Ragged Dick

This is an example of an extremely unrealistic piece of the American Dream. Dick saves a boy's life and all of sudden he becomes rich and famous. This rarely ever happens. Once in a while, a person who saves another's life will get recognition, but they will not get rich from it. I would not consider this the American Dream, it has nothing to do with working hard to get out of poverty. This is about what could happen if you are lucky. I guess it kind of goes back to the first essay that we read in Rereading America and how the American Dream is a myth. The idea that anyone can pull themselves out of poverty and change their class. It's more like there will be a lucky few who will achieve this. The American Dream is really if your lucky, you can pull yourself of poverty and become wealthy. The more I read out of this book, the more depressed I feel about this country. There are so many myths, and when they're exposed it's very depressing. Our country is not as great and perfect as we are taught to believe that it is.