Does Crime Pay A Criminal Pursuit of the American Dream

Does Crime Pay: A Criminal Pursuit of the American Dream American society places value on individual success. While becoming rich is revered and seen as a sign of prestige, the method in attaining wealth is not closely scrutinized. Many people are content playing the game safely, working long and hard aspiring to attain wealth through their own work. Whatever they cannot attain in their lifetime they leave to their children to aspire to. They are content moving up this game of life one step at a time to a safe victory. Others are not as patient. While some people may become professional athletes or innovators to jump ahead in the game, others would rather break the rules and work outside the law in pursuit of wealth. â€Å"Once theyve made it and bought the big house in the right neighborhood and sent their kids to the right schools, it doesnt matter how they got there. And it didnt take two generations of plodding, dull work or long hours in the classroom. They took a shortcut†(Simon). The â€Å"American Dream†, a dream tha t anybody can become successful through hard work, is a catalyst for crimes-- promoting people who completely believe in the American Dream to break the law in hopes of economic success. The American Dream encourages an exaggerated emphasis on monetary achievements while devaluing alternative criterion of success-- promoting a preoccupation with the realization of goals while de-emphasizing the importance in the ways in which these goals are pursued(RobinsonShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream By John Winthrop1168 Words   |  5 Pages What is the â€Å"American Dream†? The American Dream has always been characterized by a thriving job market, opportunities for advancement, stability, etc. It is â€Å"the pursuit of individual achievement without consideration for moral or legal restrictions† (Angulski, 2013). This idea dates back as far as 1630 to the puritan colonists. 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Scott Fitzgerald2017 Words   |  9 PagesXingyao Chen Mr. Eaton Honors American Literature January 7, 2015 Written in 1925, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows Jay Gatsby in his quest to win back Daisy Buchanan, the love he lost five years earlier. Gatsby’s endeavor leads him from poverty to wealth, and eventually to death. The novel presents a clear picture of 1920’s culture in America, where people’s idea of the American Dream is simply riches and fame. The American Dream is the fundamental force which drives most charactersRead MoreEnduring Physical and Mental Abuse in Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs1253 Words   |  6 Pagesinstitutions; even with the Fair Lending Act and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act there is still discrimination. As citizens of the United States we are protected under the Fair Lending Act, race does not take precedence over interest rates or the type of loan; fair means unbiased. 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