream is a powerful and enduring concept that has shaped the history and culture of the United States. It is the belief that anyone can achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and perseverance, and it continues to inspire individuals to pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles in thepursuit of success. While the American Dream may have its critics, it remains a symbol of hope and opportunity for millions of people, and it continues to be a driving force in American society.。
《美国之梦》英语读后感 (2)
《美国之梦》英语读后感As a reader, I recently had the pleasure of reading "The American Dream" by James Truslow Adams, a renowned historian and writer. This book was first published in 1931, during the height of the Great Depression, and has since become a classic American literature.Adams coined the term "The American Dream" in this book, which refers to the belief that anyone, regardless of their social status or background, can achieve success and prosperity in America through hard work and determination. He uses historical examples and anecdotes to illustrate how this idea has shaped American culture and identity.As I read the book, I was struck by how relevant it still is today, nearly a century later. The American Dream is still a powerful force in American society, and many people continue to believe in and strive for it.However, as I continued reading, I realized that the American Dream is not equally achievable for everyone. Systemic inequality and discrimination has prevented many marginalized groups, such as women and people of color, from fully realizing their potential and achieving the same level of success as their white, male counterparts.This realization made me reflect on my own privilege and the ways in which I have benefited from systems that disadvantage others. It also made me appreciate the importance of addressing and dismantling these systems of oppression, in order to make the American Dream a reality for everyone.Overall, I believe that "The American Dream" is an important book for anyone interested in understanding American history and culture, as well as the impact of systemic inequality. It provides valuable insights into the origins and evolution of this iconic idea, while also challenging readers to think critically about its limitations and consequences.In conclusion, reading "The American Dream" was a thought-provoking experience that left me with a deeper understanding of American society and my own role within it. It is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in exploring the complexities of the American Dream, and the challenges of achieving true equality and justice in our society.。
American Dream
所谓的美国梦（American Dream）， 有广义和狭义之分，广义上指美国的 平等、自由、民主；狭义上是一种相 信只要在美国经过努力不懈的奋斗便 能获得更好生活的理想，亦即人们必 须通过自己的勤奋工作、勇气、创意、 和决[1]心迈向繁荣，而非依赖于特定 的社会阶级和他人的援助。通常这代 表了人们在经济上的成功或是企业家 的精神。
The American Dream
自1776年以来，世世代代的美国人都深 信不疑，只要经过努力不懈的奋斗便能 获得更好的生活，亦即人们必须通过自 己的勤奋、勇气、创意和决心迈向繁荣， 而非依赖于特定的社会阶级和他人的援 助。两百年来，“美国梦”一直激励着 世界各地的青年人来到这片土地创造自 己的价值，美国也因此成为全球成功人 士的摇篮。
美国梦的象征——自由女神像
一般而言，“美国梦”包含几 个要素：美国提供了人人都能 成功的机会；成功取决于自己 的才能和努力，而不是家世和 背景；人人都拥有平等的权利； 人人都有信仰的自由。 In general, the "American Dream" contains several elements: the United States provides for everyone the chance of success; success depends on their talents and efforts, rather than family background and the background; everyone has equal rights; everyone have freedom of conscience.
The End
美国梦的根基---"独立宣言"
AmericandreamandChinesedream
American dream and Chinese dreamThe origin of the American Dream stems from the departure in government and economics from the models of the Old World. This allowed unprecedented freedom, especially the possibility of dramatic upward social mobility. Additionally, from the American Revolutionary War well into the later half of the nineteenth century, many of America's physical resources were unclaimed and held out the promise of land ownership and lucky investment in land or industry. The development of the Industrial Revolution combined with the great natural resources of the enormous and as yet unsettled continent created the possibility of achieving wealth. However,The origin of the Chinese Dream is that our new presi dent Xi Jinping came up with the dream ofthe Chinese nation's r ejuvenation on December 29, 2012.He said: the Chinese dream is a dream of national strength prosperity and people’s happiness. Our people have better education, more stable jobs, more income, greater social security, better medical and health care, improved housing conditions and better environment. They want their children to grow well, have ideal jobs and lead a more enjoyable life .To meet their desire for a happy life is our mi ssion.The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of usourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position.That the entire world derives material benefits from the Chinese Dream is apparent in a global economy. Higher standards of living mean greater consumption of goods and services in China, which works to create jobs and prosperity in a multiplier effect worldwide. China's commitment to science enables all peoples to share in China's success, often by making new technologies widely available at low costs. China will become more assertive, more aggressive and more expansionist in foreign affairs, especially when dealing with smaller neighbors. Even though China's leaders avow "No matter how strong China becomes, China will never seek hegemony", there's still the worry that sometime in the future, newer reasons will emerge to belie the older promises. One never knows, foreigners fret, when the "gentle giant" will have a change of heart, when the "awakened lion" will not be so "peaceful, pleasant and civilized".Every country has its own socioeconomic orientation.For the United States,the power that drives socioeconomic development is what the people widely know as American Dream.Being an American living inChina for many years,I rarely hear the Chinese bring up “The Chinese Dream”.However, in my opinion moder n China is in an era of rapid development and the promotion of continued development’s driving forces is the Chinese Dream,which holds similar characteristics with the American Dream.。
American Dream and Benjamin Franklin 美国梦和富兰克林
American Dream and BenjaminFranklin学校: 云南民族大学学院: 外国语学院班级: 0 7 级 A 班**: ***学号: 2 0 0 7 0 6 4 1 1 0American Dream and Benjamin Franklin The so-called American Dream, is a belief that as long as the United States after a hard struggle will be able to achieve the ideal of a better life. That is, people have to work through their own hard work, courage, creativity and determination to move towards prosperity, rather than rely on specific social classes and other assistance. This is usually on behalf of the people in the economic success or entrepreneurial spirit.American Dream---The statue of liberty was for many immigrants the first point of view of United States, It signifies freedom and personal liberty and iconic of the American Dream. The American Dream is the idea held by many in the United States of America that through hard work, courage and determination one could achieve prosperity. These were values held by many early European settlers , and have been passed on to subsequent generations.In The Declaration of Independence have shown e American Dream thought:“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”In my opinion, Franklin is embodiment American cultural diversity．Benjamin Franklin is one such person, commercially successful, ever concerned and involved with the public good, a great communicator, and a remarkable man of science and technology. Trying to comprehend Benjamin Franklin’s life and legacy is like trying to grab a shadow.Each time one tries to get a fix on the reflection，it darts away and grows even LargerBenjamin Franklin is the embodiment of American Dream .Benjamin Franklin , who instructed his countrymen as printer, not a priest. He was a humanist; a master of diplomacy; a humanitarian who helped establish hospitals, schools, and libraries. He was a believer in the possibilities of human progress and the comfort of material success; and he was a prose stylist whose writing reflected the neoclassic ideals of clarity, restraint, simplicity, and balance. Franklin seemed to represent the age in hisparadoxical faith in both social order and in natural rights, in love of stability and devotion to revolutionary change. He was symbolic even in his success in the printing trade, for the eighteenth century in American was a time of an immense expansion of publishing that fed a growing and increasingly literate colonial population.In that time, social order is the pursuit of wealthy, and freedom is the natural rights. Franklin seemed to represent the age in his paradoxical faith in both social order and in natural rights, in love of stability and devotion to revolutionary change. He was successful in business, renowned in science, the most modern spirited man of early American’s also severed his nation brilliantly.。
The American dream
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Defination
The America n dream
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Dream Makers
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Six Basic Beliefs
American Dreams in Movie
Horatio Alger
• Born in Revere, Massachusetts, January 13, 1832, Horatio Alger, Jr., grew up in a Calvinist home with a strong focus on education and religion. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard Divinity School in 1852.
Horatio Alger
• In recognition of individuals who have achieved the American Dream, no other organization has done more than the Horatio Alger Association Of Distinguished Americans.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
• How was it possible for a man with polio, who lost the full usage of both of his legs, courageously overcame his limitations and became the only President of the United States to be elected to four consecutive terms?
The American Dream 美国梦
Thanks for reading!
As
fa r a s the pa ce of A m e rica n history is conce rne d , the A m e rica n dre a m ca n be divide d into thre e sta ge s :
The
first stage:
The American dream is originated in the desire for the demand for land. Obviously, in the 18th and 19 there existed many unequal phenomena in Europe tha effects on the development of society, such as soc unequal distribution of wealth, severe religious d and so on. What’s more, the noble was still in the top of so the majority of the people in the middle-level. Re unfair social phenomenon, the pioneers of the Enli represented by Montesquieu and Descartes, showed g curiosity about the United States. This magical la adventure of the United States, which ignited the dream of vulnerable groups.
实现美国人的梦想英语作文
The American Dream is a concept deeply rooted in the nations history and culture, representing the idea that anyone,regardless of their background,can achieve success and prosperity through hard work and determination.Here are some key elements to consider when writing an essay on realizing the American Dream:1.Introduction to the American Dream:Begin your essay by defining the American Dream and its significance in American society.You may want to mention that it is often associated with the opportunity for upward social mobility and the chance to live a life of freedom and material comfort.2.Historical Context:Discuss the origins of the American Dream,which can be traced back to the early settlers who sought religious freedom and economic opportunity.The idea was further popularized by the writings of James Truslow Adams in the1930s.3.Personal Stories:Include anecdotes or case studies of individuals who have realized the American Dream.These could be wellknown figures like Andrew Carnegie,who rose from poverty to become one of the wealthiest Americans,or more contemporary examples of people who have overcome adversity to achieve success.cation as a Pathway:Highlight the role of education in achieving the American Dream.Discuss how access to quality education has historically been a key factor in social mobility and how it continues to be a critical component for many Americans today.5.The Role of Hard Work:Emphasize the importance of hard work and perseverance in the pursuit of the American Dream.Provide examples of individuals who have worked tirelessly to achieve their goals and how their dedication has paid off.6.Challenges and Criticisms:Address the criticisms and challenges faced by the concept of the American Dream.Discuss issues such as income inequality,the rising cost of education,and the impact of automation on job opportunities.7.The American Dream Today:Reflect on the current state of the American Dream. Consider whether it is still attainable for everyone and what changes might be necessary to ensure that it remains a viable aspiration for future generations.8.Conclusion:Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points and offering your personal perspective on the American Dream.You might want to discuss whether you believe the American Dream is still alive and what steps can be taken to make it more accessible to all Americans.9.Citations and References:Ensure that you cite any sources you use to support your arguments and provide a list of references at the end of your essay.10.Proofreading:Finally,proofread your essay to correct any grammatical errors or inconsistencies in your arguments.Remember,an essay on realizing the American Dream should be wellresearched, thoughtful,and reflective of both the historical and contemporary perspectives on this enduring ideal.。
American Dream[1]
![American Dream[1]](https://img.taocdn.com/s3/m/e057f911cc7931b765ce152a.png)
What are the modern people’s American Dreams
• • • • To do what they want To own a home or rise out of poverty. To serve God, country, or community. To want to learn to read or run their own business. • To exercise fundamental American rights: to openly practice their religion and to speak what is in their minds and hearts.
• California is full of foreign immigrants who came to the US to share the American dream, a popular belief that hard work will bring forth America„s bounty(富饶） in the form of material well-being（物质财富）.
American values owe much to the Puritans
• God‟s morality : self-control • Intolerant moralism 难以容忍的道德观 (punish drunks, adulterers通奸, violators of the Sabbath） • Independence • Individualism • Hard work • Respect of education
• For minorities and immigrants, the dream also includes freedom and equal rights.
Unit-4-American-Dream课文翻译
Unit-4-American-Dream课文翻译Unit 4 American Dream美国梦Text AThe American Dream means different things to different people. But for many, particularly immigrants, it means the opportunity to make a better life for themselves. For them the dream is that talent and hard work can take you from log cabin to White House. Tony Trivisonno did not rise quite so high, yet he managed to make his own dream come true.美国梦对不同的人有不同的意义。
但对许多人，尤其是对移民而言，它意味着改善自己生活的机会。
对于他们，美国梦的含义就是才能与勤劳能让你从小木屋走向白宫。
托尼•特里韦索诺并没有爬到那么高，但他成功地使自己的梦想成真。
Tony Trivisonno 'S American Dream托尼•特里韦索诺的美国梦Frederick C. Crawford弗雷德里克•C•克罗弗德1 He came from a rocky farm in Italy, somewhere south of Rome. How or when he got to America, I don't know. But one evening I found him standing in thedriveway, behind my garage. He was about five-foot-seven or eight, and thin. 他来自意大利罗马以南某地———个满地石子的农庄。
The American Dream(精品文档)_共5页
The American DreamWarm-up Discussion1. What is the American Dream in your opinion?2. In what ways can a person be considered as being successful?3. What is the key to success?The essence of the American Dream, I think, is the idea that it is possible for every hard-working individual to succeed, no matter what country you are from, what background do you have, or what race you belong to.Nowadays , you can make your American dream anywhere. The meaning of it varies. People pursue freedom of choice. They want to do whatever they like and to go wherever they want. That is their American Dream.DefinitionAmerican Dream is the belief that everyone in the United States has the chance to achieve success and prosperity. For ordinary people, it means a happy family, an ideal job, and a nice house. For minorities and immigrants, it also includes freedom and equal rights.The key : equal opportunity ,Achieve success and prosperityHardworking, courage, creativity, talent, determination,名称释义所谓的美国梦（American Dream），有广义和狭义之分，广义上指美国的平等、自由、民主；狭义上是一种相信只要在美国经过努力不懈的奋斗便能获得更好生活的理想，亦即人们必须通过自己的勤奋工作、勇气、创意、和决心迈向繁荣，而非依赖于特定的社会阶级和他人的援助。
american英文作文
american英文作文Title: The American Dream: Myth or Reality?The American Dream has been a beacon of hope for countless individuals around the world, symbolizing the promise of prosperity, freedom, and opportunity. Yet, amidst the grandeur of this ideal, a question looms large: is the American Dream a tangible reality or merely an elusive myth?At its core, the American Dream embodies the beliefthat through hard work, determination, and perseverance, anyone can achieve success and upward mobility, regardless of their background or circumstances. This notion has been deeply ingrained in the fabric of American society, serving as both a source of inspiration and aspiration for generations.One of the pillars of the American Dream is economic prosperity. Historically, the United States has beenperceived as a land of boundless economic opportunities, where individuals can achieve financial success through their own merit. However, the reality often falls short of this ideal. Economic inequality remains a pervasive issue, with disparities in wealth and income widening in recent decades. While some individuals indeed achieve extraordinary wealth, many others struggle to make ends meet, facing barriers such as systemic poverty, lack of access to quality education, and limited job opportunities.Moreover, the American Dream encompasses notions of social mobility and equality. The promise that anyone can rise from rags to riches and achieve social status transcending their origins has been a driving force behind the nation's ethos. Yet, social mobility in the United States has stagnated in comparison to other developed countries. Studies reveal that individuals born into poverty are more likely to remain there, facing entrenched structural barriers that hinder their upward mobility. Factors such as race, gender, and socioeconomic background continue to exert significant influence on one's life chances, challenging the notion of a level playing field.Furthermore, the American Dream encompasses the ideal of freedom and democracy, where individuals have theliberty to pursue their aspirations and participate incivic life. While the United States prides itself on its democratic principles, the reality is marked by political polarization, voter suppression, and erosion of civil liberties. Marginalized communities often face systemic barriers to full participation in the democratic process, undermining the promise of equal opportunity for all.Despite these challenges, the American Dream endures as a symbol of hope and resilience. It has inspired countless immigrants and dreamers to embark on journeys to the land of opportunity, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. The American Dream continues to evolve, shaped by the changing dynamics of society, economy, and politics.In conclusion, the American Dream remains a powerful symbol of hope and aspiration, yet its realization is fraught with challenges and complexities. While some mayachieve success and prosperity, many others find themselves trapped in cycles of poverty and inequality. As we strive to uphold the ideals of the American Dream, it is essential to confront the realities of economic, social, andpolitical inequality, working towards a more inclusive and equitable society where the promise of opportunity is truly attainable for all.。
《美国之梦》英语读后感
《美国之梦》英语读后感As a reader, I have recently read “The American Dream,” a popular book about the American experience by James Truslow Adams. This book has become popular in recent years due to the pandemic and the subsequent changes we have all experienced.The book takes a look at the American dream, which Adams defines as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” This dream has long been a symbol of hope, freedom and equality in American culture, and is still held by many as a guiding star for success in life.In reading this book, I was fascinated by the story of the American dream, its history and its significance. Adams does an excellent job of capturing the essence of the dream and explaining how it has shaped our culture and our society. The writing is both informative and entertaining, making it a pleasure to read.What struck me most about this book was how relevant it remains today. Although Adams wrote it almost a century ago, its underlying message is still vital. We all have dreams and aspirations, and the American dream is a reminder that we can achieve them with hard work, dedication and a little bit of luck.Importantly, the American dream is not just about material success, but also about personal fulfillment, happiness and freedom. This book reminds us of the importance of striving for these goals, while also acknowledging the challenges and obstacles that we may face.As I reflect on this book, I realize that it is essential reading for anyone interested in the American experience. It provides valuable insights into the cultural and historical factors that have shaped our country, and encourages us to think about our own hopes and dreams.In conclusion, “The American Dream” is a powerful book that has something to offer to anyone who reads it. It’s an exploration of one of the most enduring symbols of hope and freedom in American culture, and a reminder that we can all achieve our dreams if we work hard and believe in ourselves. As we face uncertain times in the wake of the pandemic, this book provides valuable perspective and inspiration for all of us.。
英语作文美国现实主义作文
英语作文美国现实主义作文The American Dream is often portrayed as a life of luxury and success, but the reality is far from that for many people. In the land of opportunity, there are also many who struggle to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck just to survive.In the United States, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen, with the middle class shrinking and more people falling into poverty. Despite the country's wealth and resources, there are still millions of Americans who lack access to basic necessities like healthcare, education, and affordable housing.For many Americans, the idea of upward mobility is just a dream. The reality is that social mobility is limited, with those born into poverty often remaining trapped in a cycle of disadvantage. The American Dream of achieving success through hard work and determination seems out of reach for many.In the midst of economic uncertainty and social inequality, many Americans are disillusioned with the ideaof the American Dream. They see a system that is rigged in favor of the wealthy and powerful, leaving littleopportunity for the average person to get ahead.Despite these challenges, there are still those who believe in the American Dream and strive to achieve it.They work hard, take risks, and never give up hope thatthey can create a better life for themselves and their families. But for many, the harsh realities of American society make it difficult to hold onto that dream.In the end, the American Dream is a complex and multifaceted concept that means different things todifferent people. While some may see it as a beacon of hope and opportunity, others see it as a harsh reality of inequality and struggle. In the land of the free, thepursuit of happiness is not always guaranteed, but for many, it is still worth fighting for.。
Unit 7 The American Dream
Unit 7 The American Dream
Lisa
Lead-in
• Quotation: • If you love him, send him to New York f or it’s heaven. If you hate him, send him to New York for it’s hell！ • 如果你爱他，就送他去纽约，因为那里是 天堂。如果你很他，也送他去纽约，因为 那里是地狱。
• The fear of death obsessed her throughout her old age.
• be obsessing about/over sth/sb informal to think about something or someone much more than is necessary or sensible • e.g.: Stop obsessing about your hair. It's fine.
Questions for discussion
• 1. What special duty does an immigrant to America have to take? • 2. What social status of immigrants is implied in paragraph 1 and 2?
Intensive Reading
1.
•
• •
“America,” in contrast, exists as a myth of democracy and equal op portunity to live by, or as an ideal goal to reach. Myth: 1) an idea or story that many people believe, but which is not true = fallacy myth of e.g.: the myth of male superiority explode/dispel a myth (=show that it is not true) e.g.: It was important to dispel the myth that Aids was a gay disease. 2) an ancient story, especially one invented in order to explain natur al or historical events myth of e.g.: the Creation myth 创世的神话 ancient Greek myths 古希腊神话.
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States
The American DreamIntroductionThe American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility achieved through hard work. This includes the opportunity for one's children to grow up and receive a good education and career without artificial barriers. It is the opportunity to make individual choices without the prior restrictions that limited people according to their class, caste, religion, race, or ethnicity.This term was first used by James Truslow Adams1in his book The Epic of America which was written in 1931. He states: "The American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position." This idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."2The meaning of the "American Dream" has changed over the course of history, and includes both personal components (such as home ownership and upward mobility) and a global vision. Historically the Dream originated in the mystique regarding frontier life. As the Royal Governor of Virginia noted in 1774, the Americans "for ever imagine the Lands further off are still better than those upon which they are already settled". He added that if they attained Paradise, they would1Adams, James Truslow. (1931). The Epic of America (Little, Brown, and Co. 1931)move on if they heard of a better place farther west. In the 19th century, many well-educated Germans fled the failed 1848 revolution. They welcomed the political freedoms in the New World, and the lack of a hierarchical or aristocratic society that determined the ceiling for individual aspirations. One of them explained:“The German emigrant comes into a country free from the despotism, privileged orders and monopolies, intolerable taxes, and constraints in matters of belief and conscience. Everyone can travel and settle wherever he pleases. No passport is demanded, no police mingles in his affairs or hinders his movements....Fidelity and merits are the only sources of honor here. The rich stand on the same footing as the poor; the scholar is not a mug above the most humble mechanics; no German ought to be ashamed to pursue any occupation....[In America] wealth and possession of real estate confer not the least political right on its owner above what the poorest citizen has. Nor are there nobility, privileged orders, or standing armies to weaken the physical and moral power of the people, nor are there swarms of public functionaries to devour in idleness credit for. Above all, there are no princes and corrupt courts representing the so-called divine 'right of birth.' In such a country the talents, energy and perseverance of a person...have far greater opportunity to display than in monarchies.”3The discovery of gold in California in 1849 brought in a hundred thousand men looking for their fortune overnight—and a few did find it. Thus was born the California Dream of instant success. Historian H. W. Brands noted that in the years after the Gold Rush, the California Dream spread across the nation: “The old American Dream . . . was the dream of the Puritans, of Benjamin Franklin's "Poor Richard" . . . of men and women content to accumulate their modest fortunes a little at a time, year by year by year. The new dream was the dream of instant wealth, won in3F. W. Bogen, The German in America (Boston, 1851), quoted in Stephen Ozment, A Mighty Fortress: a New History of the German People (2004) pp 170-71a twinkling by audacity and good luck. [This] golden dream . . . became a prominent part of the American psyche only after Sutter's Mill.”4In 20th century, Historian James Truslow Adams popularized the phrase "American Dream" in his 1931 book Epic of America: But there has been also the American dream, that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement. It is a difficult dream for the European upper classes to interpret adequately, and too many of us ourselves have grown weary and mistrustful of it. It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position. The American dream, which has lured tens of millions of all nations to our shores in the past century, has not been a dream of merely material plenty, though that has doubtlessly counted heavily. It has been much more than that. It has been a dream of being able to grow to fullest development as man and woman, unhampered by the barriers which had slowly been erected in the older civilizations, unrepressed by social orders which had developed for the benefit of classes rather than for the simple human being of any and every class.Martin Luther King, Jr., in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (1963) quest for the American Dream:“We will win our freedom because the sacred heritage of our nation and the eternal will of God are embodied in our echoing demands...when these disinherited children of God sat down at lunch counters they were in reality standing up for what is best in the American dream and for the most sacred values in our Judeo-Christian heritage, thereby bringing our nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in their formulation of the Constitution and the4F. W. Bogen, The German in America (Boston, 1851), quoted in Stephen Ozment, A Mighty Fortress: a New History of the German People (2004) pp 170-71Declaration of Independence.”5The American Dream in different fields of the USALiteratureThe term is used in popular discourse, and scholars have traced its use in American literature ranging from the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,6to Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (1925), Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy (1925). Other writers who used the American Dream theme include Edward Albee7, John Steinbeck,8The American Dream is also discussed in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman; the play's protagonist, Willy, is on a journey for the American Dream. The American Dream has been credited with helping to build a cohesive American experience, but has also been blamed for inflated expectations. Some commentators have noted that despite deep-seated belief in the egalitarian American Dream, the modern American wealth structure still perpetuates racial and class inequalities between generations. One sociologist notes that advantage and disadvantage are not always connected to individual successes or failures, but often to prior position in a social group.Since the 1920s, numerous authors, such as Sinclair Lewis in his 1922 novel Babbitt, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, in his 1925 classic, The Great Gatsby, satirized or ridiculed materialism in the chase for the American dream. For example, Jay Gatsby's death mirrors the American Dream's demise, reflecting the pessimism of modern-day Americans. A lot of people follow the American Dream to achieve a greater chance of5Brueggemann, John. Rich, Free, and Miserable: The Failure of Success in America (Rowman & Littlefield; 2010) 233 pages; links discontent among middle-class Americans6J. A. Leo Lemay, "Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream," Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography (Norton Critical Editions, 1986) pp ^ Harold Bloom and Blake Hobby, Eds. The American Dream (2009)7Nicholas Canaday, Jr., "Albee's the American Dream and the Existential Vacuum." South Central Bulletin V ol. 26, No. 4 (Winter 1966) pp 28-348Hayley Haugen, ed., The American Dream in John Steinbeck's of Mice and Men (2010)becoming rich. Some posit that the ease of achieving the American Dream changes with technological advances, availability of infrastructure and information, government regulations, state of the economy, and with the evolving cultural values of American demographics. The American Dream has been credited with helping to build a cohesive American experience, but has also been blamed for inflated expectations. In 1949 Arthur Miller wrote Death of a Salesman, in which the American Dream is a fruitless pursuit. The novel "Requiem for a Dream" by Hubert Selby, Jr., is an exploration of the pursuit of American success as it turns delirious and lethal, told through the ensuing tailspin of its main characters.PoliticsScholars have explored the American Dream theme in the careers of numerous political leaders, including Hillary Clinton,9Benjamin Franklin, and Abraham Lincoln. In 2006 U.S. Senator Barack Obama wrote a memoir, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream. It was this interpretation of the American Dream that helped establish his statewide and national reputations. Political conflicts, to some degree, have been ameliorated by the shared values of all parties in the expectation that the American Dream will resolve many difficulties and conflictsPublicsRecent research suggests that the United States show roughly average levels of occupational upward mobility, and lower rates of income mobility, than comparable societies. Blanden et al. report, "The idea of the US as …the land of opportunity‟ persists; and clearly seems misplaced." According to these studies, "by international standards, the United States has an unusually low level of intergenerational mobility: our parents‟ income is highly predictive of our incomes as adults. Intergenerational mobility in the United States is lower than in France, Germany, Sweden, Canada,9Dan Dervin, "The Dream-Life of Hillary Clinton," Journal of Psychohistory, Fall 2008, V ol. 36 Issue 2, pp 157-162Finland, Norway and Denmark. Among high-income countries for which comparable estimates are available, only the United Kingdom had a lower rate of mobility than the United States." "This challenges the notion of America as the land of opportunity."10To a majority of Americans, the American Dream is more about spiritual happiness than material goods. Majorities state that working hard is the most important element for getting ahead. However, an increasing minority stated that hard work and determination does not guarantee success. On the pessimistic side, most Americans predict that achieving the Dream with fair means will become increasingly difficult for future generations. They are increasingly pessimistic about the opportunity for the working class to get ahead; on the other hand, they are increasingly optimistic about the opportunities available to poor people and to new immigrants. Furthermore, most support programs make special efforts to help minorities get ahead.Influence of the American Dream on other parts of the worldThe aspirations of the "American dream" in the broad sense of upward mobility has been systematically spread to other nations since the 1890s as American missionaries and businessmen consciously sought to spread the Dream, says Rosenberg. Looking at American business, religious missionaries, philanthropies, Hollywood, labor unions and Washington agencies, she says they saw their mission not in catering to foreign elites but instead reaching the world's masses in democratic fashion. "They linked mass production, mass marketing, and technological improvement to an enlightened democratic spirit....In the emerging litany of the American dream what historian Daniel Boorstin later termed a "democracy of things" would disprove both Malthus's predictions of scarcity and Marx's of class conflict." It was, she says "a vision of global social progress." Rosenberg calls the overseas10Sandra L. Hanson, and John Zogby, "The Polls—Trends," Public Opinion Quarterly, Sept 2010, V ol. 74 Issue 3, pp 570-584version of the American Dream "liberal-developmentalism" and identified five critical components:“(1) belief that other nations could and should replicate America's own developmental experience; (2) faith in private free enterprise; (3) support for free or open access for trade and investment; (4) promotion of free flow of information and culture; and (5) growing acceptance of [U.S.] governmental activity to protect private enterprise and to stimulate and regulate American participation in international economic and cultural exchange.”11BritainThe American dream regarding home ownership has little resonance before the 1980s. In the 1980s, the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher worked to create a similar dream, by selling public-housing units to their tenants. Her Conservative party called for more home ownership: "HOMES OF OUR OWN: To most people ownership means first and foremost a home of their own.... We should like in time to improve on existing legislation with a realistic grants scheme to assist first-time buyers of cheaper homes."12Guest calls this Thatcher's approach to the American Dream. Knights and McCabe argue that, "a reflection and reinforcement of the American Dream has been the emphasis on individualism as extolled by Margaret Thatcher and epitomized by the 'enterprise' culture." 13RussiaSince the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union in 1991, the American Dream11Cullen, Jim. The American dream: a short history of an idea that shaped a nation, Oxford University Press US, 2004. ISBN0-19-517325-212Niall Ferguson, The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World (2009) p 25213David E. Guest, "Human Resource Management and the American Dream," Journal of Management Studies (1990) 27#4 pp 377-97, reprinted in Michael Poole, Human Resource Management: Origins, Developments and Critical Analyses (1999) p. 159has fascinated Russians. The first post-Communist leader Boris Yeltsin embraced the "American way" and teamed up with Harvard University free market economists Jeffrey Sachs and Robert Allison to give Russia economic shock therapy in the 1990s. 14The newly independent Russian media idealized America and endorsed shock therapy for the economy. In 2008 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev lamented the fact that 77% of Russia's 142 million people live "cooped up" in apartment buildings.ConclusionTo me the American dream is the liberty offered to its citizens; the freedom to attend school, to start a business, to work, to pray if you want to, and not how many things I own. The American dream is to have all the basics that all people share, but I worry the dream is dying because government is debasing the currency, taxing income, and selling children into debt slavery at far too fast a rate to benefit bond holders and rich people. The American dream is not embracing diversity or racist affirmative action quotas for Hebrews, Africans, women, homosexuals, immigrants, and minorities. The American dream is merit, doing a good job, well done. The dream is in danger because so many incompetent people have been promoted to meaningless high paying jobs like airport underwear inspectors. Government has to change. It is devouring the American dream.14Richard M. Ryan et al., "The American Dream in Russia: Extrinsic Aspirations and Well-Being in Two Cultures," Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, (Dec. 1999) vol. 25 no. 12 pp 1509-1524,References:1 Dan Dervin, "The Dream-Life of Hillary Clinton," Journal of Psychohistory, Fall2008, V ol. 36 Issue 2, pp 157-1622 Dalton Gross and MaryJean Gross, Understanding The Great Gatsby (1998) p 5 H.W. Brands, The age of gold: the California Gold Rush and the new American dream (2003) p. 442.3 Deborah F. Atwater, "Senator Barack Obama: The Rhetoric of Hope and theAmerican Dream," Journal of Black Studies,Nov 2007, V ol. 38 Issue 2, pp 121-1294 Edward J. Blum, "Lincoln's American Dream: Clashing Political Perspectives,"Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association, Summer 2007, V ol. 28 Issue 2, pp 90-935 F. W. Bogen, The German in America (Boston, 1851), quoted in Stephen Ozment, AMighty Fortress: a New History of the German People (2004) pp 170-716 Hayley Haugen, ed., The American Dream in John Steinbeck's of Mice and Men(2010)7 J. A. Leo Lemay, "Franklin's Autobiography and the American Dream," BenjaminFranklin's Autobiography (Norton Critical Editions, 1986) pp8 Nicholas Canaday, Jr., "Albee's the American Dream and the Existential Vacuum."South Central Bulletin V ol. 26, No. 4 (Winter 1966) pp 28-349 Sandra L. Hanson, and John Zogby, "The Polls—Trends," Public Opinion Quarterly,Sept 2010, V ol. 74 Issue 3, pp 570-58410 Richard M. Ryan et al., "The American Dream in Russia: Extrinsic Aspirations andWell-Being in Two Cultures," Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, (Dec.1999) vol. 25 no. 12 pp 1509-1524,。
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INVESTING IN PUBLIC HEALTH
Prevention and Public Health Fund National Health Service Corps: Because of investments from the Recovery Act and the Affordable Care Act, the number of clinicians who practice in underserved communities through the National Health Service Corps has nearly tripled over the past three years, reaching more than 10,000. In 2011, the National Health Service Corps provided health care services to about 10.5 million patients, up from 3.7 million patients in 2008. Community Health Centers Million Hearts Campaign
THE GOVERNMouse of republicans are refusing to fund the government, unless the rest of Congress delays implementation of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama Care, also known as ―the end of America as we know it for reasons no one is able to clearly explain‖.
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT / OBAMACARE
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA),[1] commonly called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or "Obamacare", is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. Together with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, it represents the most significant regulatory overhaul of the country's healthcare system since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.
The ACA aims to increase the quality and affordability of health insurance, lower the uninsured rate by expanding public and private insurance coverage, and reduce the costs of healthcare for individuals and the government. It provides a number of mechanisms—including mandates, subsidies, and insurance exchanges—to increase coverage and affordability. The law also requires insurance companies to cover all applicants within new minimum standards and offer the same rates regardless of preexisting conditions or sex. Additional reforms aim to reduce costs and improve healthcare outcomes by shifting the system towards quality over quantity through increased competition, regulation, and incentives to streamline the delivery of healthcare. The Congressional Budget Office projected that the ACA will lower both future deficits and Medicare spending.
INCREASING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CARE
Coverage for young adults Access to free preventive services Coverage for people with pre-existing conditions: More than 50,000 Americans with pre-existing conditions have gained coverage through the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. This temporary program makes health coverage available and more affordable for individuals who are uninsured and have been denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Investing in primary care
Preventive Care for Seniors Judith Parrotta, Pennsylvania Judith and her husband rely on Medicare for their health care. They were both due for a colonoscopy screening this year, and before reform, they could not have afforded the $800 it would have cost them to both have the procedure. Thanks to the new law, they both were able to receive the procedure without a co-pay, and neither had to postpone receiving this life-saving cancer screening.
On June 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of most of the ACA in the case National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. However, the Court held that states cannot be forced to participate in the ACA's Medicaid expansion under penalty of losing their current Medicaid funding. Since the ruling, the law and its implementation have continued to face challenges in Congress, in federal courts, and from some state governments. Efforts to oppose, undermine, and repeal the legislation have drawn support from prominent conservative advocacy groups, Congressional and many state Republicans, certain small business organizations, and the Tea Party movement.
MAKING CARE MORE AFFORDABLE
80/20 Rule: The health insurance companies of 76 million Americans now have to meet the 80/20 rule, or Medical Loss Ratio, where they must spend at least 80 cents of your premium dollar on your health care or improvements to care. If they fail to meet this standard, they must provide a rebate to their customers. Reviewing premium increases Small business tax credits Supporting early retiree coverage
HOLDING INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE
No more pre-existing condition denials for children No more lifetime dollar limits on coverage Insurance companies can’t drop your coverage when you get sick No more coverage denials without appeal Helping consumers understand their coverage