About American Dream

Throughout history, there have been conflicting and opposing visions about what it is to live the “good life” in America. The accounts of these alternate and conflicting dreams that played out in our history make us wonder what the American Dream and the good life are. According to Gus Speth in his book on the American dream and dualities in the American ethic, the American life foreshadows modern ways of working and living, love and sharing, and this beckons us to an American tradition that brings out the best of who we are and what we can do. However, the view of an American dream in the counter superhero calibrations of Captain Fantastic is a condemnation or a parody of the perception of an American dream, but rather the absurdity of the “good life,” that reveals the intent of an American tradition to be self-reliance and predominate all obstacles of consumerism, commercialism, and capitalism.

The American Dream dreams of a land where life should be better, richer, and fuller, for every man as the research unfolds has proven to be more of a dream than a reality. There should be an opportunity for all according to ability and achievement and this should be in devotion to the public good. With the arrival of the first settlers, the concept of the American dream has remained to be that of an American elusive, ideal and an enduring simple life, with a suspicion for riches. The understanding of these American traditions draws us to three dualities in the quest to understand the American Dream namely: the pursuit of happiness, the centrality of consumerism and lastly the path to prosperity. This essay, therefore, seeks to analyze the American dream in view of Gus Speth’s three dualities of the American tradition.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Speth traces two very different notions in the Jefferson use of the phrase in “pursuit of happiness.” One from Jeremy Bethany’s idea that happiness in American tradition was the search for personal pleasure. The other one from John Locke’s idea that happiness was derived from the active devotion that possesses little to do with personal pleasure and more to do with civic virtues. McMahon believes that the “pursuit of happiness” phrase brought together the right of citizens to pursue their personal interests and joy (Speth 1). Dennis Diderot asked, “Does everyone have the right to be happy?” (1) The answer is yes. Even the less fortunate deserve to be happy and the family in Captain Fantastic is a perfect example of this duality. Ben Cash’s family does not live with the societies expectation of what is “normal,” as they are tied and untouched with the outside world. Others would believe that the unwillingness to bend in opinions make Mortensen a fascist as he does not prepare the kids for the realities of the outside world. However, they find an optimal level in things, to always stay happy. Finding that optimal level is the key to Pursuit of Happiness.

The Path to Prosperity

The Path to Prosperity has to do more with idealism than Material Prosperity. Seth argues that prosperity and the pursuit to happiness are not in any way correlated as the path to prosperity is beyond money and that the quality of the social relationships people indulge in is essentially crucial in enhancing their well-being (2). To prosper, people require positive relationships, support, and social belonging to sustain their fundamental human need. These social bonds, in a committed interaction with other people, contribute to the American Dream to foster happiness and success. In view of Speth argument, materialism existed earlier in our history as the essential path to prosperity. This can be seen from the steps of Abraham Lincoln and Carnegie to the contribution of America to world history. Lincoln thought an opportunity was from work, meaning earning from labor. Meanwhile, Carnegie focuses on wealth. Carnegie only wanted certain people to prosper and not everyone to be rich. The prosperous system in the past however no longer thrives to connect the well being of people and to improve the conditions of progress in life, towards prosperity.

Centrality of Consumption

The centrality of Consumption is the last dueling duality of the American Dream. The policies that were adopted after the World War II, gave rise to mass consumption in the American lifestyle. American values have always reflected on how we think about luxurious things that will make us rich and therefore eventually live a happy life. For instance, the desire to own a bigger house and having more material possession will make us happier in life, but clearly, that is not the case as it is a nostalgia of the past. Diener and Seligman say, “people with the highest well-being are not always the riches.” (3). Ben and his family from the film Captain Fantastic are the perfect examples of plain living. Ben has taught them from the ground up, he has shown them they can live off, for only what they only require and that is the key to happiness and well-being.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the American Dream has let many dreams of being able to grow to the fullest development to come true. As the perception of the American tradition was passed from generation to generation the idea of this ‘dream,’ has changed from acquiring wealth to the pursuit of happiness and prosperity. Even though Speth was a little disappointed in the American Dream and wanted us to try again, the 3 dueling dualities tell pretty much the same story of the nature of the human potential to live a simple life and to be self-reliance in the devotion of public interest.

Works Cited

Speth, Gus. “What is the American Dream? Dueling Dualities in the American Tradition.” 25 June 2011. Grist. Accessed 8 December 2017. .