The American Dream: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness?

American Dream: What’s It All About? Making a Personal Connection: Write down ONE word that comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “The American Dream.” Must be ONE word! YOUR WORD: ____________________

“A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

Not Just a Literary Term! Music I am the American Dream. Even though the government tried to experiment with me by placing me in the projects, I'm still the American Dream. Surrounded by drugs, jeopardized my life by living around thugs, but I'm still the American Dream. Kicked outta Palmdale High School because I was considered a distraction to the educational process. I've traveled through the complete metamorphosis of the justice system, and I'm still the American Dream. Entered Juvenile Hall as a tadpole; hopped outta prison as a bull frog, but I'm still the American Dream. The most rejected, disrespected, when I went for a job I was never selected, but I am still the American Dream. --Afroman, “The American Dream”

Not Just a Literary Term! Movies He loved the American Dream…with a vengeance The American Dream can be yours...but it'll cost you.

Not Just a Literary Term! Television American Dreams The “perfect” all-American family

So what’s the big obsession?

Definition of The American Dream The belief that in the United States of America, hard work can lead to a better life, usually through the earnings of money. These were values held by many early European settlers. The American Dream has been criticized for its emphasis on material possessions as a way of finding happiness.

Basic Tenets of the Dream Through hard work, courage, and determination, anyone can achieve prosperity The dream was only possible in a land where royalty and nobility were not recognized, and with unparalleled personal freedoms Waves of immigrants who sought freedom from various forms of persecution continued to help sustain the concept

Late 19 th Century American Dreamers Nearing the 20 th century, major industrialist personalities became the new model of the American Dream, many beginning life in the humblest of conditions but later controlling enormous corporations and fortunes. Perhaps most notable here were the American capitalists Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. This acquisition of great wealth led to the belief, that if you had talent, intelligence, and a willingness to work extremely hard, you were likely to be a success in life as a result.

Positive outcomes Optimistic nature of American life. Looking to future rather than past. Personal accountability and responsibility. One person can make a difference. No hiding behind “the system is at fault.” Noble nature of work is quintessential American trait (sloth is often admired among Europe’s elites, for instance)

Problems Emphasis on prosperity is emphasis on the material. “Looking out for number one” cripples social networks, even family. Class, race, financial situations are ignored and poverty is seen as deserved punishment for the unwilling to succeed. Social Control: The American Dream has been criticized as a useful ideal for social control by encouraging people to spend their time and energy working hard for material possessions rather than working to change the balance of power and the way that society is structured

Literature and the American Dream The American Dream was the white, middle-class protestant man’s dream. Other social classes, people of other ethnic origins, races, cultural groups and of course women have reshaped the American Dream, sometimes rejecting it, sometimes criticizing it, sometimes revising it or remodeling it to include them.

The Social Classes Upper Class Middle Class Working Class Lower Class 0.5% to 1% 43% 13%

Conclusion? Maybe it’s not so equal after all… “The rich get richer…”