Comparing The American Dream In Into The Wild, By Jon Krakauer

Recent events have given rise to the growing issues in the black community here in the United States. Issues such as police brutality, racism and inequality. These recent events are also the main topics in the book Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. In Coates’ book he discusses these issues in depth along with correlations to this idea known as the American dream. Together the idea of the American dream and the issues presented give rise to the question; how does Coates define the dream and what does his definition say about America?

The American Dream: a cultural ethos that celebrates the cultural and individual pursuit of glorfied success. This preconceived concept is what defines our understanding for a better life in the United States. This notion is also what defines our pursuits and choices in order to get there. Truman Captote’s In Cold Blood sheds light on this socio-cultural concept as well as exemplifies the failure to achieve such a pursuit and the consequences made in order to get there.

The concept of the American Dream has borne change since its conception in 1776, with the Declaration of Independence referencing men’s unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Its definition to the American people and its attainability is conditional upon the period it is prevalent in. In general, the American Dream refers to the idea that every American has the equality, freedom, and opportunity to strive. Many classic pieces of American Literature highlight this concept in a way that is most pertinent to the period they were written in. Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Ehrenreich, specifically highlights a more modern time period, from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

“I wanted movement and not a calm course of existence. I wanted excitement and danger and the chance to sacrifice myself for my love. I felt in myself a superabundance of energy which found no outlet in our quiet life.” Leo Tolstoy “Family Happiness” Jon Krakauer in his nonfiction novel Into the wild, Krakauer depicts the life of Chris McCandless as he made his way into the Alaskan Bush.

Born into a family of eight, John D. Rockefeller grew up poor and struggled to meet demands before finding success through the oil industry. Beginning his tough journey through small jobs such as bookkeeping to eventually starting his own oil company, Rockefeller became one of the richest and most successful men in history. His story follows the concept of the so-called American Dream, defined by many as the idea that all people are given the chance to find success and wealth through their own efforts and through perseverance. However, there are different interpretations of the American Dream, as some people view it as personal achievement and happiness. The stories Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald strongly

There are many different intentions and aspirations shown by each character’s own American Dream, but each lead into the same thing which is Happiness. Beneatha is a high class women who intends to be a medical doctor and considers herself an independent woman. On the other hand, Mama is just a humble and dignified individual who has very good morals and values that beliefs can change her family overall. She also wants her family to have a better quality of life. Joseph Asagai says, “Her speech is a mixture of many things; it is different from the rest of the family’s in so far as education has permeated her sense of English” (Hansberry 17).

What is the American Dream? The American Dream is defined by the ideal that 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. In the article “ American Dream? Or Mirage?” by Michael W. Kraus, Shai Davidai, and A. David Nussbaum, the idea that the lower you are on the wealth/class scale the more you believe in the american dream, whilst on the other hand the higher you are, the more you think it is just luck rather than merit. Professor Kraus et al were wrong in saying that the American Dream is still alive when in truth the American Dream is dying if it is not already dead not only in the upper class but also in the lower class.

In America, there has always been the white dream with the white picket fences, perfect utopian societies with block associations and boy scouts; The American Dream isn’t shown to be caution yellow tape with white outlines, the chaining of families with melanin in their skin, and brutality of violence. The passage “Between the World and Me” explains that the American dream has always been white because “the destroyers are merely men enforcing the whims of our country, correctly interpreting its heritage and legacy” (Coates, 2015). The author explains there is an American dream in existence because it has always been in their heritage to be the majority and create false realities of Americas. Also, the American Dream has always been white because

James Truslow Adams defines the American Dream as the “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” (The American Dream). An idea sought after by millions of people is the American Dream; they believe there is a reward for hard work and that that reward is happiness and prosperity. The Great Gatsby, Of Mice and Men, and The Crucible are all works, which portray the pursuit and destruction of the American Dream. Jay Gatsby’s American dream was to marry the woman he loved. This is evident throughout the novel; Gatsby is determined to transform his life from dirt to diamonds all to be a suitable man for Daisy.

In the essay Is the American Dream Over? by Cal Thomas, the author references Bob Herbert’s essay, Hiding From Reality, to give his American readers an additional point of view on the American Dream situation. Working for Fox News Watch, Thomas has a conservative bias that is very evident in his essay, but this helps his audience explore a different perspective. He wrote this to inform Americans that the original American Dream is still alive, and to persuade them that unrestrained liberalism is at fault for the tarnished image of the new Dream.

When you think of the American Dream what do you think of. Some might think of coming from another country, going to college, or maybe becoming an owner of a business. There 's many definitions of The American Dream, everyone’s is different. I see the American Dream as a reality not so much of a dream these days. First thing I 'm going to talk about it what are some obstacles of reaching the American Dream, which groups of people have had trouble obtaining the dream, and why.

No matter who you are or where you have come from, you have undoubtedly heard of the American Dream. The idea that no matter who you are or where you have come from, you can do whatever it is you desire in America. What was once one the main driving forces for immigrants to flock to the new world, has slowly changed over the years, but still holds its value in the eyes of those who are looking for a promising new place to live. The American dream might not hold the same awe inspiring sound that it once did, but for many generations before ours it was a beacon of hope that helped build the foundation that the United States was built on. And, still, today the American dream might not be as achievable as it once was, but it is still an important

The American Dream of wanting less material goods in order to live a more fulfilling life that is indulged in the natural beauty of the world was the American Dream that McCandless was seeking. Christopher McCandless rejected the American Dream, as it’s traditionally defined in pursuit of a more emotionally and spiritually fulfilling existence free from the social pressures of our materialistic society in the Alaskan wilderness. The irony of McCandless's rejection of the traditional American dream is that he lived such a perfect life. a life many would want to live and achieve as a part of their own American Dream and yet he wanted to remove himself from society's standards. An important part of the traditional American dream is the “perfect American family” which is essentially the family that McCandless grew up in.

Considering numerous people in the world today have already achieved the dream, individuals still striving can understand the essentials that make the dream a reality. Former depictions of the dream relate to the country in its entirety. All citizens of the country pushing for the same dream means nobody had yet achieved it, proving there was little understanding on how exactly to carry out the goal. Everyone in the United States will most likely associate with a denizen of the middle-class that they can look up to and follow. This makes the new American Dream easier to

What is the American Dream? The American Dream is something we work hard to achieve. The American Dream as of today is wealth, true love, beauty, and success. How can one achieve the American Dream? Wealth, beauty, love, and success can be achieved by education, hard work, dedication, and motivation.