The Great Gatsby & the American Dream
The phrase "American Dream" summons the image of an immigrant, riding on a boat in New York, looking up at the Statue of Liberty with $20 in their pocket, coming to America to make a ne w life for themselves. I would describe the "American Dream" as the equal opportunity to achieve success regardless of background or upbringing. One of my favorite musicals (partly because I love Leonard Bernstein), West Side Story, tells an immigrant narrative in New York. One of the characters, Anita, sings the song, "America", along with other characters. The song describes the positive aspects of American life while also highlighting the hypocrisy of the "American Dream" because of anti-immigrant prejudice. The lyrics go: GIRLS Life is all right in America BOYS If you're all white in America GIRLS Here you are free and you have pride BOYS Long as you stay on your own side GIRLS Free to be anything you choose BOYS ...