When most people think of the American Dream, they probably think of material success.
Most people probably think of success stories of poor boys and girls who, despite their hardships, become the main characters in Hollywood movies, escaping their disadvantages and winning wealth and honor.
The term “American Dream” actually has a sad meaning hidden in it. It is something that is not talked about very often, so I would like to capture the original meaning of this word.
History
In 1620, a ship called the Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England, bound for a new land. There were 102 passengers and 25 to 30 crew members on board, and the 66-day voyage must have been an arduous one, plagued by illness and other hardships. They were Puritans, and as they felt that they would not be able to practice their faith freely in England, they fled their homeland and left England.
The Mayflower would become a symbol of religious freedom, but they would also become heavily involved in the history of American settlement.
The Mayflower became a symbol of religious freedom. It must have been extremely difficult to procure food from the middle of nowhere.
The Puritans, who survived, settled the New England area and laid the foundation for the United States.
In search of gold, they proceeded to the West. The Indians lost their homes, and Manifest Destiny virtually disappeared by the end of the 19th century, which was the moment when they finally took possession of the American land.
American Literary History
In the history of American literature, Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick, or, the Whale” was published in 1851, which shows that by the latter half of the 19th century, the new America was no longer a British country, but a new country with its own culture.
In 1900, Sister Carrie, written by Dreiser, depicted American society realistically, focusing on the contrast between success and failure in America, and highlighted the image of people living in materialism.
It is thought that the term “American Dream” was replaced by the term “material success” at this time. In the 20th century, the U.S. experienced remarkable growth.
It took more than 200 years from 1620 for America to become a new country.
However, we should not forget the existence of the WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants). In this age when President Obama is a black man, some people think that the WASPs have become a thing of the past, but we must not forget that originally there was no such thing as an American.
It is impossible for an Englishman to become an American. This is the American dream.
This is the American dream, a dream that can never be fulfilled.
This is something that should not be forgotten when talking about America.
Of course, it is obvious that the United States is a melting pot and a salad bowl, where various races are mixed together to form a single country, but there is no doubt that the WASPs are at the root of this melting pot and salad bowl.
Conclusion
The American Dream is often described in terms of material success, but at its root, it is an unattainable dream inherited from the British, who pursued an unrealizable dream.
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