Evaluating the American Dream: Its Relevance in the Modern USA Context

This essay explores the concept of the American Dream, tracing its roots to the Declaration of Independence and its popularization through literature like "The Great Gatsby." It examines the original ideals of equality and opportunity, contrasting them with the present-day realities of global capitalism and industrialism in the United States. The author reflects on personal beliefs and observations, noting a perceived decline in the Dream's relevance due to unequal opportunities and rewards. Drawing a parallel to George Orwell's "Animal Farm," the essay concludes that the initial concept has been subverted, becoming more of a facade than a genuine possibility for all Americans. The essay references various academic sources to support its analysis of the American Dream's historical context and contemporary challenges.

Running head: AMERICAN DREAM AND ITS CURRENT RELEVANCY
American Dream and its Current Relevancy
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1AMERICAN DREAM AND ITS CURRENT RELEVANCY
The concept of the American Dream was first defined by James Truslow Adams in
1931 in the words “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity
for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of
birth” (Lawrence). Thus, this particular concept is often referred to as the national ethos of
the nation of USA which includes within itself the key features of the USA democracy like
liberty, equality, fraternity, justice and others (Wysong, Perrucci, and Wright).
Furthermore, many experts are also of the viewpoint that this particular concept defines the
national character of the nation where all the people have equal opportunities and growth
options provided they are willing to do the necessary hard work for the achievement of the
dreams as well as the goals which they have set for themselves (Urahn et al.). However, in
the present times with the rise of the concept of global capitalism and industrialism the
concept is losing its relevancy and also the importance which it used to hold in the 20th
century. This essay will discuss about the concept of the American Dream and its relevancy
in the present day USA.
The concept of the American Dream has its roots in the “Declaration of
Independence” which states that all the citizens of the nation are equal in the eyes of the
nation and furthermore that they should go for the “pursuit of their happiness” (Brzezinski).
The popularity gained by this particular concept is being reflected in the novel “The Great
Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald and his other novels and also in the works of the other writers
of the “Beat Generation” (Wysong, Perrucci, and Wright). These literary works in a
significant manner upheld the various ideas which the concept of the American Dream stood
for and at the same time also emphasized the virtues of this novel concept (Bouza). However,
it is significant to note that these novels as well as literary works in a subtle also tried to
portray the corruption which this particular concept has undergone in the recent times
(Wysong, Perrucci, and Wright). Thus, at the time of the articulation of this particular

2AMERICAN DREAM AND ITS CURRENT RELEVANCY
concept the nation of America seemed to a land of opportunities to the people or more
appropriately the land of one’s heart’s desire or more precisely an idea Utopia (Urahn et al.).
However, latter on it was found by the people that the land of America was only a mirage
which lured the individuals with the promise of endless opportunities to its shores (Wysong,
Perrucci, and Wright). Thus, it would be apt to say that the articulation of the concept of the
American Dream entailed with itself its inevitable corruption.
I would like to comment in this particular context that the concept of the American
Dream is something which has a considerable amount of appeal for me. Being an American
citizen it is obvious that I would be a firm believer in the concept of the American Dream
since I have been following the various strictures of the American Constitution right from my
childhood. However, at this particular juncture I would like to add that seeing the present
scenario of the nation I personally believe that the concept is losing its sheen somewhat
especially in the light of the current policies which the nation is following in the present
times. For example, right from my childhood my parents, family members, teachers and other
individuals who have wielded an influence on me have ingrained on my mind the concept
that America is a land of opportunities and if a person is willing to work hard then he is likely
to achieve the goals as well as the targets which he or she had set out achieve. However, my
recent experiences and interactions with the business world have shown that this particular
concept is not valid or not as valid as it used to be a century ago. The concept of global
capitalism which is currently ruling the business world of the nation and various other factors
which are influencing the nation in a significant manner in the recent times has to a great
extent made this particular concept obsolete (Urahn et al.). It is a reflection of this particular
fact that the people of the nation unlike the earlier times not only do not equal kind of
opportunities but at the same time do not get equal reward for the hard work which they are
putting (Cornuelle). Thus, it is generally seen that only a particular section of the society are

3AMERICAN DREAM AND ITS CURRENT RELEVANCY
reaping the benefits of the industrial growth of the nation and other advancements and the
other sections of the society just doing the hard labor on behalf of these privileged individuals
(Urahn et al.). The present state of the society of the nation can be adequately summed up in
the words of George Orwell which he articulated in his famous novel “Animal Farm” where
he said that “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than the others” (Urahn
et al.). Therefore, I would like to say that the initial idea behind the concept of the American
Dream has totally been subverted in the recent times and this has lead to the corruption of this
particular concept in a significant manner.
To conclude, the concept of the American Dream represents the national ethos of the
nation of the USA and also the ideas which motivated as well as influenced the early
flounders and the forefathers of the nation for the creation of the constitution of the nation.
However, in the recent times it is seen that the concept has lost its original sheen or relevancy
which it used to hold in the earlier times. In the present times the society of the nation is more
ruled by the concepts of global capitalism and industrialism rather than the concept of the
American Dream. The concept of American Dream when viewed through the light of these
recent developments would seem to be completely a façade.

4AMERICAN DREAM AND ITS CURRENT RELEVANCY
References
Bouza, Anthony V. The decline and fall of the American empire: Corruption, decadence, and
the American dream. Springer, 2013.
Brzezinski, Zbigniew. Strategic vision: America and the crisis of global power. Basic Books,
2012.
Cornuelle, Richard C. Reclaiming the American dream: The role of private individuals and
voluntary associations. Routledge, 2017.
Johnson, Heather Beth. The American dream and the power of wealth: Choosing schools and
inheriting inequality in the land of opportunity. Routledge, 2014.
Putnam, Robert D. Our kids: The American dream in crisis. Simon and Schuster, 2016.
Samuel, Lawrence R. The American dream: A cultural history. Syracuse University Press,
2012.
Urahn, Susan K., et al. "Pursuing the American dream: Economic mobility across
generations." (2012).
Wysong, Earl, Robert Perrucci, and David Wright. The new class society: Goodbye American
dream?. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2013.