The 'Merican Dream

The American Dream has been out of the reach of many people for many generations.  The dream has been alive in the minds of people for forever.   The American dream in the minds of the public has always been the opportunity for success and the opportunity to grow and become better and to have a free life.  That is the current definition of the American Dream.  In the 1920s the idea of the American Dream would have been to be rich and be able to be like Gatsby.  The American Dream has changed and developed as the time has as well.  As the standard for living has changed the dream has fluctuated to support that lifestyle. Current day, the dream has changed so that, instead of everybody dreaming of being insanely rich, they now dream of having what they need.  Throughout time people have become less greedy and more likely to dream of happiness and being content with life.

The idea of wealth has also changed a lot over the years.  In the 1920s wealth would have been measured in materialistic forms.  Wealth would have been measured in how many cars, the size of the house, as well as furniture and jewelry and clothes.  Wealth would have been the amount of money and the amount of items that a person has.  In current times wealth is measured not only in money but also happiness.  People no longer consider money to be the only important thing in life.  Wealth in life is measured in happiness.  Part of the American Dream is to be happy and to feel like you are.  Wealth is on an individual basis and is no longer a construct that is based off of societal construct.

Wealth is thought of as a positive value within society.  Wealth is looked up upon and it also is seen as something to be desired no matter what condition that person may be in outside of being wealthy.  On  the opposite end of the spectrum is poverty.  Poverty is looked down upon because it can be seen as laziness.  People who live in poverty can be seen as lazy and as people who do not try to achieve anything in life, people who do not want to achieve the American Dream.  In my eyes Wealth is just a symbol of people taking advantage and being able to succeed with the opportunities that they received due to their American Dream. Where as poverty is simply the lack of success and the inability to make their dreams into a reality.  That is what the American Dream is.  Making dreams into a reality and living how you want to live.

-Nick