In the 1931 book Epic of America, James Truslow Adams coined the term ’The American Dream’. By his own definition, the American Dream is this:
…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.
While this is when the term was officially indoctrinated into literary history, the overall notion of the American Dream has been around for much longer.
One could say that the idea behind the Constitution of America itself is in fact the basic idea of the American Dream. After this the American Dream was given different variations of the same meaning, but in the end it boiled down to a basic ideology that hard work, ambition and plenty of determination can shape any dream of yours and make it a reality. However, much literature written about this dream is quick to point out that this achievement isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. American literature has provided some brilliant and timeless examples of the struggle of reaching for the illusive American Dream.
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5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
As straightforward of an example of the American Dream and all of its failings, this book is a romantic and heartbreaking story set against the backdrop of the roaring 20s. The mysterious Jay Gatsby leads a life of luxury and lavish parties, but he hasn’t achieved true satisfaction. The expression ”money can’t buy you happiness” takes on new meaning in this quintessential piece of American literature from F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Gatsby’s story is that of an insatiable titular character; a man who is always reaching for something that he cannot have no matter how hard he tries. Fitzgerald’s use of iconic symbolism continues to be relevant today and is still widely studied. Both tragic and beautiful, Gatsby’s tale goes down in history as one of the great American novels for a reason.
4. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
A perfect example of how the American Dream is reserved only for the most fortunate. This book highlights some of the important limitations of the American dream and how it only pertains to those that society sees and recognizes. This book shows how someone can try everything in their power to achieve the American dream, but ultimately will be faced with the harsh prejudices of the times instead. The American dream is not as easily attainable as it is said to be.
3. The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
This famous play by Tennessee Williams showcases the American Dream and contributed to popularizing this theme. The narrator is remembering his past – and a memory is never 100 percent accurate, which makes him unreliable. It is the story of how the main character, Tom, remembers how hard his mother tried to put her dreams and hopes of a better life on her children.
Tom has memories of his mother forcing her shy daughter into finding a suitor and ignoring or pushing away certain disabilities for the chance to marry up. By doing all of this she is hoping her children can have, what she deems to be, a better life than what they have now. But by pushing her own dreams and wants on her children, she disregards them and their own life and ultimately ruins any dreams they have. This is one example of how the dream can be a nightmare in disguise.
2. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This story follows the life of two lovers from Nigeria who are separated after trying to immigrate to America. Ifemelu is first to head to America so she can get a better education. Self assured and ready for adventure, she is shocked with having to realize that she is susceptible to be the target of racism in America. The events of 9/11 had occurred before this story takes place, and due to this her love, Obinze can not fly to be with her.
The reader experiences each side of their traumatic story of fleeing the military ruled region of their homeland, being separated, immigrating to different countries, and both forced to deal with very difficult experiences. All of this occurs because they are trying to achieve the American Dream everyone has heard about , the advertisement that a better life is available if you are willing to work for it.
1. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Playing with the concept of ‘fake it till you make it’, Death of a Salesman is about a family who lies to each other about their success. They lie because their father was never satisfied with the accomplishments of his children. But their father is also suffering from a undisclosed mental illness. Their father keeps having flashbacks to their ‘glory days’ of high school and when he thought they would be successful.
These flashbacks come with forgetfulness and anger ultimately leading to the unsatisfied father losing his job. When a death gives the children some much needed cash, the topic of being worth more dead than alive arises and causes some hard truths to be faced by a family that lies about success. This book effectively illustrates the illusion of the American Dream.
These books are a small sample of the American Dream. I chose books that covered the full spectrum of the dream, from successfully navigating it , to being ignored and refused, to having to achieve a different version of the dream than what you set out for. As someone who was born and raised in America from a family that was American, my experience with the American Dream is very different than those who are actively chasing it. I would love to hear more thoughts, comments and experiences of the American Dream and what it represents to you!
