Persuasive Speech: The Death Of The American Dream in The Great Gatsby

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Hand out this first... The America Dream holds a greater significance than that of earning more money or owning and incredible car. It signifies the inner dream that all men aspire to regardless of how trivial it may seem. The U.S.A... Bound by its motto as being a freedom-for-all nation; it has been labelled since the dawn of its colonial era as being a land of opportunity- giving us the understanding of the real "American Dream". In the United States' Declaration of Independence the founding fathers stated: "…held certain 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." Through the course of change in the world- either through prosperity, capitalism or greed- people have lost focus with the real meaning of 'the American dream'. It is no longer the gamely aspirations of living life to the fullest, providing a better life for yourself and or others; instead, a pursuit for those materialistic aspects in life. American Literae Thomas Wolfe said, "… to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him." This is the essence of the pure idealistic approach one should take towards life and indeed the American dream.

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