What’s up With the American Dream?

What is up with the American Dream?
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What is up with the American Dream?
Abstract
The five texts will give an in-depth analysis of the American Dream and its influence on the lives of human beings. It offers information regarding the different perceptions of the American Dream, as understood by these folk. This paper will delve into both sides of the argument; depicting the benefits and drawbacks of achieving the American Dream. It will caution individuals about foregoing their dreams simply because of the falsified idea of success. Through an exploration of the American Dream, readers understand the importance of both material and emotive fulfillment in leading a successful life.
In addition to understanding the positivity affiliated with the American Dream, the paper also gives an overview about the negative sides. Like in Amy Tan’s text, readers observe the feud between Jing Mei and her mother. It ensues from the latter’s misconception about the American Dream. The paper also offers a discussion about the symbolic nature of the same. Together with this, there is an in-depth examination of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman due to the text’s influence in understanding the American Dream. The protagonist will be a clear representation of the members that are brainwashed by success and the American Dream, as a whole. Inasmuch as the American Dream improves lives of most immigrants, it is important for them to maintain moderation while making the decision to achieve success.

Unlike Miller’s protagonist, the paper will caution people about not exposing themselves to extremities, simply because of the American Dream. Finally, a precise conclusion offers the readers proper insight about achieving success in America.
What is up with the American Dream?
The American Dream is relative. While one may consider material wealth as substantial evidence of achieving the American Dream, another individual may consider emotional fulfillment to represent the same. It is quite obvious that the American Dream incorporates the ways of life affiliated with the American people. The concept addresses both individualistic and social issues of immigrants thus; it depicts universality and ensures comprehension of the American Dream. Inasmuch as the American Dream has assisted numerous foreigners, the concept also breeds false consciousness in most of them in the U.S.
Incorporated in various literary texts such as The Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller, the American Dream offers validation to both sides of the argument. Williams (2004) ensure that readers understand the essentiality of both material and emotional fulfillment in achieving the American Dream. Miller’s protagonist thrives in oblivion and disillusionment in an attempt to acquire professional satisfaction. Willy Loman, in the text, strives to become the best salesman yet he dwells on fantasies and people’s approval (Williams, 2004). Living in America as a foreigner, there is an understanding about the inevitability of nostalgic feelings. Most of these immigrants strive to acquire acceptance from the Americans. For this reason, they begin acquiring some of the latter’s cultures to ease this assimilation process. Such instances accentuate people’s assertions of false consciousness in understanding the American Dream. There is a regard for the concept of cultural pluralism highly because it ensures that foreigners and immigrants do not abandon their cultures. When these individuals are disillusioned, just like Willy Loman, it is impossible for them to achieve the American Dream.
Other texts often integrating Chinese characters revolve around a similar plot. It often involves strict mothers that expect their daughters to achieve the American Dream. According to Amy Tan’s Two Kinds, Jing Mei’s mother is certain about the fruitful nature of America. She is affirmative and convinced completely that her daughter would achieve success in the nation. It is salient that Tan agrees with my opinion about the falseness associated with the American Dream. To acquire substantial conclusions, therefore, individuals should combine this opposition with various counterarguments. Most endorsers of the American Dream would offer insight into the fulfilling nature of living in America. Much as the living standards are high, the existence of the U.S. currency alleviates these immigrants thriving to settle in America. As there are many immigrants in America, most people have trusted the nation with foreigners. The existence of individuals that have achieved the American Dream also portrays the nature of success in America (John, 1963).
Through the American Dream, America only experiences subtle instances of discrimination. Often, these disenfranchised groups are assimilated into the American culture thus, eradicating the prevalence of racial, religious, political and ethnic differences, among others. They are not forced to abandon their cultural values despite the fact that some groups indulge in the same. Even in assimilation, most groups retain their cultures, thereby, bringing about a diversified community. Delving deeper into these counterarguments, individuals are perturbed by those allowing the American Dream to override their personal decisions and sanity. In Amy Tan’s text, for instance, if Jing Mei did not rebel against her mother, she would be forced to abandon her dreams, ambitions, and goals. There is an opposition apropos of the American Dream because of its observable misconceptions. It is uncanny for individuals to assume that every foreigner in America will achieve success and fulfillment. Most times, both material and emotional satisfaction require individualistic effort so as to augur success. It is impossible to achieve the American Dream when an individual, just like Willy Loman, is still battling internal conflicts.
People are also against the American Dream because of its ability to create low self-esteem and disillusionment in individuals. When they are unable to achieve success through the American Dream, it interferes with their future productivity due to demoralization (“The Secret of My Success” 1995). In conjunction with this, there is a portrayal of stagnation in achieving the American Dream. Human beings are expected to follow certain regulations that are supposed to bring about success. The American Dream often dismisses careers acquired through talents, skills, and self-employment. It is indeed a concept that relies on formalities for the acquisition of success. In such a scenario, American values ascertain that individuals should acquire college degrees that will be useful in securing employment opportunities. These monotonous rules may demoralize the individuals that rely on talents due to their academic deficiency.
The American Dream is a symbol representing various scopes of success. Inasmuch as many individuals are against its prevalence, it is important for them to understand the American Dream. Its tenets assist the American citizens to work for their success (Adams, 2004). These ideologies should, however, be implemented in moderation. When people are obsessed with achieving success, they often end up losing themselves, thereby, interfering with their chances. Willy Loman’s absolute lust for materialism compromised his ability to succeed as a salesman, as portrayed in Miller’s text (“Arthur Miller Attention Must Be Paid” 2005). If people offered their support for the American Dream, they would require individuals to understand the distinction between their desires and long-term goals. Giving priority to the latter ensures that human beings exercise the former in absolute moderation.
Delving further into the relationship between unworthiness and the American Dream, there is a belief that the latter does not allow people to grow. Most Americans, especially celebrities, and influential figures, are simply praised due to their fame. The American Dream does not give room for celebrities to develop in different sectors apart from the public one. As mentioned earlier, people do not condone the prevailing nature of monotony and stagnation in realizing the American Dream. Such happenings interfere with individuals that do not achieve success. They begin self-loathing and affiliating themselves with the inferiority complex. It is also unfortunate that the American Dream leads to indirect exploitation of human beings. Such issues are often observable apropos of the legal field when lawyers misuse the power accumulated in their career.
It is important to understand the benefits and drawbacks of the American Dream. As they are interdependent, individuals should utilize concepts accrued from both sides to make final decisions about the topic. Assimilation in America often interferes with immigrants’ cultural values. Nonetheless, the evident nature of cultural pluralism counteracts these incidents ensuring that the foreigners do not forget their roots. The obsessive ways of attempting to achieve success are seen to be derogatory rather than progressive. Most importantly, individuals should not be forced to forego their dreams and ambitions simply because of the American Dream.
References
Adams, M. (2004). Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Barron’s Booknotes.
Arthur Miller Attention Must Be Paid (2005). World Book Year Books. World Book Publishing.
John, S. (1963). Works of John Steinbeck: Critical Commentary. MacMillan General Reference.
The Secret of My Success (1995). Magill’s Survey of Cinema. Gale Research.
Williams, L.M. (2004). Death of a Salesman. Barron’s Booknotes.