All through human history, art has always been a part of the story. Since public education has become widely accessible to citizens of a almost every country, the ability to write has provided opportunities for both creators and consumers of the arts, especially the written art, to have a continuous and enriching exchange. Writing has emerged as the dominant, and a veritable form of creating art.

In the United States of America, writing played a crucial role in formulating and advancing the philosophy upon which this nation was founded. “American Dream” emerged as a national catch phrase that has inspired generations. It is a theme that has helped Americans carry the idea of what it means to desire, and put in the hard work that it takes to achieve the desires of one’s heart .

Granted, the default assumption might be that achieving socioeconomic success automatically translates to achieving American Dream. That narrow assumption is a disservice to the lofty ideal of the American Dream. A closer look at history may lead the more deliberative mind to the conclusion that what it means to achieve the dream varies from person to person, and from generation to generation.

It may also be instructive to keep in mind yet another pertinent question: “Is there really an American Dream; or is the idea an illusion?” In the next six pages of this project, I am going to to illustrate how artists have used their works to approach this topic that continues to energize endless discussions.

Note: All page references are from the primary source of the (text) contents of this website: Belasco, Johnson, and Linck Johnson. The Bedford Anthology of American Literature.