The American Dream -Illusion due to corruption
‘The home of the free + the land of the brave’
“The American Dream that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” -James Truslow
-If you put in enough effort, you will be rewarded with wealth etc.
- Gatsby worked hard but illegally. He became wealthy. Shows the corruption of the dream.
- Vally of Ashes and Wilson. These people work hard everyday. They remain poor and at their lives as a struggle. -these people and this setting represents the illusion of the dream. They believe in it, they strive for it but it never comes.
- Tom and Daisy. Have not worked at all. Born into ‘the dream’. They don’t live the ‘dream’ lifestyle because their lives are centered around “things” and “events”
‘poor get poorer and rich get richer’
The belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone. The American dream is achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work, not by chance. Both native-born Americans and American immigrants pursue and can achieve the American dream.