Introduction
The American dream is a concept of the US whereby the democratic ideals are viewed as an assurance of prosperity for its people. The American dream was first expressed in 1931 by James Truslow Adams he citizens regardless of their rank should be able to achieve a happier richer and better life, with chances available for each individual depending on achievement or ability. The idea of the American dream can be found in the declaration of independence, the second statement states that all human beings are equal and that their creator has given them certain indisputable rights including liberty, life and pursuit of happiness.
The American dream has been applauded in helping to create a cohesive American experience but on the other hand it has been held responsible for over inflated prospects. Some observers have realized that regardless of deep seated idea in the democratic American dream, the structure of modern American wealth still promotes class and racial inequalities between generations. These observers propose that the disadvantages and advantages are not always linked to failures or successes but in most case to the previous position of an individual in a social group. This essay seeks to examine whether the American dream is a myth or reality, how the story “Ragged Dick” came to form the basis of the American dream and how the notion of the American dream has changed today.
Is the American dream a myth or a reality today?
In the recent past, the idea of the American Dream has been analyzed by a number of firms as a national ideal. From the analysis done in the 1990s to the 2000s has concluded that many people are increasingly loosing faith in the American dream. The American dream is in addition to being a myth, a destructive tool used in controlling people by the ruling elites. Basically the American dream means that if one fails, then it must be as a result of his own failure such as not working hard or smart, being immoral or doing bad things. This view deliberately fails to account for the fact that people are born under different circumstances and that it is not given that an individual can rise up from poverty by merely working hard. In actual fact it is not impossible but when the likelihood is against your efforts most people will definitely fail. In this instance the factors that determine a person’s success are gender, race or class.
Each feature of the American dream can result in failure or success. When an individual comes to America in an attempt to achieve the dream, each person is given an opportunity to succeed. Nevertheless, it is very hard to go beyond the social barriers. In as much as this may sound pessimistic, an individual’s environment in most cases shapes the character of an individual and his/her incentive to succeed. For instance if an individual was to grow for all his life in a poor family or society, it is most likely that the individual will only access poor education and subsequently earn a low income in adulthood. There is high probability that the individual will conclude that all places are similar in the world and in most instances the individual’s standards and goals will be reduced to the level of life that they are used to. In the US, everybody is presented with a chance to succeed as compared to many countries whereby the social class in which one is born in is the one you will always remain in your entire life. America gives all people a chance to excel but for one to succeed you must always fight to uplift yourself from the standards that have been set.
However individuals are driven by the notion of success to work hard even if they don’t have any chance of ever succeeding. Without any competition the achievement of success is not possible. The American economy must therefore be based on competition, the American dream in as much as it may not give any real probability of success; it is still very crucial in the present society and economy. (Naylor, 1998)
“Ragged Dick.” How did this story come to form the basis of the American dream?
Ragged dick is a story that is set on the streets of the city of New York; the story gives a picture of a cheerful and adventurous teenager called Ragged Dick. The boy portrays his skills in fending off bullies and foiling conmen. One day Dick was asked by a gentleman if he would guide Frank, his nephew on a sightseeing tour around New York. Dick was given new clothes and thereafter takes Frank around the city where they have a lot of fun. Frank urges Dick to go to school as he thinks highly of him and Dick heeds to his request. The boy gets a house and with the help of a younger boy he is able to learn mathematics writing and reading. Slowly he rises to the middle class and he is even able to open his own bank account. Later Dick saves a boy who falls into a river from the Brooklyn ferry, the boy’s father being a wealthy industrialist pays back Dick by offering him a clerk position in his office which is a well paying job and finally Dick is able to achieve his American dream.
The story forms the basis of the American dream by telling of a story of Dick who is able to lift himself from poverty and excels in life. According to the story anybody can prosper financially and be recognized if they work extra hard and illustrate that they deserve it. In one instance a friend describes dick as “a young gentleman on the way to fame and fortune”. Dick is able to slowly climb the social ladder beginning from the bottom where he had no money and was totally illiterate by showing his merit and working hard. This story gives hope to anybody wishing to live the American dream because if an individual from the lowest social class can get to the high class then it is possible for anyone to achieve the same. For example we can look back at the economic situation at the end of the 19thcentury which was unstable in major countries. The development of a new industrial economy had just begun, and most industries needed a lot of cheap labor. The solution to such deficit was in the creation of a boom in the job market and it is stories like “Ragged dick” which accelerated the people to work harder. Similar to all myths the American dream serves the purpose of steering the people in the preferred direction. (Alger, 2004)
How has the notion of the American dream changed recently?
In the past, the US has promoted and regarded itself as an inspiration of prosperity and liberty that is achieved by combining the ethical and philosophical principles proposed by its founders and put in place in their most ideal form. In line with this idea is its natural bounty and wealth in the new world. However over the course of history the meaning of the American dream has changed, in the past the concept was connected to the new world ideas of the continuous expansion and availability of land. In today world one can only prosper through his ability and participation in the resonant culture and society of the United States. According to the current status of the dream, it involves the chance for a child to grow up in the US and it requires the acquisition of the American education and thereafter getting the career opportunities. Therefore it is the chance to make personal choices without being hindered by race, class, religion, caste or ethnic group.
Half a century ago, the American dream was focused around the belief that if a person was to work hard and be given the chance to succeed, that individual can become self sufficient and successful in life. At the moment most Americans however have taken up the belief that all of us deserve a certain level of existence because of the mere fact that we were born. The idea that equality for all means that all should be granted what they lack or need has dominated the minds of most Americans as opposed to comprehending that opportunities should be seized by diligently working on these opportunities so as to achieve success in life. (Heather, 2006)
Works cited
Alger, Horatio Jr. (2004): Ragged Dick. Kessinger publishing LLC.
Heather, B. J (2006): The American dream and the power of wealth; choosing schools and inheriting inequality in the land of opportunity. Taylor & Francis group, New York.
Naylor, L. (1998): American culture; myth and reality of a culture of diversity. Greenwood publishing group, Inc.
