How Does Rip Van Winkle Characterize The Great American Dream

Benjamin Franklin was “one of the ablest of the able men whom the American republic numbers amongst her fathers and founders.” (The Illustrated Magazine of Art 37) Franklin was many things during his lifetime and assisted in leading America through a turbulent time of politics. He was a supporter of federalism and religious liberty. His beliefs aligned with many of the virtues of enlightenment ideals.

Paul Glader, a modern writer, says the American dream is now all about money. Money is our future and all any individual thinks about. Money is what will give us the perfect life, regardless what one does to achieve that money. When comparing Fitzgerald’s and Glader’s ideas on the American

Benjamin Franklin’s resumé starts from a print shop to a politician, and finally to a scientist. Having worked in different

The American Dream is similar to the ideals of The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald, because today we do not have steady employment, it is unrealistic to those with different circumstances, the dream can be reachable through hard work, and the dream varies for people. People still struggle to find opportunities of employment and

Immoral Money It is evident that the American Dream is just an unreachable ambition and that people are destined to languish in their journey for money, love, and happiness. Everyone soon learns that the American Dream is just pretending to be the American Nightmare. This is seen in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It follows wealthy Americans on their trek for the American Dream.

Benjamin Franklin is known to be an “Archetypal American,” because of his beliefs on religion, self-improvement, hard work, and determination; but also his somewhat prideful spirit. Much of modern America is quite similar to Franklin in his actions throughout his lifetime. In his early years, Franklin’s father, Josiah, had a set plan for what he was supposed to do with his life, as a minister. Soon into his education, he found an interest in reading and writing, so he began pursuing a career in printing.

Like, sighing the declaration of independence and inventing the lighting rod which protects buildings from lighting strikes. Nevertheless, his greatest invention was and is the American Dream. He proved that through hard work any American can achieve the dream. Although he arrived to Philadelphia almost penniless, with his hard work and little help of luck he was able to make a fortune and retire at the age 42. Franklin’s definition of the American dream implied that everyone had a chance to reach the life of liberty and peruse happiness.

The American dream is something that we all strive for in one way or another. Whether it’s being equal to the people around you, or having freedom to be successful in whatever you want in life. But for the characters in Of Mice and Men it is the dream of owning land and being independent from everyone else. But the American Dream is not something that is given to you, it includes work ethic, knowing that the dream may be impossible and the sacrifice that may have to be made. These are all things that George and Lennie and other characters in the book have to do to eventually reach the American dream.

Benjamin Franklin: The Archetypal American Modern American identity revolves around self improvement. Americans seek to improve themselves in all areas of life, be it socially, financially, or physically. Americans accomplish these goals through education and observing the successes of others. Benjamin Franklin, a man who is frequently admired by fellow Americans, embodies many of these qualities and, as such, has become an archetype of success and of what it means to be American. Benjamin Franklin is an archetypal American because of his values of self-improvement, community-mindedness, and frugality.

Altogether Twain thought Franklin was a dimwitted, ignoramus fruitcake that walked around “flying his kite and fooling away his time in all sorts of such ways, when he ought have been foraging for soap-fat, or constructing candles.” (“Late Benjamin” 140). Twain does have legitimacy with his critique, although he may have been a little rude presenting his points, it was still a valid argument. Franklin does get more credit than he deserves, but unlike Twain, I don 't think we should forget that he ever

The American dream is an illusion that is deeply implanted in the minds of the people, it sets a bar for life achievement and offers hope to work hard to achieve their dreams. As for Americans, they are raised in a society to where they are expected to make lots money and to have a healthy family. After all in our society success is largely based off positions of power and financial stability. For example, in The Great Gatsby, written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, there were multiple interpretations of the ideal American dream in the 1920s. In the 1920s, due to the growth of materialism, people advertised and fancied the power of money to fulfilling their dreams.

The Amer­i­can Dream is a lifestyle: the thought that if you put in hard work, you will gain wealth. Through this wealth, you will have happiness. In the nov­el The Great Gats­by, Jay Gats­by is quintessential of The Amer­i­can Dream: he start­ed off dirt poor and with dedication, he made himself into something; a rags to riches story. As The Dec­la­ra­tion Of In­de­pen­dence states: 'All men are cre­at­ed equal, that they are en­dowed by their Cre­ator with cer­tain un­alien­able rights, that among these are Life, Lib­er­ty and the pur­suit of Hap­pi­ness.' In oth­er words, ev­ery person in America has the right to re­al­ly make them­selves in­to some­one, even if you start with nothing.

Scott Fitzgerald would say that the American dream is a concept that you can achieve greatness or better circumstances by any means that you can. Also, the real dream is not riches because then people would become reckless, but the real goal is to reach ultimate happiness. He would say this because when people desire for something they are not, they go to measures the affect others and the outcomes are not often positive. The novel and Gatsby’s story show that the failure of achieving his dreams proves the the foolishness of short-cutting the dream by corruption without hard work, integrity, or real love. Fitzgerald’s version of the American dream would say that all have the ability to gain more success with hard work and being true to yourself.

My definition of the American Dream is someone who starts from nothing and makes their way through life in a happy and healthy way. Not everyone is capable of reaching the American dream. In Of Mice and Men the American dream was not reached by Lennie and George. In A Raisin in the Sun, they too did not reach the American dream. The American dream is a difficult thing to accomplish even though many live their lives trying got achieve this dream.

The term, “American dream,” was first used by historian James Truslow Adams. James stated that the American dream was, “That dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement.” Although the quote states a perfect definition of the American dream, this term can be interpreted in several ways. The American dream is achieving a goal that before was seen as impossible or unlikely, making a decision that could improve the life of future descendants, and having goals that you want to accomplish.