The American Dream Research Paper

The American Dream, although first mentioned in the nineteen thirties, has been around since the founding of America. The overall principles, as mentioned in the Declaration of Independence, are “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (US 1776). Over time, additional principles have been added to the ideology of the American Dream. One of these principles is equality for all, no matter the race, gender, ethnicity, or sexuality. These ideas are so widely pursued that others defy the laws to attain the opportunities that they bring. Recently, the American Dream has been seen as an idea of the past that is unachievable to the new generations. The pursuit of happiness is viewed as something that is too expensive to obtain, the liberties that

are promised are taken away after incarceration, and life is being taken away as if it were a simple toy. The recently added equality has been challenged by politicians and those that oppose the new opportunities that it brings. The reality of this situation is that the American Dream is just a dream for some, and an inspiration to others.
Understanding the subtle messages in American literature reveals the underlying themes which reflect what the author believes it means to be an American, which generally involves the concept of an American Dream. The American Dream has been involved in American Literature for many years, however, this involvement is not always positive. Writers oftentimes delve into each principle that has been included in the American Dream and uncover that it is a farce. Not all of the principles in the American Dream is open to everyone, showing that it is just a vision of the past. However, American Literature also highlights the strong qualities that each American has. These qualities include numerous opportunities to better themselves or others, self-sufficiency, a strong work ethic, and an overall respect for an individual. Most of these qualities can be found in at least one character in American Literature, which reveals that many American writers showcase the common American characteristics in their own literary works. Possessing these qualities do not automatically make a person an American, but one common theme, which also connects to an idea involved in the American Dream, is freedom. To the majority of the United States population, the most important quality of being an American is being able to say that they are free.
American literature portrays an understanding of the conditions surrounding other’s lives and how they think. Some texts involve current societal problems such as finances, living conditions, and the fight for equality for all. Studying American literature can reveal underlying messages that need to be vocalized but cannot be said without the negative backlash that will follow. In the Letters, for example, Abigail Adams asked her husband to remember the ladies when discussing the future of America, but this could not be said outright as women were not seen as an equal to their male counterpart. This has shown how far the American society has evolved when compared to the current stance on women’s rights. When considering which problems are discussed in American Literature, each person takes a different stance on the meaning of the problem. This generates numerous explanations of one text, however, it does not mean that one explanation is better than another. After analyzing these explanations, it it possible to create an insight into how others think when they examine American Literature and the problems surrounding the composition. Through studying American Literature, America is portrayed to be the land of opportunities, and this has been shown throughout American Literature countless times. This reflects into society by allowing people to gain opportunities that they would not have been able to gain in another country.
Central themes in American Literature reflect what each person feels is important to them. One major theme that is displayed throughout numerous works of literature is freedom. As mentioned before, freedom is one of the principles involved with the American Dream. The incorporation of this principle has caused many people to become captivated with the idea of becoming an American. This has caused many immigrants to join the American population, causing it to diversify and include the traditions and customs of these people. The inclusion of immigrants into the American society has founded many popular businesses and institutions that are currently being used. Another common theme displayed is survival of the fittest, which means those that are better adapted, or educated, are more likely to succeed in life. This is shown in basic American life in many different ways, including human behavior. One way is displayed in the job force. Those who have gone to college and gotten a degree in a specific job field are more likely to get the job in comparison to those who only have a high school diploma. Another comparison would be that those who work diligently at work are more likely to get a pay raise or promotion rather than a worker who does not.
The American Dream is defined in many different ways, and each definition is tailored to fit what each author believes.

The individual’s life experiences are what help define their American Dream, so each dream is unique. The American Dream for Olaudah Equiano was freedom. Olaudah Equiano was an African American that was taken into slavery at a young age. After gaining his freedom, he “lectured widely on the abolition of slavery and urged a project to resettle poor blacks” (Equiano 688). His dream was influenced by his life of slavery and his aspiration to be free of the chains that slavery brought. Another author that had unique ideas as a part of his American Dream is Thomas Paine. He believed that freedom of religion was truly important to a human, but that it should not be involved in the American Government. His pamphlet, Common Sense, explained his beliefs of American Independence, therefore, describing the reasons why religion should not be involved in a governmental setting. Paine’s experiences with a religious government helped him further his argument that if a government official let his religious beliefs get involved with his work, then it might affect those that do not hold the same beliefs. This opinion related to the British Monarchy and how the British Monarch used his power over the Church to influence others to obey his set regulations (Paine

642-644).
Historical contexts provide an insight to what the environment was like during the time period of the composition the author was creating.

It considers the moods, attitudes, and conditions that pertained to a certain time period. In the Coquette, for example, the American Dream displayed that women are able to live without the financial stability that a job produced. A husband’s income was all that was needed to live in estates without the worry of becoming bankrupt. Another ideal that was revealed was freedom. Eliza Wharton, the main character, denied the offers of marriage and settling down into “modest freedom” that marriage produces (Foster 831). Another example would be the Letters written by John and Abigail Adams. In this literary work, the American Dream of independence, or freedom, from Great Britain was a major theme. However, the possibility of equality for women was also starting to become common around this time, which was reflected when Abigail wrote to John and asked for Congress not to forget about the rights of women. Although the country had not recognized women as an equal, John Adams had seen his wife as an equal, which was displayed through his trust in her to be the “manager of money, property, animals, and people” while he was away (Adams 626). Each example provided displays a woman’s perspective of the American Dream, but a man’s dream is not as different as one may think. William Bradford, writer of Of Plymouth Plantation, revealed that his American

Dream was one that sought religious freedom and better opportunities for the future generation. Before coming to America, William Bradford and those that opposed the new religion that was thrust upon them by King James were punished for opposing his ruling. The people who opposed were punished greatly, with some being “taken and clapped up in prison,” while others were penalized by having “ their houses beset and watched night and day” (Bradford 123). Writers use their work to portray their idea of the American Dream, either subconsciously or consciously, to their readers. This results in a stronger connection to the author, as the author's ideas correlate to the reader, and a greater chance of understanding the author’s motives better.
Overall, American Literature and the American Dream, whether it is real or an illusion, is linked through an author’s work. Each author has a unique definition of the American Dream, which is affected by the experiences that the individual encounters. To understand the story better, the reader can use historical contexts, which allows the reader to understand the conditions that the story was set upon. Along with historical contexts, the reader can relate the themes in the story to the current time period and what it is like being an American.