Comparing American Dream In Nickled And Dimed

The American Dream is defined as “A life of personal happiness and material comfort as traditionally sought by individuals in the U.S.” (Dictionary 1). This idea is what our forefathers have based the constitution and has thrived in one way or another, even in current times. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald tells the story of Nick Carraway's new beginnings in extravagant West Egg, Long Island during the roaring twenties. Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickled and Dimed: On Not Getting By in America chronicles her time as a waitress, hotel maid, housekeeper, and nurse in a retirement home. Although these two works seem completely unrelated, they both give clear ideas on how Americans see people of other class structures and how it has shaped the American Dream.

However, the rich have no respect for those of poverty. This relationship is shared between the Wilsons and Tom Buchanan. George Wilson’s dream is to move out west and start a new life with his wife. He hopes to buy Mr. Buchanan’s car and sell it to achieve his dream. Tom looks down upon George, “He’s so dumb he doesn’t know he’s alive” (Fitzgerald 26), when referring to his affair with George’s wife, Myrtle. Myrtle uses her position as Tom’s mistress to fund her expensive desires. Myrtle even takes on the persona of the wealthy when referring to a hotel maid, “These people! You have to keep after them all the time” (Fitzgerald 32). Myrtle sees herself as above her own class structure when around Tom Buchanan, do to his money. This view of the wealthy is completely upside down in Nickel and