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The American Dream In Langston Hughes Let America Be America Again

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Every American strives for greatness because of the opportunity this country provides. Individuals chase love, wealth, and happiness, known as the American Dream, but find themselves running on an endless track to nowhere. F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby, sheds light on the impracticality of the dream. A dream that looks more like a nightmare. Nevertheless, many individuals pursue the dream realizing too late the fabricated reality that one cannot achieve love, wealth, and happiness. In all the fairy tales ever written, the main chapters, be it a prince or princess, fall in love and the story ends happily ever after. Just as a fairy tale, the American Dream is just a concept bound by imagination. Love comprises an essential …show more content…

America was built on an economic system known as capitalism where the free market is in control and promotes individual to go out and strike it rich. The poor desire to be rich and the rich desire to be richer and with capitalism, it is possible but not likely. Langston Hughes published a poem in the Esquire Magazine about the pursuit of wealth. In his poem “Let America be America Again,” he refers to Americans as farmers, workers, and servants who are hungry for wealth (Source C). At the time this poem was written, in 1935, America was going through a depression and many were in severe poverty. However, despite this obstacle, many still had hope for a better future. Hope is perfectly okay to have but when aspirations get too high individuals are bound for disappointment. When Gatsby was little, he dreaded the fact that his parents were poor farmers. He dreamed of a better life and wealth was the only way to achieve it. On page 173 of The Great Gatsby, Nick and Gatsby’s father open a journal written by Gatsby and finds his schedule and a list of ways to better himself. (Source A) From the writings, Gatsby’s father concluded that his son was destined for greatness. Gatsby did achieve wealth but was still unsatisfied for did not have love or happiness. This introduces an interesting paradox where wealth is never enough for an individual to be satisfied. Even if someone has money, love, and happiness, they will still desire more. As individuals achieve some aspects of the American dream they still don 't feel satisfied with the results. Wealth and love are smaller parts of the American Dream but happiness is the most important

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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 stands as a symbol for hope, prosperity, and happiness. But F. Scott Fitzgerald 's The Great Gatsby, examines the American dream from a different perspective, one that sheds light on those who contort these principles to their own selfish fantasies. Fitzgerald renders Jay Gatsby as a man who takes the Dream too far, and becomes unable to distinguish his false life of riches from reality. This 'unique ' American novel describes how humanity 's insatiable desires for wealth and power subvert the idyllic principles of the American vision. Jay Gatsby is the personification of limitless wealth and prestige, a shining beacon for the aspiring rich.

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"The negative side of the American Dream comes when people pursue success at any cost, which in turn destroys the vision and the dream." In this quote, by Azar Nafisi, it explains how dreaming can be tainted by reality, and that if a person doesn’t compromise they may suffer. In the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the American Dream is one the many themes present. The American Dream that most people in this book hope to have involves wealth, status, a fun social life, and someone to lust after. It is the life they all strive to have until they obtain it and see its meaningless composure.

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