Cole O’Brien

Ms Gintner

English 3 CP

Sept 2, 2010

Dreams of Contentment

My definition for the American Dream is to live a happy life. However, the specifics of a

happy life depend on the individual. Whether it is becoming rich or famous, starting a family, or even

living a free life, all dreams include a level of contentment. In my collage, I chose to represent The

American Dream through a thought bubble of a daydreaming child, representing The American Dream

within all of us, and how most American Dreams are often in reality, just a dream. For many, their

dreams of happiness include material possessions, such as money, sports cars, and luxurious mansions.

On my collage, images of money and an extravagant home symbolize this dream. In an attempt to make

the reality the truth, many dreams include climbing the corporate ladder, rising in class, to get: “…

bigger cars, fancier homes, the fruits of prosperity for their families – but have less time to enjoy their

prosperity,” as described in the essay from the Library of Congress: What is the American Dream? This

is often not the case, as many American citizens never leave their social class. I used pictures of blue-

collar workers to represent those of the lower class pining for a better life, and a CEO to represent a

common goal of their labor. For those prejudiced and oppressed, their American Dream might include

happiness through freedom and rights. This is often the case with the slaves of the 1800’s, the African-

Americans during the Civil Rights Movement, or even Immigrants in the late 1800s to the present. My

collage demonstrates this with photos of Abraham Lincoln who helped free the slaves, and Martin

Luther King Jr., who helped give African-Americans equal rights. However, some Americans believe in
the simple American Dream, to “…have a college degree, a great job, a nice apartment, and a nice

husband,” as described in Zsofia Varadi’s article: I celebrate with gratitude my living of the American

Dream. Their happiness comes from having a family, a place to live, or sometimes saving lives. On my

collage, two pictures of a happy couple and their family symbolize this dream of happiness. Very often,

Americans dream of happiness they do not already have, creating unrealistic fantasies. If one realizes the

simple happiness they already have, the American Dream does not become a dream any more.