Alondra Martinez

Mrs.Carroll & Ms.Wilczynski

American Literature

April 22, 2019

The Day the American Dream Burned

The American Dream, an idea created by writer and historian, James Truslow

Adams, in 1931 where he first introduced this idea to the world in his best-selling book

"​Epic of America​”. In his book Adams describes his idea as, “that 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”. With this concept of the “American Dream” many

people from around the globe lived for this dream in hopes of one day achieving it, but

now living in the 21​st​ century we should ask ourselves is this idea still alive? Are there

still people who believe in this? Has this idea been a lie and only been setting us up for

failure? Today we live in a century more open and more “woke” where we the people are

less vulnerable and with the help of the internet we can access news, people, articles, and

web pages to see stories and facts about what the “American Dream” really is like, letting

the decision to one to decide whether to follow or reject this idea.

Most to not all people who seek the American Dream are people who want a better

future for themselves and family, but what most of these dreamers don't know is the hard

and evil truth of the journey towards achieving the american dream. The american dream

mostly potraide out to be easy, exitting,etc. but in fact is the total opposite. Alfredo
Martinez, who immigrated to Chicago from the low paying Mexican state, Guanajuato, in

hopes as promised and told of a better and safer future for his starting family full of

freedom and success with easier outreaches to better opportunities once in America.

Alfredo was surprised and saddened at how his life was starting to set of. Now 2 years as

a immigrant to the U.S., Alfredo speaks out to me once asked the question “is the

American dream like told by many and was it what you expected it to be?” Alfredo

giving his answer with words such as “brainwashed”, “lied too”, “harder then told to be”,

and the highlight “if I knew America was this way I would have never left Mexico”.

Alfredo goes on my saying how he didn’t expect things to be so difficult and sees himself

working and stressing as much about money and work like back in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Alfredo being one of the many immigrants holding there American Dream not knowing

that in reality there is no American dream but only work, stress, regret,etc. This leading

to more and more people telling the truth about there journeys leaving less and less

people to believe in the American dream, perfuring to stay in there homes with loved

ones and struggle their way to a better future. Like Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “​The

Great Gatsby​”, who achieved the American dream ended up being one of the saddest and

unhappy man despite all the luxuries and money due to not having anyone to love and

give love like Gatsby many dreamers find themselves lonely and lost.

Going forward with the idea of less people having and believing in the American dream,

has this idea had a negative impact? Although there are more positive weighing the

negative, most people when asked what negative impact has the American dream brought

to you, most answered with “stress”, “discrimination”, “missing family and friends”,etc.
Leaving home and loved one behind takes a lot especially when going to a whole

different country and culture without knowing the language or anyone. Passing time

alone and having to struggle alone really brings out depression and loneliness especially

with not having anyone to whom tell your problems or someone to support you.

Alongside with loneliness discrimination arises too with not knowing the language nor

being like everyone else. Like my immigrant grandmother many suffer in the work field

as those seeking the American dream as taken advantage off due to there lack of

knowledge and power. Like Delia, from Zora Hurston's short story “​Sweat”​ , Delia is

taken advantage of due to her being a women meaning discrimination towards her by her

husband who beat her, destroy her work, and cheated on her. Yes, the American dream

does have its positives but also it’s negatives impacting those dreamers spiritually and

emotionally.

The American dream, dead or alive? Despite this idea pushing many forward many and

impacting many, this dream also impacts negatively emotionally and is a lie. With we the

people realizing the reality of this concept we see the ugly truth leading for less and less

believers. We yet to see if in reality the American dream dies but for now we know that

as generations pass less believe in not only this idea but other lies told by the world.