At one point or another, almost everyone has heard something about the American Dream. Maybe you have heard about the prosperity and success that comes along with it, or maybe the hopes for a better life and riches. But what exactly does the American Dream actually mean, and how do you obtain it? Additionally, can everyone obtain it? Is it just a silly dream? Are there cons or downsides to this dream? There are so many questions to be asked about it.

The main question I have about it is, is it still the same as it was back in the early 1900s? James Truslow Adams in his book The Epic of America defines it as “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.” To sum it up, Adams basically says anyone can obtain their own success in their society based on their ability (Adams, 1931). During the 1930s when the Great Depression, the American Dream seemed to be the only hope for a better future for the Americans. Not only hope for a better future but also to be able to rule one’s own life. It was a symbol of freedom and equality. From my perspective, compared to now, the American Dream is a myth, or nearly impossible to achieve without the right headstart and opportunities. I do not even know if I would call it a symbol of freedom and equality anymore. 

References
  • Adams, James T. The Epic of America. Boston [Mass.]: Little, Brown, and Co, 1931.