Abstract
This paper discusses how the idea of the "American dream" has been evident across the nation for decades and how the positive side of the American dream involves the hard work, perseverance, and dedication people put into reaching their goal. The paper then looks at how, in contrast to this positive side of the American dream, one of the main themes in Theodore Dreiser's "An American Tragedy", deals with the dark side of this dream. More specifically, the paper looks at how Dreiser outlines the dark and destructive pursuit of the American dream through the journey of his main character Clyde Griffiths.

From the Paper
"As a child, Clyde does not grow up in prosperity. His parents find all comfort in God and never seek to better their fundamentalist lifestyle. As a result, Clyde and his siblings are deprived of a quality education and develop no practical life skills. Clyde "... appeared indeed to resent and even to suffer from the position in which he found himself. Plainly pagan life rather than religious life interested him, although as yet he was not fully aware of this" (3). He yearns for success when seeking a new job. "I'm working now down at Mr. Klinkle's store at 7th and Brooklyn, but it isn't anything like this one and I'd like to get something better if I could" (27). When given the opportunity to work at the Green-Davidson hotel as a bell-hop, he is for the first time entranced by luxury."

Tags:Clyde, Griffiths, dream

Abstract
This paper explains that Theodore Dreiser's novel, "An American Tragedy," describes the life and eventual downfall of a young and ambitious Clyde Griffiths, as well as events in Dreiser's own life. The author points out that, throughout the novel, the reader learns of Clyde's unusual childhood, as well as the other events leading up to his misdeeds. The paper summarizes that Dreiser depicts a crime motivated by the pursuit of the American dream, which, in the end, reveals itself to be only an illusion.

From the Paper
"Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Theodore Dreiser grew up poor in an extremely religious family, causing his fascination with the wealthy in his town. His adolescence was very similar to that of Clyde Griffiths, the novel's main character. Dreiser's father was "a fervent Catholic" who, like Asa and Elvira Griffiths, "never stopped preaching rectitude and self-control to his children, but his guidance was of little practical help." Escaping his rigid conservative family life, Dreiser moved to Chicago eventually landing his first job as a reporter for the Chicago Globe. He continued working as a reporter for varying newspapers, and published his first novel Sister Carrie."

Tags:ambitious, character, childhood, murder, society

Abstract
This paper presents a discussion about "An American Tragedy" by Theodore Dreiser. The author of this paper presents a clear-cut idea and discussion about the American Dream and what it truly represents in theory and foundation even as we advance in the future.

Abstract
This paper explores the motivating forces behind Clyde Griffith's decidedly antisocial actions in Theodore Dreiser's novel, "An American Tragedy". The paper shows that Griffith's poor religious upbringing, his lack of a formal education, and his observation that money buys happiness, ultimately lead to his downfall.

From the Paper
"Sin is most often exponential in nature one hardly embarks on a lifetime of crime with a murder or rape; rather, a series of inconsequential slips that so often lead to one's downfall. The same is true in the case of Clyde Griffiths. By attempts at justification and rationalization of his first crime. "What difference did it make if he stayed out late?. Wasn't he a man now, making more money than anyone else in the family? Couldn't he begin to do as he pleased (56)?" his road to sin and death became wider and more appealing."

Tags:Kansas, Roberta, Sondra

Abstract
This paper is a critical summary of the book "An American Tragedy" by noted author Theodore Dreiser. There is a brief summary and a description of the writing style used by Dreiser.

Abstract
This paper looks at the character, Clyde Griffith, in "The American Tragedy" by Theodore Dreiser, and his objectification of women and the world at large. The paper looks at his sexism, his self-centered view of the world, and his character traits.

From the Paper
"Clyde Griffiths, the main character in Theodore Dreiser's novel An American Tragedy, is a self-centered young man whose relations with women are such that he could be classified as a sexist. He seems to seek and love women, but in fact he only uses them ..."

From the Paper
"This study will discuss the novel, An American Tragedy, by Theodore Dreiser, focusing on the literary controversy which was initiated upon Dreiser's publication of the book in 1925. The study will interpret and analyze the novel in the context of this controversy, and will also consider the social realities of the time in which it was published and which it describes fictionally. The basic argument of the study will be that Dreiser's novel is powerful both in its message and in its artistry, with a few exceptions. The book has its heart in the right place with respect to its critique of the destructive materialistic nature of American society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In addition, the structure of the novel is complex and subtle, fulfilling the technical aspects of a successful novel. The characterizations are for the most part ..."

From the Paper
"The purpose of this research is to examine scholarly literary criticism related to Theodore Dreiser's novel An American Tragedy. This paper will discuss the historical and social context in which critical commentary relevant to the novel has significance, and then evaluate literary criticism that has developed around An American Tragedy, both at the time of its initial publication and in the current period.
The fact that the novel appears to have been a popular commercial as well as critical success at the time of first publication may seem remarkable given the sundry cultural forces at work on the American landscape in 1925, when it was first written. An American Tragedy was part of what Frederick Lewis Allen describes as the mid-twenties "revolt of the highbrows" against a "middle class majority [that had] turned from.."

Abstract
This paper explains that works of literature often focus on the nature of what people strive for, questioning what society suggests people should try to attain, such as the ambition for American identity as seen in the standards set by society on what is ideal and the impact this has on people. The author points out that, in "The Bluest Eye", Toni Morrison shows the tragedy of what happens when an individual cannot achieve the standard and, in "The Great Gatsby", F. Scott Fitzgerald shows the tragedy inherent in achieving the dream. The paper relates that, while the characters and situations are quite different in the two novels, they do have the same basic reasons at their base; they are both novels about the tragedy of accepting the American dream and striving to become the American ideal.

From the Paper
"It is also important to note that the life that Gatsby and Daisy have is what the American dream is about. They have becomes what the standards of society say makes them the highest class and the happiest people. However, they have not truly achieved happiness. Certainly, they have achieved riches. But rather than enjoy them, Daisy spends her time worrying about losing them. It is also seen that Daisy's wealthy upbringing has made her a shallow person who only cares about wealth. The greatest sign of this is that she seems to be incapable of love."

Tags:striving, standards, daisy, society, tragedy

Abstract
This paper explains that Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" and Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" reflect the painful aspects of the American Dream by allowing the reader to understand the complications which arise as people plan their lives and set out to reach their dreams. The author points out that the plays contain elements of personal tragedy: (1) Hansberry's Walter Younger is able to turn his negative experience around and learn from it but (2) Miller's Willy Loman lives his entire life misled by his own misconceptions about his dream. The paper relates that each play represents very real segments of society, which help us understand the American Dream through different eyes: Walter Younger gives the reader insight into how African American men in the 1950s saw and pursued their dreams, and Willy Loman provides insight into how white men in the 1940s might have attempted to achieve their dreams.

From the Paper
"We get a glimpse of Walter's dream early in the play when he is arguing with Ruth. He tells her that Charlie Atkins is grossing $100,000 a year now and she could not be on his side for just a little while and support him joining Charlie in the dry-cleaning business. Walter also knows that his key to success is getting his mother to support him as well. This is part of his mistake--he is trying to get everyone to be on his side rather than going about starting a business and doing things the hard way. He also tries to get Ruth to convince his mother that his idea with Willy is not a "fly-by-night proposition". Walter also expresses his skepticism about becoming rich when he tells Ruth, "Baby, don't nothing happen for you in this world 'less you pay somebody off!" When Mama tells Walter that she has no intention of giving him any money to invest in the liquor business, he tries to manipulate her with guilt."

Tags:walter, willy, black, white, tragedy