The Nightmare of the American Dream Many people strive to pursue the American Dream for they believe that “through hard work and effort, [everyone] can achieve success, can be rich, famous and happy” (Willett 1). However, the pursuit of the American Dream will ultimately destroy every individual. In Sister Carrie and The Pearl, both authors demonstrate the many obstacles in this pursuit and show how the pursuit consumes those aspiring to attain the dream. Specifically these …showed first 75 words of 1793 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1793 total…their son”(Lisca 221) Inevitably, in Sister Carrie and The Pearl, the protagonists are consumed and become ultimately destroyed by their dreams. The characters realize that their dreams are no more than just an illusion and learn that “money cannot bring about happiness”(Zender 71). It is too bad that the characters realize this when it’s too late for they never achieve happiness because of the many misguided choices they made in pursuit of their dream.