Scarlet Letter And The American Dream Essay

In an ideal country, each person is offered an equal opportunity in order to achieve his or her dream, whether it might be love, wealth, or status. In twentieth century America, this ideal became known as the “American Dream”: the belief that America is a “promised land,” and will offer opportunities, equality, and happiness for all. The world became infatuated with this notion, which is when American authors began telling stories which encompass the true American lifestyle, and prove, or often disprove, the conceptions made about the American Dream. Both The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allen Poe expose the harsh realities within American society: minority groups are oppressed, judgment

In New York City in the 1920s, those who possessed wealth also possessed power, and were given opportunities in order to fulfill the desired American lifestyle. Nick Carraway, the narrator of The Great Gatsby, grew up relatively wealthy in midwestern America. His father once told him, “‘Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,’ he told me, ‘just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had’” (Fitzgerald 1). Nick’s father understands that those who are wealthy are also privileged, as they do not have financial or social burdens preventing them from achieving the American Dream. Wealth acts as a gateway to opportunities and social status; because of this, the wealthy are more inclined to achieve their dreams than those who are not given the same opportunities. In addition to opportunities and social status, the wealthy and powerful also have the privilege of acting recklessly. The wealthy and powerful can be greedy, as they do not understand the struggle of yearning for the American Dream, only to be excluded from it. They are infatuated with wealth, and fail to recognize that the lower classes do not have the same opportunities as they do: “‘Most of these fellas will cheat you every time. All they think of is money’” (Fitzgerald 31). Characters in The Great Gatsby are infatuated with achieving the promised wealth of the American Dream, and oftentimes disregard other aspects of life as a result. For them, this dream of wealth is easily attainable, as opportunities for wealth come easy and financial and social burdens do not affect them. Because those in power are given numerous opportunities, they are likely to take advantage of them, and are often under the impression that the American Dream is neverending. The main character, Jay Gatsby, is known for his luxurious lifestyle, and believes that the past is