“We were brought up to succeed, weren’t we?” (Arthur Miller “The Price”, 109). Is this true? Were we really brought up only to succeed in order to achieve material aplenty and is this what the American Dream is all about: Success as the reason for living?
In my research paper I will try to find an answer to these questions by looking at the origin of the concept of the American Dream, the critical interpretation of the American Dream referring to itschange of values. Furthermore, I am going to discuss the influence of the American Dream on popular imagination and, as a conclusion, I will briefly state the effect it has on political rhetoric.
So, the main purpose of my paper is to show that the notion of the American Dream has not always been identified with materialism but with success primarily as a God given task intended for self-salvation. Therefore, I will point out how this aspect of a success in religious and moral terms changed into an aspect of material success only. Further, I will show, according to this change that the aspect of material success promotes selfish individuals instead of a “Great Society” in which the American Dream is realized in the community since there is “nothing whatever in a fortune merely in itself” (Adams “The Epic of America”, 416).
While the American Dream stands on the one hand for a land of opportunity where everyone is given the chance of attaining something according to one’s ability, the American Dream stands on the other hand for a struggle to succeed without much social or emotional support that eventually turns into an American nightmare.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The American Dream
3 Analyzing the American Dream’s concept and values
3.1 Why is the American Dream a key concept?
3.2 Changes in the values of the American Dream
4 The American Dream turning into an American nightmare
4.1 Critical interpretation of the American Dream
4.2 Influence of the American Dream’s success mythology on popular imagination
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the evolution and transformation of the "American Dream" concept, exploring how it shifted from a morally grounded belief in individual success as a God-given task toward a materialistic pursuit of wealth and status that can result in an "American nightmare."
- Historical origins and definitions of the American Dream
- The impact of the Great Depression on American values
- Critical perspectives on success mythology and material culture
- The influence of success literature and media on popular imagination
- Political applications and the contradiction between promise and reality
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Critical interpretation of the American Dream
By referring to James Truslow Adams who first coined the term “American Dream” Peter Freese points out a variety of interpretations of the term. One of these is the vision of material plenitude, political liberty and individual self-fulfilment. But Freese criticizes that this concept has come to stand for a “mendacious label for chauvinist strivings, unwarranted feelings of superiority and thoughtless crimes against nature in the name of unbridled progress”, thus stressing that the American Dream has become a nightmare (4).
The reason why Freese criticizes the central aspects of the American Dream, concerning individual success and societal progress, is because they are superficial and being misused for political propaganda. Freese complains that therefore these concepts are being used to establish an “industrial and technological power”, thus presenting the world as a “rat race” regardless of ecological damages and so turning the American Dream into a kind of social and ecological nightmare (29).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter defines the research scope, outlining how the American Dream evolved from a moral, community-oriented ideal into an often isolating and materialistic struggle.
2 The American Dream: This section explores the historical origins of the concept as a pursuit of opportunity beyond social class, intended to foster both individual achievement and societal progress.
3 Analyzing the American Dream’s concept and values: This chapter investigates why the dream became a vital cultural concept and analyzes the significant shifts in its underlying values due to historical pressures.
3.1 Why is the American Dream a key concept?: This part discusses the necessity of conceptualizing the American Dream, highlighting its dual nature as both a pathway to financial prosperity and a demand for personal accountability.
3.2 Changes in the values of the American Dream: This segment analyzes the impact of the Great Depression, which redirected the American success ethic toward materialism and pleasure-seeking.
4 The American Dream turning into an American nightmare: This chapter examines the critique of the dream’s materialistic evolution and its negative consequences on both society and the environment.
4.1 Critical interpretation of the American Dream: This section explores academic critiques that frame the American Dream as an instrument for political propaganda and social exploitation.
4.2 Influence of the American Dream’s success mythology on popular imagination: This part details how media and "success-books," particularly those by Horatio Alger, shaped the common perception of the American Dream as a rags-to-riches journey.
Keywords
American Dream, success mythology, materialism, Great Depression, Horatio Alger, James Truslow Adams, individual success, social stratification, cultural values, American nightmare, secularization, economic prosperity, political rhetoric, societal progress, idealism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this research paper primarily about?
The paper explores the development and transformation of the American Dream, focusing on how its meaning has shifted from a spiritual and community-focused ideal to a materialistic pursuit of individual success.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The main themes include the history of the American Dream, the impact of economic crises on national values, the role of success literature, and the critical interpretation of the dream as a potential social nightmare.
What is the primary objective of the study?
The primary objective is to demonstrate that the American Dream was not always identified with materialism but was originally a moral task, and to show how this has evolved into a mechanism that often promotes selfishness.
Which academic methods were employed in this analysis?
The research is based on a literary and cultural analysis, synthesizing theoretical frameworks from communication studies, historical accounts, and critical interpretations of American literature.
What topics are discussed in the main part of the paper?
The main part covers the conceptualization of the dream, its redefinition during the Great Depression, the influence of rags-to-riches success stories, and the critical view of its role in modern industrial society.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The key concepts include the American Dream, success mythology, materialism, social recognition, and the tension between idealistic promises and the harsh realities of the American experience.
How did the Great Depression influence the American Dream?
The Great Depression caused the original moral values of the dream, such as self-restraint and discipline, to be supplanted by values centered on consumption, external appearance, and material gain as a coping mechanism for economic despair.
What does the quote by Edward Albee reveal about the dream?
The quote from Albee’s play illustrates the modern distortion of the dream, where it has become a "money-making target," highlighting the substitution of artificial values for the original spiritual and moral aspirations.
- Quote paper
- Hildegard Schnell (Author), 2006, Born to succeed? The American Dream, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/62493
