The American Dream, Term Paper Example

The mythos of the American Dream expresses the notion that America is a country in which every individual can achieve success.  The possibilities and limitations of the American Dream are explored by Jim Cullen in his 2003 book, The American Dream:  A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation.  By exploring the history of this idea, Cullen attempts to explain why the American Dream–in its many variations–has had such an enduring hold on the national consciousness (Cullen 9).  Although tangible things like home ownership, good jobs, and safe schools have come to symbolize the realization of the American Dream (Cullen 135), it can also mean the achievement of physical, spiritual, and cultural freedom from oppression and fear (Cullen 129).  Cullen acknowledges that the American dream is inherently subjective, shaped by both the individual and the time in which he or she lives.  As a dream, it is not often found in reality (Cullen 183); instead, it represents something that every individual can strive for, but may do not necessarily attain.

Works Cited

Cullen, Jim.  The American Dream:  A Short History of  an Idea that Shaped a Nation. New York, NY:  Oxford University Press, 2003.