The American Dream: A Bittersweet Evolution

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by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position" (Hardwick 1).

This definition outlines the values embodied within the American Dream, bringing into focus the term’s many facets. From America’s founding to present-day, the meaning has evolved from a pursuit of nonmaterial and material success to solely the latter. The American Dream has become a one-dimensional quest for wealth, in effect, butchering the values connected to the term. The growing emphasis on wealth in American society has altered the average American’s perception of the American Dream. As Phil Hardwick’s article in the Mississippi Business Journal makes evident, the American people see the “Dream” as one that is economic—defined by homeownership and spending (Hardwick 1). In recent years, with the enthusiastic approval of the banks and government, the number of American homeowners has grown exponentially (“American Reality” 1). However, this quest for ...

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