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John Steinbeck's 'American Dream'

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A Dime in the Rough What does it mean to be an American? Having freedom, being a patriot, your own way of life? Being an American is all of this and much more. America and the American Dream have been very controversial topics for the last hundred years, they are key elements that give people within and outside America the feeling of hope and positivity in their day to day lives. Elie Wiesel, a famed article writer and a survivor of the holocaust, is a perfect example of what a positive and hopeful view of America on the outside looks like. In the article, The America I Love, he talks about his encounters with American soldiers, who saved his life from the Buchenwald concentration camp (Wiesel). Although he was not an American at the time, these soldiers and their country were able to give Elie a feeling of hope and positivity. Him and the other prisoners were brought back to America, where they were able to experience and be a part of the American …show more content…

John goes on to write, “These dreams describe our vague yearnings toward what we wish we were and hope we may be: wise, just, compassionate, and noble” (Steinbeck). This quote is directed at those in and out of the country because it shows what the American Dream can become to anyone. A strong positive message in which people feel hope and nationalism. Although John talks about everyone being a part of America, it is not a reality. His quote, “if we have enough gold-we contribute it to the nation in the form of foundations and charities” (Steinbeck), has a deeper meaning to it. A meaning that explains what Americans, who have experienced the American Dream, can do for those who have not. Charity and helping those in need are a part of the American Dream. It leads to the bigger picture of having hope and positivity no matter the

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842 Words | 4 Pages

The American dream carries a different meaning for every person. The definition may also change according to the time period and situation. In many sources, the American dream is defined as the ideal that all United States citizens should have equal opportunity to obtain success and prosperity through dedication. Two famous speeches, “The Speech at the Virginia Convention” by Patrick Henry and “The Speech in the Constitutional Convention” by Benjamin Franklin, define the term American dream during the time we were fighting for our independence. These speeches helped define the American dream by motivating the colonists to build the foundation foundation of the term, which is freedom and independence.

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Steinbeck thinks that the American dream is continuing moving to somewhere else. Steinbeck realizes that Americans have had a hunger to go somewhere else for millions of years. From the beginning of his journey, Steinbeck is proof of this -- he always wants to keep going and see more of the United States, instead of staying at home and enjoying the life he has. He also says that roots have become meaningless to Americans, because of the urge to move to other places. For example, when Steinbeck is parked in the mobile home neighborhood, the people living around him say that they would rather live in a mobile home than have roots because it is more convenient and they are able to visit more locations.

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The Oxford English Dictionary defines the American dream as ¨ the ideal that every citizen of the United States should have an equal opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative.¨ The best example of the American dream is The Glass Castle written by Jeannette Walls. This is a book written about her traumatic experiences throughout her life and how she has made it through. She has had many struggles she has had to endure throughout her life: poverty, no security, bullies, rape, bad parenting, starvation, etc. Her two main struggles are her parents and poverty which is something that a lot has gone through. In Jeannettes life story, she shows everyone that the American dream is something that

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859 Words | 4 Pages

“The American Dream” The definition of the American Dream is as follows: the foundation idea that the individual can come from nothing and become anything. It’s the idea that the american system of Capitalism allows anyone to fulfill their dreams. However, most people believe in their own American Dream, their own “perfect life.” It can be full of happiness, money, love, food, cars, whatever anyone desires, everyone has a different opinion.

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Since the beginning of time in the United States, the idea of the American Dream has had a heavy influence on society. According to Document C, American Dream is defined as earning enough money to be happy, obtaining a worry-free lifestyle, and running in a high social circle. While working Americans still hold on to the hope of the American Dream, individuals from other countries often move to the United States with the hope that they too may have a piece of the pie. Despite the novelty and allure of the American Dream, it is nothing more than false hope.

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The American dream is a dream of land in which life should be better and richer for everyone. It’s a land where people succeed to accomplish their ambition of a better life. Most of the people have a different way of defining this American Dream. Unfortunately, for some, it could mean wealth,status,or power whereas for others it could mean companionship, good morals,love,and amity. According to our Declaration of Independence, it entitles every man and woman the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

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But he is in fact not: “I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars. I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek— And finding only the same old stupid plan.” According to him, it seems like America is far from how everyone thought and dreamt it would be. Kanye west, well-known American rapper and songwriter, sings in his song ‘made in America’ featuring Frank Ocean and Jay-Z about, just like the title, how they made it in America. The American Dream is still thriving.

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My definition of the American Dream is someone who starts from nothing and makes their way through life in a happy and healthy way. Not everyone is capable of reaching the American dream. In Of Mice and Men the American dream was not reached by Lennie and George. In A Raisin in the Sun, they too did not reach the American dream. The American dream is a difficult thing to accomplish even though many live their lives trying got achieve this dream.

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In the short story America and I, the author Anzia Yezierska writes about a Russian girl that comes to America to have a chance to be successful. The Russian immigrant and many other immigrants who migrate over to America believe that it is the land of opportunity, where dreams become reality. She came to America to pursue the so called American dream, her dream was to be able to do the things she was not able to do in Russia, and to take advantage of opportunities that her family members were not offered. Yezierska has the Russian immigrant say that, “America was a land of living hope, woven dreams, aflame with longing and desires.”

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Tracking back to Saker’s situation, every step that he has been able to take towards the American Dream can be attested to, according to him, “‘the people here [being] so good to [him which has convinced him] that the dream that anyone can come here and establish a life from nothing is alive’” (Flisiuk). Although the American Dream suggests settling in the US starting withfrom nothing, anyone would need some form of external support during the onset of his or her transition to cope with the hardships associated with such a dramatic shift. In “America and Americans,” Steinbeck emphasizes how dependent we are on one another in our pursuit for success as well as the lack of acknowledgment there is for that reliance. We have become so accustomed to receiving support that we often forget about those who guide us in the face of difficulty.

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What Does It Mean To Be An American What does it mean to be an american? Isn’t that the question that every american citizen wonders at some point in their lives? It is a simple question that can be taken different ways and answered in many different forms. Some may answer as a personal opinion, others as a factual statement, I however agree with those who see it as an opinion. Every person in America is different in some way.

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What it means to be an American. Being an American is different for everyone and everything. To one person being an American can be country and no technology. While to another person being American can be family, friends, and work. All these different things can make a person an American but to me it 's a little bit different.

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Obama notes “…because in generous America you don’t have to be rich to achieve potential” (79). In that statement even the current President of the United States knows that the dream is still out there and not even one’s financial status can change that. In America anything is possible and money will not change anything because everyone has an equal opportunity to pursue their dream. In regards to achieving one’s dream, the Declaration of Independence has a significant effect on not only American history but also the equal opportunity to achieving an American Dream. In The Declaration of Independence Thomas Edison addresses the concerns the American citizen had with Britain.

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Being an American means many things. It means freedom, pride, and the opportunity to receive proper education. While these things may have different meanings to those who think upon them, they are three of the main factors of being an American. The freedom of Americans include numerous benefits.

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610 Words | 3 Pages

Of mice and men is a prominent book read by most high school students for a long time. Of mice and men is a book written by John Steinbeck. In the book George and Lennie had to run out of weed, so they looked for a ranch to work on. Lennie had issues with liking soft things that lead to him killing Curley's’ Wife and a puppy. To express that the american dream is impossible to achieve Steinbeck uses conversations, conflicts, and events.

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