THE CONCEPT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM IN AMERICAN CULTURAL AND LITERARY TRADITION

The American Dream occupies a foundational position in the cultural imagination of the United States and has profoundly influenced American literary tradition. Emerging from early colonial aspirations and Enlightenment philosophy, the Dream has evolved into a complex ideological and literary construct encompassing ideals of freedom, equality, self-realization, and material success. This article examines the historical origins, philosophical foundations, and cultural significance of the American Dream, as well as its representation and reinterpretation in American literature. By tracing the transformation of the American Dream from an optimistic national ideal to a subject of literary critique, the study demonstrates how American writers have both sustained and challenged this concept. The article argues that the American Dream functions simultaneously as a motivating myth and a critical lens through which American society examines its values, contradictions, and moral dilemmas.