Dreamers

The term 'the american dream' brings many images to mind. Chiefly, however, it signifies the rise from rags to riches. It is the possibility of this phenomenon which supposedly marks the USA as unique: the opportunity for the poor to rise to wealthy. This is the definition of the 'american dream', and ought not to be confused with the general dreams that americans have.

A dream implies a fantasy about that which one does not have, and therefore to experience a dream, one cannot already be in possession of the object (material or not). To experience the 'american dream', which refers to the dream of obtaining wealth, one cannot already be in possession of wealth as it would then no longer be a dream but a reality. Therefore, those born into wealth in the upper class cannot experience the american dream. They are already rich, and wealth is no longer a dream. They are certainly able to experience and pursue other dreams, but not the dream coined as the 'american dream'.

People's perception of the 'american dream' may vary. Some may view it as the pursuit of wealth, others of happiness and others of success. However, this variation in perceptions does not change the true definition of the term 'american dream'. The term coins one specific dream only, irrespective of perception and its definition is in itself not open to interpretation. The dreams of american society, however, are. Seeing as the american dream has a precise definition, it is therefore open only to those born into sub-wealthy conditions.