The dream of an individual being able to successfully create an outstanding standard of living for themselves is an exclusive to the United States hence the name, the land of opportunity. Two individuals who have become relevant to the idea of the American dream are Adam Shepard and Chris McCandless. Adam Shepard is a man most notably associated with proving that the so called American dream was indeed still an occurring one. Once embarked on his project he left all of his current possessions, family, and education. Chris McCandless was a wealthy college graduate from Emory university and accepted Harvard applicant who dropped all he had to become a solo traveler with a goal in mind of following his dream to make his way to Alaska. Adam Shepard had a more meaningful points to his journey because he proved that the American dream is still alive, unlike the differences Chris McCandless had, who was only a traveler who pursued for his own enjoyment. …show more content…
For Shepard to start his project of confirming that the American dream was still alive he had to sacrifice everything within possession to succeed with his goal. In his book Scratch Beginnings: Me, $25, and the Search for the American Dream Shephard documents his entire journey in which he states “The truth is that I wouldn’t wish my experience-especially the first seventy days- on anyone. Go to school, find your passion, save your money, live your dreams”(Author’s Notes). In his writing shepard aims to tell the readers he partook in this action to prove a point and to take the opportunities given such as education because without any assistance life is a rugged and hard
Adam Shepard’s project serve a greater purpose than Chris McCandless’s journey because Adam purpose was more motivational than Chris McCandless. In Shepard’s project, he proves that American Dream is still alive because of his project is proven to be true. His motivation to be successful in one year was to arise from rags to riches because he must possess “an operable automobile, live in furnished apartment, and have two thousand five hundred in check” (Shepard XIV) to prove that American Dream still exist. Which at the end of the book, he makes five thousand three hundred dollar, rented and furnished an apartment, and got a operable truck from his dedication and hard work at the close of his
Chris Mccandless and Adam shepard both dropped everything they had and decide to start over,however they did it differently. Chris Mccandless left society and lived in the wild. He wanted to get to Alaska by himself without any transport or money, but as for Adam Shepard he started over. Adam wanted to prove the american dream is possible for anyone who tries.Chris Mccandless was more admirable than Adam Shepard because he faced bigger challenges and left a bigger Impact.
In Shepard’s project, he proves that the American Dream is still alive because his project is proven to be true. His motivation to be successful in one year was to rise from having nothing to something because he must possess “an operable automobile, live in a furnished apartment, [and] have two thousand five hundred in checking”(Shepard XIV) to prove that the American Dream still exists. Which at the end of the exhausting work and effort, he makes five thousand three hundred dollars, rented and furnished an apartment, and got an operable truck from his dedication and hard work at the close of his journey. However, these similar acts of motivation are still the same with McCandless. In McCandless journey, his motivation was to pursue a life of adventure and not too worried about money. After Chris travels throughout other countries, he decided temporarily to depart to the Alaskan wilderness to find a purpose in his life. However, at some point in the journey, in the article of Death of an Innocent, he starves to death from “digging and eating the root of the [deadly] wild potato”(Krakauer 13) which caused him to motivate himself to reach 100 days from living in the wilds in a weak condition. When both people have a purpose to motivate themselves in life, they have an opportunity to find what they want to seek
Alos shepard did something meaningful and told others that you can accomplish anything if you are determined and McCandless did not prove anything to
The definition of American Dream is that we all have the equal opportunity to achieve success and determination, prosperity through hard work and initiative (“http://www.dictionary.com”). Chris McCandless was a graduate, son of wealthy parents, a consider brother, a top student and athlete but he chose a different American Dream from his family and friends. Chris McCandless did achieve his American dream through hard work, determination and initiative when he finally made it to Alaska. In Alaska he hunted, explored and watched animals in the woods from an old abandoned bus. He enjoys the beauty of Alaska that was so breathtaking to him. He was isolated from his old life, from his family and from his friends, but Chris McCandless enjoys every minute of his American dream until the day he died.
Chris McCandless is said to be a stubborn child who went into the Alaskan Bush unprepared for what was to come. Even though he did end up dying we can learn from his traits the different types of dreams people have. He showed many traits that explained who he was. He was courageous, mentally independant, and wholehearted. Having such different wants then what his parents wanted for him he followed his dreams.
Chris Mccandless thought about life very deeply and lived by standards set in many of
The American Dream is something many Americans desire. The desire to the mind – set or belief that anyone can be successful if they worked hard for what they’ve been yearning. It is considered to be a ‘perfect life’; it can be full of money, contentedness or even love. There are many divergent opinions given by people. Walter Younger from Lorraine Hansberry’s ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ and Willy Loman from Arthur Miller’s ‘Death of the Salesman’ both have their own views on the American Dream and how it can be achieved. Walter Lee Younger, a
The American Dream has always been based on the idea that each person, no matter who he or she is, can become successful in life by his or her own hard work. The dream, to desolate immigrants escaping an oppressive Europe, also embodied the idea of a self-sufficient man, an entrepreneur garnering success through his own hard work and ambition, not
Many years ago, my grandparents came to the United States in pursue of the American Dream. They came chasing opportunities and in hope of gaining a better life. As the years passed, they achieved their goal and continued their journey as dreamers. The American Dream as seen by many today is that any person, regardless of their background, can achieve great things in America as long as hard work and effort is put in. Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby, uses his 1925 novel as an allegory for his interpretation of the American Dream. The American Dream is a never ending dream; those who pursue it thrive for more, and those who achieve it are never satisfied.
In my definition of the American Dream, I mentioned that they are people who came to America and strived hard to achieve their goals and have a successful life. An example of a person that associates to my definition is Do Won Chang. Chang moved to the United States from Korea when he was eighteen years old in the year 1891. Before Chang moved to the United States he worked at coffee shops in Korea. He is very hardworking and very religious. Chang and his wife, Jin Sook spends their free time running a foundation called “Chang 21 Foundation,” which donates money to churches. It was not easy for Chang to move to a different country. He had to work as a janitor and a gas station attendant to set their goal to have a clothing store. Chang opened
Nowadays, a large number of people migrate to the United States to work and achieve the American Dream. According to the Article “What is the American Dream?” by Kimberly Amadeo, “The American Dream was first publicly defined in 1931 by James Truslow Adams in Epic of America. Adam’s often-repeated quote is, ‘The American Dream is that dream of land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.’” There are many people that can have different perspectives when it comes to the topic of the American dream. Even though many people assume the American Dream is dead, it is a very controversial topic. The American Dream may have many different points of views, but it really does exist, after all, it takes an ambitious person to strive for success through hard work, dedication and determination.
Anyone coming or currently living in the United States has a dream, or better yet known as the American Dream. What is the American Dream? Well, Brandon King, author of “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” quoted James Truslow Adams, who wrote that the American Dream “is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement, regardless of coral class or circumstances of birth”(610). Everyone’s American Dreams are all different, but a majority of them all have a few things in common, that is becoming financially fit, acquiring a good education, and pursuing the opportunities that were not available. Brandon King expresses that the ideals and values of the American Dream are very much alive. However, Paul Krugman author of “Confronting Inequalities” bring up several excellent points as well, regarding that not all Americans can pursue the American Dream because of all the inequalities Americans currently possesses. Achieving the American Dream is not impossible, but it is harder to attain now than how it used to be with social, income, and racial inequalities being the primary cause. As of now individuals has to overcome many of bias barriers to reach the American Dream which used to be a lot easier to gain back in the 1940s-50s.
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them”(Walt Disney). Many people wonder whether the American Dream is alive or dead. Jay-Z, Arnold Swarzenegger, and Michael Oher all served as examples of people that achieved their American Dream.
Just like any other Dream, the American Dream can be changed into reality. Millionaire, Chris Gardner’s popular story, mentioned in the Pursuit of Happyness can also be another good example of how the American Dream can be pursuit. Whoever thought that Chris Gardner, the 30 year old man, with little or no education, responsible for his wife and son, having his and their living on an unstable free job. Later having an emotional break down after his divorce for not affording rental payments, and the same man who had lived for almost a year with his son in public toilets, convincing him that they are on a journey, would ever become one of the most inspirational Millionaires, Chris Gardner, the founder of Gardner Rich & Co.. To be briefer on how Will Smith explains how Chris succeeded in life, he started working.